Synopses & Reviews
and#147;[Children] will respond to Sand#225;enz's elemental warmth and rhythmic storytelling.and#8221;and#151;Publishers Weekly, starred review
and#147;Young readers will enjoy its structure, numbers and playful dreams, while more sophisticated readersand#151;and even adultsand#151;will find reasons to return to it again and again.and#8221;and#151;Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Seventy-eight-year-old Octavio Rivera looks forward to the beautiful dreams that visit during his afternoon siesta. If only he could share them with someone. But his brother would think he is getting old. And his friends would think he ate too many gorditas. Oh, but his granddaughter Regina. She will understand!
Review
"One cloudless summer, 78-year-old Octavio Riveras afternoon naps lead to a series of fantastical dreams. On the first day of the season, a single guitar whispering songs of love” bursts through a star-shaped piñata, and on the second day, two kissing turtles float across a blue sky. With each passing day, the items delivered by the piñata grow in both number and whimsy; as his dreams surround and fill him up, Octavio feels a growing need to share his dreams; but with whom?
Sáenzs treatment of reality and his rich, sensory-filled imagery evokes García Márquez, while Andrade Valencias illustrations, done in a brilliant southwestern palette, employ flat perspectives and surrealist compositions to create a visual fusion of folk art and Magritte. One lovely wordless spread finds Octavio revealing his dreams to his granddaughter Regina, and in so doing, Octavio also shares himself. While a counting book in concept, Sáenzs text is layered with multiple meanings.
Young readers will enjoy its structure, numbers and playful dreams, while more sophisticated readersand even adultswill find reasons to return to it again and again." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Sáenz's (He Forgot to Say Goodbye) haunting work, presented in English and Spanish, is part short story, part fable. Octavio Rivera, an elegant, white-haired grandfather, experiences an astonishing series of dreams that grow more complex each night: '...five coyotes dressed in mariachi outfits [were] falling out of a piñata and the coyotes were escaping from Tencha's Café on Alameda....' Valencia gives these visions an odd and wonderful dignity; his folk art illustrations lie somewhere between Frida Kahlo and Grant Wood.
Octavio longs to share his dreams, but can't tell anyone'My best friend Joe would tell me that I had indigestion and that I should stay away from eating gorditas'then realizes that his beloved six-year-old granddaughter will understand. 'You are the most beautiful dreamer in the world, Tata Tabo!' she exclaims. Children who require stories with defined contours may find the flood of images off-putting; others will respond to Sáenz's elemental warmth and rhythmic storytelling." —Publisher's Weekly, starred review
"Octavio Rivera is a dreamer. He snoozes under a tree on the first summer afternoon, and dreams of a guitar falling from a piñata. On the second afternoon, while napping on the grass, he dreams of two giant turtles falling from the piñata. As his dreams continue, he suddenly gets the urge to tell someone about them, but he cant decide who. The urge gets stronger as the days go by, and on the eighth day, after dreaming of four girls and four boys falling from the piñata, he realizes that he can talk to his granddaughter. He takes her to the park and reveals all the things he has dreamed of.
Told with poetic text and colorful, full-page acrylic illustrations filled with surreal imagery, this is an attractive bilingual title. Particularly moving is the special connection between the old man and the child. Recommended for all libraries and bookstores." —Criticas
"With the arrival of summer, seventy-eight-year-old Octavio Rivera had a feeling that he was about to have the most fantastic dreams of his life.” Each afternoon his dreams are indeed incredible, as a guitar, kissing turtles, winged pigs, coyotes dressed in mariachi outfits, and other outlandish objects fall from a giant piñata.
At first Octavio tells no one, but as his dreams become more vivid, he yearns to share them with someone he trusts...The man finally realizes that there is only one person who loves dreams as much as he doeshis six-year-old granddaughter, Regina.
Octavios bilingual story is accompanied by surreal, full-page illustrations, reminiscent of Mexican folk art. Influenced by Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamayo, plants, animals, and people fly and float through the sky in the bold acrylic paintings, while Octavio blends into his surroundings, his head becoming part of a hilltop or his body carried on the back of a hummingbird.
