Just a Dream

The 25th-anniversary edition of Van Allsburg's plea for environmental awareness still strikes a chilling chord. A boy's flippant attitude toward the environment results in a night of dreams that offer a glimpse into a bleak, all-too-real future where trees are seen as fodder for toothpicks, where the ocean has been depleted of all but the tiniest fish, and where smog prevents anyone from seeing the Grand Canyon. Paired with the quiet, matter-of-fact text, Van Allsburg's striking visuals of pipes bellowing smoke and twisting, car-packed highways will leave readers with a sense of unease and even, at times, horror. Kids will also appreciate the free audio version of this story (available with an access code provided within the book) on the publisher's website, read by the author with accompanying sound effects and music.—Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal