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Dreamland
As it gradually gets harder to make a living, Uncle Gurney leaves his family and the tailoring business and heads West with his nephew Theo's drawings to complete a mysterious project.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
40 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1996
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 13, 2016
Good Reads #4
Dreamland
Summary – This is the story of an immigrant family who owns a tailor shop on the East Coast. While everyone in the family works very hard to make ends meet during hard economic times, Theo and his Uncle Gurney can’t help their imagination from running wild. Theo and his Uncle Gurney are constantly distracted at work and always “have their heads in the clouds.” Particularly Theo loves to sketch ideas of “dream machines” that operate in magical ways. One day, Uncle Gurney decides to “go West to seek his fortune.” Theo misses his uncle very much, but he continues to work harder than ever in school, at the shop and most importantly on his sketches that he sends to his Uncle each month. Although Theo’s family begins to lose hope, Theo remains hopeful of his Uncle. After seasons pass, they receive a letter from Uncle Gurney with 4 bus tickets to the West and a note that says he has a surprise for them. The family travels west and upon arrival they see a big amusement park with all of Theo’s dream machines in real life! The family decides to operate and make costumes for “Dreamland” and with hope, hard work and a little imagination the family has created their own good fortune.
Theme – The theme of this book is to always pursuit your dreams no matter what! This book definitely captures the American entrepreneurial spirit. Despite Theo’s father telling him to get some common sense and work hard at the shop, Theo and his uncle pursuit their dreams, no matter how far-fetched they may be and in the end they create something amazing for the world. The reader sees this in the story when Uncle Gurney borrows money from his brother, travels west without any home and takes a huge risk to pursuit his dream!
Personal Response – This story reminds me very much of my mother and father who took an entrepreneurial risk to pursuit their American dream. I remember growing up and observing the stress and hard times they experienced while owning and operating their own business. Yet, no matter how many people doubted or how hard it got, they continued to work hard for their dream. This is the same kind of spirit that is seen in the book Dreamland. Theo and his Uncle don’t let the hard times keep them from going after their dreams and they know success is not instant and nothing worth having in life comes easy.
Recommendation – I would recommend this book to elementary students because it is very entertaining with a great message, but also teaches children about a time in America’s history where many families traveled West to seek their own fortune. As students are expected to study and learn more and more and produce the highest STAR results or earn the highest grades, they could lose sight of how important imagination, wonder and following your dreams is. This book is a good reminder of students to follow their dreams, take a little risk, and always have hope.
Dreamland
Summary – This is the story of an immigrant family who owns a tailor shop on the East Coast. While everyone in the family works very hard to make ends meet during hard economic times, Theo and his Uncle Gurney can’t help their imagination from running wild. Theo and his Uncle Gurney are constantly distracted at work and always “have their heads in the clouds.” Particularly Theo loves to sketch ideas of “dream machines” that operate in magical ways. One day, Uncle Gurney decides to “go West to seek his fortune.” Theo misses his uncle very much, but he continues to work harder than ever in school, at the shop and most importantly on his sketches that he sends to his Uncle each month. Although Theo’s family begins to lose hope, Theo remains hopeful of his Uncle. After seasons pass, they receive a letter from Uncle Gurney with 4 bus tickets to the West and a note that says he has a surprise for them. The family travels west and upon arrival they see a big amusement park with all of Theo’s dream machines in real life! The family decides to operate and make costumes for “Dreamland” and with hope, hard work and a little imagination the family has created their own good fortune.
Theme – The theme of this book is to always pursuit your dreams no matter what! This book definitely captures the American entrepreneurial spirit. Despite Theo’s father telling him to get some common sense and work hard at the shop, Theo and his uncle pursuit their dreams, no matter how far-fetched they may be and in the end they create something amazing for the world. The reader sees this in the story when Uncle Gurney borrows money from his brother, travels west without any home and takes a huge risk to pursuit his dream!
Personal Response – This story reminds me very much of my mother and father who took an entrepreneurial risk to pursuit their American dream. I remember growing up and observing the stress and hard times they experienced while owning and operating their own business. Yet, no matter how many people doubted or how hard it got, they continued to work hard for their dream. This is the same kind of spirit that is seen in the book Dreamland. Theo and his Uncle don’t let the hard times keep them from going after their dreams and they know success is not instant and nothing worth having in life comes easy.
Recommendation – I would recommend this book to elementary students because it is very entertaining with a great message, but also teaches children about a time in America’s history where many families traveled West to seek their own fortune. As students are expected to study and learn more and more and produce the highest STAR results or earn the highest grades, they could lose sight of how important imagination, wonder and following your dreams is. This book is a good reminder of students to follow their dreams, take a little risk, and always have hope.
December 5, 2012
I love this story, because it shows how being creative and being different are not bad things at all. We all have a dream and a dreamland and just because one person's may not be as practical as another's does not make it any less possible. This is a rather long picture book, and is more difficult. I would recommend it to older readers.
May 28, 2008
imaginations/day dreaming, sewing/clothes, family
long - good for older kids
long - good for older kids
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews