Description:
The Boy Who Dreamed Big is the story of how a foster child was inspired by his elementary school teacher to use his imagination to overcome his obstacles. Encouraged by his teacher and others, he learned that if he worked hard and believed in himself, his dreams would come true, and he could be whatever he wanted.
Review Quotes:
"In this first of four installments in The Boy Who... series, Alton Carter encourages readers to believe in themselves and their abilities to carry out their goals by dreaming BIG. Little Alton wishes to inspire other youth that nothing is impossible. No goal is unreachable. Told in poetic form, Carter uses a couplet rhyming scheme to convey to readers how their dreams as children can become their realities, if only they set their "goals high," keep their "feet on the ground," and "reach for the sky." The colored pencil illustrations are an intricate part of the storyline as they assist in showing exactly what each dream represents-- starting off with the child protagonist being embraced by his future adult self as he dreams of playing football on a team, entering an art gallery, graduating from school, and even being an author. The motif of bricks is always present, because it reflects Carter's life in a foster home where he was forced to carry bricks as a form of punishment. An interactive component of the book invites readers to seek-and-find "10 cleverly hidden objects" that inspired Little Alton to dream big and to share drawings of their own dreams with the author. This is truly a colorful poetic confection of a story, which reminds children that when they take ownership of their goals, their dreams will come true."
Sabrina Carnesi, In the Margins Book Awards Chair, June 11, 2018
"As I read Alton's new book, my mind was spinning with how I could use this book with students to think about their future, their dreams, and what they're doing now. I loved how the book was written. His style is easy to read, both silently and aloud. Another thing I noticed as I read the book, for the second time, was the diversity in the dreams. Too often "we" try to channel students into one career path. Alton's book encourages them to think about, to dream about, lots of possibilities. At the end of the book, to see a list of vocabulary to be used for further conversations with students, along with the hidden objects page, were added delights. Alton is a talented writer, a gifted speaker, and I am thankful he is using his gifts to teach others. Partnering with a talented artist, Janelda Lane, Alton has created a book that can be easily used by multiple age levels. I can't wait to read the next book in this series!"
Ann Caine, Ed.D., Retired Stillwater Public Schools Superintendent, Director of Education Leadership OK State School Boards Association