Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
64th out of 121 books
—
28 voters
Dream Something Big
Between 1921 and 1955, Italian immigrant Simon Rodia transformed broken glass, seashells, pottery, and a dream to "do something big" into a U.S. National Landmark. Readers watch the towers rise from his little plot of land in Watts, California, through the eyes of a fictional girl as she grows and raises her own children. Chronicled in stunningly detailed collage that mimi...more
Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
August 18th 2011
by Dial
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
136)
I think this is a great book about the Watts towers in Watts, California. The reason why I thought it should have won the Caldecott award is because the pictures looked so realistic. The artwork in the book is by Susan Roth and she actually created collages on the pages to depict the towers. What I thought was most interesting about the illustrations in the book was that it actually looked like artwork that a child might do. The people are very big and stick out on the pages. Also there is a lot...more
28 August 2011 DREAM SOMETHING BIG: THE STORY OF THE WATTS TOWERS by Dianna Hutts Aston and Susan L. Roth, ill., Dial, August 2011, 40p., ISBN: 978-0-8037-3245-2
"He showed me and my children
the beauty of a broken angel,
a bowling ball,
a boot.
The usefulness of an airplane wing.
The patterns shells and rocks could make.
Uncle Sam was like a spider weaving his web
of steel and cement and lacy shadows.
The third tower was his last.
He wrote his initials and
'Nuestro Pueblo' in cement--
'Our Town,' a villag...more
"He showed me and my children
the beauty of a broken angel,
a bowling ball,
a boot.
The usefulness of an airplane wing.
The patterns shells and rocks could make.
Uncle Sam was like a spider weaving his web
of steel and cement and lacy shadows.
The third tower was his last.
He wrote his initials and
'Nuestro Pueblo' in cement--
'Our Town,' a villag...more
Dream Something Big: The Story of the Watts Towers was extremely interesting to me, a 45 year old woman. I had to keep asking myself, however, as I read it "Who is this book for?"
Between 1921 and 1955, Italian immigrant Simon Rodia transformed broken glass, seashells, pottery, and a dream to "do something big" into a U.S. National Landmark. Readers watch the towers rise from his little plot of land in Watts, California, through the eyes of a fictional girl.
I didn't quite "get" what the Watts T...more
Between 1921 and 1955, Italian immigrant Simon Rodia transformed broken glass, seashells, pottery, and a dream to "do something big" into a U.S. National Landmark. Readers watch the towers rise from his little plot of land in Watts, California, through the eyes of a fictional girl.
I didn't quite "get" what the Watts T...more
Simon Rodia, whose neighbors knew him as Uncle Sam, moved from Italy to the United States when he was only fourteen. This inspiring and informative picture book tells the story behind his artistic creations fashioned from glass, tile, steel rods, and cement. He used no drawings or nails or bolts in building the structures that became known as the Watts Towers because they were built on a lot in Watts, California. Two of the towers are almost 100 feet tall. Back matter includes an Author's Note w...more
A colleague told me about this book and I was a bit skeptical that it would work. But it does! Dream Something Big is a fictionalized story about the very real Watts Towers. Built by Simon Rodia, a folk artist, the Watts Towers stand in Watts, California. The story describes Simon, known as Uncle Sam, and his commitment to creating a unique street art.
The author's note at the end is very helpful. In fact, I plan to read this part of the story to my students first. The story is a bit confusing a...more
The author's note at the end is very helpful. In fact, I plan to read this part of the story to my students first. The story is a bit confusing a...more
The Watts Towers are splendid. Want to see them sometime. Liked the photos of the real thing though over Roth's renditions which weren't always easy to "read." The story frame to -- a girl from the neighborhood views their construction - was a bit confusing when she mentioned her children seeing them -- yes, I got that the work took a long time, but this wasn't smoothly expressed. Think I like the older book about this better, though this is more colorful.
The story itself is rather fascinating - an Italian immigrant uses "trash" to create a work of art on a monumental scale, before disappearing from the scene. The illustrations are nicely done, with an emphasis on mixed media, and they really do enhance the story. I think this would be a great book for elementary teachers to use to get kids to think about art and materials. I only wished for more actual photos of the Watts Towers.
Told through the voice of a fictional child, this is a look at the building of the Watts Towers, a huge art piece that is outsider art and has been named a National Landmark. Simon Rodia, called Uncle Simon in the book, built the towers from glass, pottery shards, seashells and a vision. Each piece on the towers was selected by hand. The book shows the careful selection and then the transformation from garbage to art. This is about the artistic dream and the process more than the man himself. Be...more
A fascinating true story about a man named Simon Rodia who literally collected pieces of trash, such as broken bits of tile, bought a lot in California, and built imaginative, artistic towers from the trash on it. Known as the Watts Towers, these structures of glass, seashells and pottery have become a National Landmark created by a man who could barely read or write.
