Dare to Dream Big

by Lorna Gutierrez, Polly Noakes (Illustrator)

Overview

Dare to dream. Dare to fly higher. Dare to trust…dare to inspire!

Dare to do what hasn't been done. Dare to be second to none!

This inspirational picture book encourages children everywhere to dare to dream big, to help others, and speak out for what is right, but also take time for simple joys and to be comfortable in their own skin.

Oh the Places You'll Go! for toddlers, Dare to Dream Big is full of messages about empowerment, encouragement, and the joy of daring to be the best person you can be.

"A concise and rhythmic provocation to dreaming and daring."—Publishers Weekly

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781492694854
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	01/07/2020
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	624,107
Product dimensions:	8.25(w) x 8.25(h) x 0.35(d)
Lexile:	AD200L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Lorna Gutierrez is an author and poet who enjoys making difficult subjects easier for children to understand. She lives in Colorado. Visit her at lornagutierrez.com.

Polly Noakes is an illustrator and author with a passion for children’s books. Her love of illustration started at Cambridge School of Art, and Polly graduated with an MA in Children’s Book Illustration in 2015. Polly lives in the English countryside with her family and rescued Romanian street dog Bertie. Visit her at pollynoakesillustration.com.

Editorial Reviews

10/21/2019

This picture book poem expressed through rhyme invites children to explore and fully embody their personalities: “Dare to dream,/ Dare to fly higher.” Gutierrez urges readers to express daring as various opportunities present themselves. In one spread, readers are encouraged to “Dare to reach out/ and take a chance” (one child reaches a hand out to another); in another, “Dare to be your own best friend,” a young person enjoys alone time casting shadow puppets on a wall. Noakes employs a loose, inky line and washes of watercolor to create playful scenes, featuring children of varying skin tones diverting themselves in shouts and whispers: bending to a rogue sidewalk flower, marching for a cause, and stargazing. A concise and rhythmic provocation to dreaming and daring. Ages 4–up. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

"A concise and rhythmic provocation to dreaming and daring." — Publishers Weekly

"This uplifting book should be a staple on the shelves of all youngsters." — The Children’s Book Review

"The joyful artwork shows the children dancing, observing the world, dreaming, crafting a protest sign, dressing up, and clearly enjoying each other’s company... this upbeat book would fit well into a preschool classroom or library collection." — Booklist

"As our kids head out of the house and off into the world on their own (gah!), Dare to Dream Big by Lorna Gutierrez and Polly Noakes will remind them that their biggest hopes and dreams for our world are still possible, and they can be the ones to help make that change. Our activist kids are so passionate about changing the world, and I love that this book recognizes that." — Kate Etue, Cool Mom Picks

From the Publisher

12/13/2019

K-Gr 2—An inspirational title that challenges kids to be all they can be. In each spread Gutierrez dares readers to dream, do what hasn't been done, see when others don't, reach out, sing, be your own best friend, enjoy a silent night, etc. The rhythmic, poetic text begs to be read aloud. "Dare to be who you truly are. A light in the dark. Be you…a star!" The ink and watercolor illustrations are sketchbook loose without sacrificing expressions, individuality, and important details while orange, yellows, greens, blues, and purples abound without overtaking. In the diverse cast of characters one child is wearing a hearing aid, which is not often shown in picture books. VERDICT A call to all children (and adults) to dare to be their best selves featuring an array of characters and perfect text for reading aloud. A solid general purchase.—Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH

School Library Journal