The Dream Catcher

Gr 1-4–Miguel and his abuelito wake early to prepare for their day of selling coconuts and dream catchers. Making dream catchers reminds Miguel of his parents, who are pictured only in a photograph in Miguel and Abuelito’s home; he saves the coins he earns from sales with the hope of one day buying an airplane. As Miguel and Abuelito make their way through their seaside town, they speculate about what dreams others might have; throughout their conversation, Abuelito affirms Miguel’s dreams for the future, but also expresses his own joy in sharing the present with his grandson. Created using acrylic paint, paper, and digital collage, the illustrations are reminiscent of the works of Christian Robinson. The scenes are evocative and layered, bringing both the characters’ quiet home and their bustling town to life. In addition, the way the color palette evolves throughout the story, culminating in a vibrant, glowing sunset, is lovely. Small details and several airplanes nestled throughout the art also complement the text well and invite discussion and multiple readings. All characters have brown skin, and Miguel is identified as Mexican in the summary on the copyright page.