Pam Munoz Ryan's The Dreamer (2010) is not your usual children's book. Ryan took as inspiration for this fictionalized account of poet Pablo Neruda's young life a snippet of a story. Neruda, born Neftali Reyes, is said to have once exchanged a pinecone for a small toy sheep through a knot hole in a fence. That incident, along with his poetry, form the basis for this magical book. A shy boy, drawn to the written word, Neftali suffers under his father's heavy hand. Fortunately, he finds support in his stepmother and activist/journalist uncle. As a young man Neftali takes the pen name of Pablo Neruda, in part to write freely without incurring his father's further wrath.
The book itself is lovely. Illustrated by Peter Sis, a three time Caldecott honoree, it reminds me a little of
The Invention of Hugo Cabret in the way the illustrations supplement the storytelling. At 384 pages, it appears long for a children's book, but relatively few words on a page, along with frequent illustrations, make it a quick read. I inhaled it in one sitting.
Poetical, dreamy, with elements of magical realism,
The Dreamer affirms the importance of being true to oneself. Thoughtful upper elementary and middle school readers, as well as adults, may find inspiration in the sensitive soul of Neftali.
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