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Appelemando's Dreams The Story
From Leah Polacco
Appelemando is a little boy who loves to dream. A little boy who keeps a very unique secret with his friends… whenever Appelemando dreams, they can see his visions floating through the sky above their heads. Fascinated by the beautiful colors and the visions of his daydreams, Appelemando’s friends attempt to catch them on a piece of paper.
"It wasn’t long before they discovered that Appelemando’s dreams would stay on anything that was moist or damp. Mops drying over balcony rails. Laundry airing on clotheslines. Bottoms of fat, white ducks waddling up the street."
One day, as Appelemando’s dream is escaping his mind it begins to rain. The bright colors cover the walls of the village, angering the elders who do not believe the "paintings" are indeed, the little boy’s dreams. Sentenced to scrub the village walls, the children, upset and afraid, wander home. However, soon they discover they are lost. Hours pass and the children cannot find their way through the dark woods.
"You can help, Appelemando," Lark proclaims.
Appelemando’s friends encourage him to dream a dream "big and bright enough" to reach their families in the village. But alas, Appelemando, upset by the day’s events, can no longer dream…
In the story’s surprising but happy ending, the message of "the importance of dreams" is revealed. A book for children and adults alike, Appelemando’s Dreams teaches the reader not to let go of his dreams, unless it is for the world to see.
"The illustrations add a vibrant, colorful fairy tale atmosphere to the
text. A book to reassure many a daydreamer."
-Children's Book Review Service
"The style of these pencil and watercolor drawings is exuberant and
full of vitality. With its perfect melding of art and narration, it's a
dream come true."
-School Library Journal (starred review)
"[Polacco's] on target as always."
-Publishers Weekly
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