God's dream /

Coauthors of the adult book God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time (2004), South African Nobel Peace Prize-winner Tutu and writer Abrams team up once again, this time with illustrator Pham, to create a  picture book about a subject dear to them all. In a series of energetic scenes, a multicultural cast of toddlers follow God's dreams about people caring, sharing (the picture shows kids inviting a shy boy to join their circle), and playing together. Adding a touch of drama is the elemental scene in which two kids get in a fight: a girl chases a boy and grabs his ball. He cries, and she feels sad; God cries with them. The large, digitally enhanced pictures, alive with color and pattern, make clear the hurt, anger, and regret. Finally, the two fighters make up, and they join a big circle of laughing kids, finding brothers and sisters from everywhere. Praying together are Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Christians, and more. A book to talk about at preschool and at home, especially after disagreements flare.--Rochman, Hazel Copyright 2008 Booklist

Starred Review. Just as children have dreams, say Archbishop Tutu and Abrams (previously paired with Tutu for God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time), so does God: God dreams that every one of us will see that we are all brothers and sisters--yes, even you and me--even if we have different mommies and daddies or live in different faraway lands. The authors understand that direct prose can often be the most reassuring; they tell readers, God does not force us to be friends or to love one another.... But when we say we're sorry and forgive one another, we wipe away our tears and God's tears, too. Pham (Big Sister, Little Sister) forgoes much of the impishness that enlivens her best titles, but even though she's working with familiar brotherhood-of-man tropes (a global cast of children, some wearing non-Western clothes, gather in a single, idyllic location to play and worship), she nimbly sidesteps triteness through her velvety, saturated palette and the unassuming sweetness of her characterizations. This is not a book to win converts, but a wide range of believers, including children at the younger end of the target audience, should respond to its heartfelt appeals, Ages 2-8. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved All rights reserved.

PreS-Gr 2-Tutu teaches a message of peace and hope in this gentle picture book, echoing the theological ideology of his memoir, God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time (Doubleday, 2004). "Dear Child of God," the narrator begins, "what do you dream about?" While children may dream about "flying high" or "being treated like a full person," God dreams about a world in which all of his children join hands in peace, reconciliation and unity. In simple, eloquent language, Tutu conveys the message that although we come from different lands, have different eyes and skin, and talk to God in different ways, we are still brothers and sisters. By "sharing, loving, caring" and "knowing we are family" we can "make God's dream come true." The incandescent graphite, watercolor, and ink illustrations of captivating multicultural youngsters engaged in the carefree pastimes reinforce the overarching themes of love and inclusiveness. The angelic, trusting faces reflect the hope that Archbishop Tutu holds for all the world's children of God. They hold hands and share welcoming smiles, creating a circle of love and acceptance. Parents may want to pair this inspirational book with Karen Lynn Williams's Circles of Hope (Eerdmans, 2005) or Alice McGinty's Thank You, World (Dial, 2007), two more stories exploring the importance of love, faith, and hope.-Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Archbishop Tutu shares his philosophy in simple but eloquent words intended for young children, accompanied by Pham's appealing illustrations of sweet-faced children of different ethnicities. A brief introduction about a child's dreams segues into a lyrical look at what God's dreams must be: for a world of sharing, caring, forgiveness and tolerance of differences. These basic but important concepts are presented in easy-to-understand terms, such as the twin needs to apologize and forgive after an argument. The message that we are all brothers and sisters despite our differences is clearly conveyed in the tale, which concludes with a crowd of smiling children creating a rainbow with their own handprints. An extra-large trim size and big, bright illustrations make this a fine choice for reading to a group. The noteworthy illustrations include a touching spread showing children of different faiths all praying in their own way and attractive endpapers with a patchwork of African patterned fabrics. (Picture book/religion. 3-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.