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APPELEMANDO'S DREAMS by Patricia Polacco

APPELEMANDO'S DREAMS

by Patricia Polacco & illustrated by Patricia Polacco

Pub Date: Sept. 18th, 1991
ISBN: 0-399-21800-9
Publisher: Philomel

Appelemando lives in a drab village where no one values his wonderful dreams but the friends who actually see the airborne, vividly colored products of his imagination. One day they discover that water makes the dreams adhere to things: caught in the rain, they adorn the town's walls. When the children explain, the authorities are incredulous; Appelemondo is so distressed by their anger that he can't repeat his feat, and he and his friends are made to scrub the walls, after which they get lost in the forest. Now Appelemondo's gift comes to the rescue: his dreams soar above the trees, allowing the worried villagers to find the children—and accept the dreams. A bit contrived but told with verve and illustrated with Polacco's usual dynamic energy, each outflung arm, expressive foot, and skewed perspective contributing to the lively animation. The flat, stylized dreams are less interesting than the art as a whole; still, a potent original fable. (Picture book. 4-8)