The traditional artwork is a fitting complement to Saenz folktale-like prose. Just like Regina, young readers will marvel at the beauty, richness, and unpredictable qualities of Octavios dreams. Readers of all ages will appreciate the sincere affection between grandfather and grandchild in this intergenerational story. A perfect book for sharing aloud." —ForeWord Magazine
"A charming new childrens story written by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. A Perfect Season For Dreaming is a story about beauty, creativity, and trust. The book is illustrated by Esau Andrade Valencia who uses warm, bright colors to portray the fantastic, creative world of dreams perfectly. This is a wonderful book for people of all ages; both parents and children will enjoy the creative story and beautiful illustrations." —Oneota Reading Journal
"A pleasant read that leaves the reader feeling as if they have just woken from their own peaceful afternoon slumber." —El Paso Scene
Review
"While a counting book in concept, Sand#225;enzand#8217;s text is layered with multiple meanings andhellip; Young readers will enjoy its structure, numbers and playful dreams, while more sophisticated readersand#151;and even adultsand#151;will find reasons to return to it again and again." and#151; Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Valencia gives these visions an odd and wonderful dignityandhellip;Children who require stories with defined contours may find the flood of images off-putting; others will respond to Sand#225;enz's elemental warmth and rhythmic storytelling." and#151;Publisher's Weekly, starred review
"Told with poetic text and colorful, full-page acrylic illustrations filled with surreal imagery, this is an attractive bilingual title. Particularly moving is the special connection between the old man and the child. Recommended for all libraries and bookstores." and#151;Criticas
"The traditional artwork is a fitting complement to Saenzand#8217; folktale-like prose. Just like Regina, young readers will marvel at the beauty, richness, and unpredictable qualities of Octavioand#8217;s dreams. Readers of all ages will appreciate the sincere affection between grandfather and grandchild in this intergenerational story. A perfect book for sharing aloud." and#151;ForeWord Magazine
"This is a wonderful book for people of all ages; both parents and children will enjoy the creative story and beautiful illustrations." and#151;Oneota Reading Journal
"A pleasant read that leaves the reader feeling as if they have just woken from their own peaceful afternoon slumber." and#151;El Paso Scene
Synopsis
" Children] will respond to Saenz's elemental warmth and rhythmic storytelling."--Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Young readers will enjoy its structure, numbers and playful dreams, while more sophisticated readers--and even adults--will find reasons to return to it again and again."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Seventy-eight-year-old Octavio Rivera looks forward to the beautiful dreams that visit during his afternoon siesta. If only he could share them with someone. But his brother would think he is getting old. And his friends would think he ate too many gorditas. Oh, but his granddaughter Regina. She will understand
Synopsis
Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College of Education
Am ricas Book Award Honor Book, Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs
Winter 2008-09 Children's Indie Next List, American Booksellers Association
In this stunning bilingual picture book from bestselling author Benjamin Alire S enz, an old man tells his granddaughter about the nine most beautiful dreams of his life.
En este impactante libro ilustrado biling e del exitoso autor Benjamin Alire S enz, un anciano le cuenta a su nieta los nueve sue os m s hermosos de su vida.
Seventy-eight year-old Octavio Rivera is a beautiful dreamer. And lately he has been visited by some very interesting dreams--dreams about pi atas that spill their treasures before him, revealing kissing turtles, winged pigs, hitchhiking armadillos, and many more fantastic things He longs to tell someone about his dreams, but who else in his life would understand their full beauty? And then he remembers his young granddaughter Regina, because she too appreciates beautiful and fantastic things. Once he tells her, his heart at rest, Octavio prepares for his siesta, hoping to be blessed with one long, last, lovely dream.
With gorgeous folk art-inspired illustrations and the humor and depth of all Benjamin Alire S enz's work, A Perfect Season for Dreaming unfolds the sweet possibilities in relationships between the very old and the very young.