Good story about the Watts Towers, although my daughter and I preferred the text of the wonderful towers of watts.. Illustrations and collage wonderful..Had never heard of Watts towers.. I was telling our local librarian how much my daughter and I enjoyed Bottle Houses , the story of Grandma Prisbey..she recommended reading about the Watts Towers, and we have enjoyed this story of an immigrant's dream immensely!!
I checked this book out because I was thinking of writing my own book about Simon Rodia and the Watts Towers, which I have long loved and recently visited again. Dianna Hutts Aston has done such a splendid job, I don’t need to write my own version. Susan L. Roth’s collage illustrations are a perfect fit, mimicking Rodia’s own fantastic artwork.
The gorgeous collage illustrations in this book should inspire art projects for children of all ages. The story is a tribute to creativity and the completion of a dream by an Italian immigrant. I had not heard of the U.S. National Landmark that Simon Rodia created on a small triangular lot in Watts, California.
This book tells the story of a monumental work of folk art. An Italian immigrant, over decades constructed a gigantic series of towers, decorated with found glass, tile, shells, and other pieces. The art in the book matches this collage style, and the story captures the magical springing from the quotidian.
I love the collage-illustrations in this account of the creation of the Watts Towers, a stunning landmark that is a testament to perseverance. Pair this with Something Nice to See, a story about the relationship between Simon Roddia and a young neighborhood boy who struggles to read.
I was well pleased with this one and here's why. Even though the font was not perfect, the style of illustration was. For a story about a folk art mosaic, mixed media thing, it's a little genius to tell it using collage and mixed media. Also, the Watts Towers are awesome
This is a nicely written book about the Watts Towers. I love how real photographs of the towers are included in the illustrations. The colors are lovely.
The author's note is interesting and I like how kids are encouraged to make their own Watts Tower.
The author's note is interesting and I like how kids are encouraged to make their own Watts Tower.
Great illiustrations! The hand-made collages and artwork look so real and are child-like in design. Children will love to read this book and view all of the fantastic pictures and designs of the Watts Towers.
The story of "Uncle Sam" as Simon Rodia was known to the neighborhood, his search for broken bits of tile and glass, and his creation of an artistic landmark of Los Angeles. One man with his vision is all it takes ...
This book is just gorgeous. In every way. The story of a dreamer who created something big (and outlandish!) that reminds all of us to dream, and go for it. That's a great message to pass on to younger dreamers.
I wish I'd had this book 2 summers ago, when we went to see Watts Towers. I love that there is a section in the back of the book that give you ideas for creating your own mini-towers.
ALSC Notable 2012
ALSC Notable 2012
I was drawn to this one because it's a perfect fit for this year's summer reading program theme: Dream Big, READ! I had never heard of the Watts Towers and found the story interesting.
Interesting picture book with facts about the Watts Tower in CA, by Simon Rodia. There is also a "create your own Watts Tower" activity guide in the back. Great idea for art projects.
Perfect example of how ones man trash is another's treasure. I had never heard of the Watts Tower before reading this book, now I can't wait to make a road trip to go and see it.
This book is about Simon Rodia, who emigrated from Italy to the United States. He settled in Watts, CA, where he built towers out of broken pieces of glass and tile, and cement.
I love the artwork and I love the story! All of us have dreams and this book reminds us that we should go for our own dreams and not dismiss other's dreams.
The story behind the Watts Towers, now a national landmark, and Simon Roddia, the man who spent 34 years building them. Interesting and inspiring.
This picture book describes "Uncle Sam" and the towers that he built in Watts using found objects like broken tile and old ice cream parlor chairs. In the story, a girl earns a penny for each bag of cool looking junk that she collects for Sam, who uses the scraps for his towers. At the end, there is an Author's Note to give a little more detail about the mysterious Uncle Sam who was inspired to design the towers by things he saw in his childhood in Italy. A section on creating your own Watts Tow...more
Little known art piece, simple story, mosaic illustrations complement the subject.
The illustrations were a deal-killer for me. I would have loved more photos.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Dianna Hutts Aston was born in Houston, Texas, attended the University of Houston, and worked as a journalist for several years. LOONY LITTLE is her first picture book with Candlewick Press. She says, "It was one of the hottest summer days on record. My mind, of its own accord, kept wandering northward, to a wilderness of snow and ice, the Arctic. While listening to the news one evening, I heard P...more
More about Dianna Hutts Aston...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
