Night Garden: Poems From The World Of Dreams [Paperback]

Janet S. Wong (Author), Julie Paschkis (Illustrator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1416968164 | ISBN-13: 978-1416968160 | Publication Date: November 27, 2007

...dreams grow wild Like dandelion weeds, feathery heads alive with seeds -- and those fine seeds, about to sprout, race the day to find their place in a welcome mind... And the dreams grow in an endless variety, same familiar things, some strange and beautiful, some on the darker side. In this collection, Janet S. Wong, a widely known poet, records some of the many dreams she or her friends have had. She even watches her old dog while he twitches and growls and dreams in his sleep and finally yelps awake. Illustrated by Julie Paschkis with paintings that reflect the glowing colors that can fill our dreams, these nighttime vicions create a special garden, tempting to explore and evocative of dreams of our very own.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this absorbing volume, Wong (A Suitcase of Seaweed and Other Poems) and Paschkis (Play All Day) examine the familiar yet surprising qualities of dreams. The poems recall a weightless feeling of flying, an anxious sense of being late or an unexpected visit from a dead or living acquaintance ("I had forgotten you, friend./ Is that why you came/ into my dream?"). "Gently Down the Stream" alludes to the phrase "life is but a dream" and describes swimming in clear water; the accompanying illustration pictures a sinuous orange-and-turquoise fish with a peaceful human face. Wong seldom abides scary dreams, but she does include "a news-at-seven true nightmare," which Paschkis supplements with beastly imagery of snakes and howling sleepers. Paschkis's gouaches at times suggest an illuminated manuscript, elements from medieval tapestries or elaborate Arts and Crafts-era wallpaper. The artist responds to each poem with a multicolor image framed within a monochromatic, repetitive motif. She creates a host of weird creatures, from a hunched man in a long-nosed white mask to a turnip-headed being with pea-pod arms; to indicate the mysterious workings of the imagination, she shows strange flowers sprouting from a restful figure. Paschkis's swirling imagery and Wong's quiet yet haunting words skillfully simulate the reveries they recount. Ages 7-10.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-In the title poem, Wong compares the bed in which dreams happen with the tangled roots and blooms of a garden bed. The 14 poems that follow are about the people who appear in dreams, eating, swimming, flying, running, and falling. The poems use sound qualities-repetition, alliteration, and occasional rhyme-to capture each dream. Even poems about nightmares and anxieties are couched in gentle language that evokes wonder and thoughtfulness rather than fear. Paschkis's paintings highlight the gardening metaphor. The selections are set against background frames of earth-toned colors, filled with animals, humans, and plants reminiscent of the organic creatures of Hieronymus Bosch. The frames are symmetrically balanced to enclose a small painting on the left-hand page and a similarly shaped space for the poem on the right. Pictures of children of many cultural backgrounds add to the universal quality of the book, as does the last poem, "There Is a Place," which suggests that a storyteller lies inside each of us and comes out as we sleep. Children will enjoy capturing their own dreams and giving them shape and meaning after they have experienced these poems. This is a particularly fine collection for libraries in which young writers and painters are encouraged.
Barbara Chatton, College of Education, University of Wyoming, Laramie
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (November 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416968164
• ISBN-13: 978-1416968160
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,598,632 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars vivid and surreal - dreams come alive, June 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Night Garden: Poems From The World Of Dreams (Hardcover)

What a book - from beginning to end awash with images of dreams. The artwork beautifully reflects the words. I recommend it to anyone who dreams, or dreams of dreaming.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exploring Her Dreams, May 7, 2001

By 

Kristine Rohrer (Louisville, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night Garden: Poems From The World Of Dreams (Hardcover)

Janet Wong writes a collection of poems based on dreams, and uses these to relate to children on several different levels. She uses adult sub-themes that children often don't see, but at the same time these children are seeing a world that previously had only been in their minds. Wong's poems are based on child-like dreams, such as the sensation of falling, finding an old friend, and being alone. Her stream of consciousness style lends to the feeling of a child's dream, and helps to draw in readers of all ages. The illustrations are active and fit with each poem's style, helping ot keep young readers stimulated and interested. This book proves that poetry can be fun and enjoyable, even to small children. Adults and children alike can use this book to escape into the world of dreams without needing to leave reality.

5.0 out of 5 stars Gentle, Beautiful, Calm, December 30, 2003

By 

naterby "naterby" (Salt Lake City, UT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night Garden: Poems From The World Of Dreams (Hardcover)

This is one of the most beautiful poetry books I have read in a long time. Yes, the illustrations are incredible, but they just accompany the great poetry. My children love to have this book read to them at bedtime, and I love to read it to them. I like the way the poems make my voice sound magical. I like the way the room feels as we listen to them. When the book is done, my children and I feel peaceful. My favorite poems are 'Night Garden' and 'The Ones They Loved Most'. Thank you Janet Wong for a new family treasure.