A River Dream [Hardcover]

Allen Say (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

A little boy takes a fantasy trip up the river by his house to fly-fish with his uncle.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The illustrator of The Boy of the Three-Year Nap has created a new tale, about Mark, who is sick in bed with a fever and receives an unexpected gift from a favorite unclea small metal box of trout fishing flies. This is no ordinary gift, however; the tiny lures come to life and swarm out the open window. Stranger still, the suburban neighborhood outside has vanished and a sparkling stream flows alongside the house. Translucent watercolors in shades of blue swirl with motion as Mark sets off in a rowboat to explore the stream and discovers a lone fishermanhis unclewho teaches him how to fly fish. With a flash of spray the stream yields its treasure, a beautiful rainbow trout speckled with green and pink, caught on the end of Mark's line. "It's good to leave the river the way I found it," says Mark, letting the fish go free. The pictures add suspense, excitement and an unearthly, mysterious feeling to the story of a boy's feverish dream. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3 Rainbow trout, rejoice. A River Dream joins Nathan's Fishing Trip (Scholastic, 1988) in the genre of anti-killing-fish picture books. When Mark is home sick, Uncle Scott, Mark's fishing buddy, sends him a box for trout flies. A dream sequence begins as Mark opens the box and the flies flutter out the window. A river appears, and a boat, and Mark finds Uncle Scott fishing just around the bend. But Uncle Scott lets his fish go, saying he ``likes to leave the river the way he found it.'' Then it's Mark's turn, and he catches a great rainbow trout, which he also throws back, echoing his uncle's words. Back in bed his fever breaks, and he sleeps. The spacious, quiet, and peaceful full-page watercolors create a dream-like mood, with shimmering, watery reflections. The affectionate relationship between Mark and his pipe-smoking uncle is deftly portrayed. The book may contribute to some intense discussions about why people eat animals. Leda Schubert, Vermont Department of Education, Montpelier
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (October 24, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395482941
• ISBN-13: 978-0395482940
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 10.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,213 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Allen Say was born in Yokohama, Japan, in 1937. He dreamed of becoming a cartoonist from the age of six, and, at age twelve, apprenticed himself to his favorite cartoonist, Noro Shinpei. For the next four years, Say learned to draw and paint under the direction of Noro, who has remained Say's mentor. Say illustrated his first children's book -- published in 1972 -- in a photo studio between shooting assignments. For years, Say continued writing and illustrating children's books on a part-time basis. But in 1987, while illustrating THE BOY OF THE THREE-YEAR NAP (Caldecott Honor Medal), he recaptured the joy he had known as a boy working in his master's studio. It was then that Say decided to make a full commitment to doing what he loves best: writing and illustrating children's books. Since then, he has written and illustrated many books, including TREE OF CRANES and GRANDFATHER'S JOURNEY, winner of the 1994 Caldecott Medal. He is a full-time writer and illustrator living in Portland, Oregon.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A River Dream by Allen Say, October 17, 2000

By 

Dean Umemoto (Mclean, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A River Dream (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book for anyone with grandkids. It could only have been written by someone who enjoys the art and ethic of catch and release fishing. In this simple but eloquent story the author, Allen Say, has captured the magic of flyfishing for trout and the need to release your "catch" unharmed. With three grandsons of my own I know this book will be read many times to each of our boys.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A River Dream by The Great ANJ (Aaron J), March 21, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: A River Dream (Paperback)

Set the hook! Oh sorry, I did not see you there. That is one big rainbow trout! A River Dream begins with a boy name Mark who is sick in bed and cannot go outside. His Uncle Scott sends him a fly fishing box with all his best flies in it. When he opens it, all the flies fly out and head out the window. I love this book because I love to go fly fishing with my dad. I would think the theme is sometimes dreams can feel like real life. Well that's all folks and if you like to fly fish and like happy endings, I recommend this book. Hey are you going to keep the trout? No, I like to leave the river the way it was. by The Great ANJ (Aaron J)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite books, November 26, 2005

By 

Karen Woodworth Roman "Happy Librarian" (DeKalb, IL) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A River Dream (Paperback)

Mark, a boy who is ill, receives a small box of fishing flies from his uncle in the mail. The flies become mayflies that lure him out his city bedroom window into a mountain river landscape. He takes a boat up the river and sees his uncle, Scott. He teaches Mark lessons of fishing and life. The ethnicity of the boy and his uncle is not clear. It is a magical story showing an Asian American family just being normal people. The understated multicultural message is refreshing and the illustrations are dreamily, realistic looking watercolors. A River Dream is one of my favorite books. Karen Woodworth Roman, Librarian, East Asian Children's Books