Octavio Rivera, de setenta y ocho a os, es un bello so ador. Y ltimamente ha sido visitado por algunos sue os muy interesantes: sue os sobre pi atas que derraman sus tesoros ante l, revelando tortugas bes ndose, cerdos alados, armadillos pidiendo aventones a un festival literario, y muchas m s cosas fant sticas Anhela contarle a alguien sobre sus sue os, pero qui n m s en su vida entender a toda su belleza? Y luego recuerda a su joven nieta Regina, porque ella tambi n aprecia las cosas bellas y fant sticas. Una vez que l le dice, con el coraz n en paz, Octavio se prepara para su siesta, con la esperanza de ser bendecido con un largo, ltimo y hermoso sue o.
Con magn ficas ilustraciones inspiradas en el arte popular y el humor y la profundidad de toda la obra de Benjamin Alire S enz, Un tiempo perfecto para so ar despliega las dulces posibilidades en las relaciones entre los muy viejos y los muy j venes.
Synopsis
In this stunning bilingual picture book from bestselling author Benjamin Alire S enz, an old man tells his granddaughter about the nine most beautiful dreams of his life.
En este impactante libro ilustrado biling e del exitoso autor Benjamin Alire S enz, un anciano le cuenta a su nieta los nueve sue os m s hermosos de su vida.
Seventy-eight year-old Octavio Rivera is a beautiful dreamer. And lately he has been visited by some very interesting dreams--dreams about pi atas that spill their treasures before him, revealing kissing turtles, winged pigs, hitchhiking armadillos, and many more fantastic things He longs to tell someone about his dreams, but who else in his life would understand their full beauty? And then he remembers his young granddaughter Regina, because she too appreciates beautiful and fantastic things. Once he tells her, his heart at rest, Octavio prepares for his siesta, hoping to be blessed with one long, last, lovely dream.
With gorgeous folk art-inspired illustrations and the humor and depth of all Benjamin Alire S enz's work, A Perfect Season for Dreaming unfolds the sweet possibilities in relationships between the very old and the very young.
Octavio Rivera, de setenta y ocho a os, es un bello so ador. Y ltimamente ha sido visitado por algunos sue os muy interesantes: sue os sobre pi atas que derraman sus tesoros ante l, revelando tortugas bes ndose, cerdos alados, armadillos pidiendo aventones a un festival literario, y muchas m s cosas fant sticas Anhela contarle a alguien sobre sus sue os, pero qui n m s en su vida entender a toda su belleza? Y luego recuerda a su joven nieta Regina, porque ella tambi n aprecia las cosas bellas y fant sticas. Una vez que l le dice, con el coraz n en paz, Octavio se prepara para su siesta, con la esperanza de ser bendecido con un largo, ltimo y hermoso sue o.
Con magn ficas ilustraciones inspiradas en el arte popular y el humor y la profundidad de toda la obra de Benjamin Alire S enz, Un tiempo perfecto para so ar despliega las dulces posibilidades en las relaciones entre los muy viejos y los muy j venes.
Synopsis
An old man tells his granddaughter about the nine most beautiful dreams of his lifetime.
About the Author
BENJAMIN ALIRE Sand#193;ENZ was born in his grandmother's house in Picacho, New Mexico--on the outskirts of Las Cruces, New Mexico where Juliana in Hollywood is set. He was the fourth of seven children and was brought up in a traditional Mexican-American Catholic family. His family spoke mostly Spanish at home, and it was only through his education in the public schools that he learned to speak and write in English. He entered the seminary in 1972, a decision that was as much political as it was religious: he was heavily influenced by such Catholic thinkers as Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day, Cand#233;sar Chavez and the Berrigan brothers. After concluding his theological studies at the University of Louvain, he was ordained a Catholic priest. Three and a half years later, he left the priesthood. At the age of 30, he entered the Creative Writing Program at the University of Texas at El Paso. He later received a fellowship at the University of Iowa, and in 1988, he received a Wallace E. Stegner Fellowship in poetry from Stanford University. In 1993 he returned to the border to teach in the Bilingual MFA program at the University of Texas at El Paso. His most recent book of poetry, Elegies in Blue, was published by Cinco Puntos Press in 2002. This is his first book for young adults.