10,000 AMERICAN CHILDREN
CHOOSE TO DREAM

For Immediate Release

Dream: A Tale of Wonder, Wisdom & Wishes by Susan V. Bosak
Original illustrations by 15 internationally acclaimed artists -- Wayne Anderson, James Bennett, Christian Birmingham, Mike Carter, Raúl Colón, Leo and Diane Dillon, Zhong-Yang Huang, Robert Ingpen, Steve Johnson and
Lou Fancher, Michèle Lemieux, Barbara Reid, Shaun Tan, Bruce Wood

Published by TCP Press
ISBN 1-896232-04-3, hardcover with dustjacket, 9 × 11¼ inches, 40 pp, full color, $17.95 ($23.95 CAN)

Contact: Brian Puppa, e-mail or call (905) 640-8914

APRIL 18, 2005 / Legacy Project / -- Children across America have voted -- and they want to dream!
Dream: A Tale of Wonder, Wisdom & Wishes by bestselling author Susan V. Bosak has been named as a Children's Choice, bringing its total number of awards to five. Children's Choice is a joint project of the International Reading Association and The Children's Book Council. Books are read and voted on by 10,000 children across the US to choose the ones they like best.

A book for all ages, Dream brings together 15 of the top illustrators in the world, including two-time Caldecott Medal winners Leo and Diane Dillon and Hans Christian Andersen Medal winner Robert Ingpen. Each illustrator offers a gorgeously illustrated page in a beautifully told poetic story about life's hopes and dreams from childhood to adulthood, inspiring both children and adults.

"Dream makes children aware of the life ahead of them and their own hopes and dreams," says Bosak. "It also reminds adults not to let go of their dreams."

The multilayered story begins at the end of the rainbow with the Dream Chest, a portal between "what is" and "what can be." A wise old star emerges from the chest as your guide. Readers are whisked away on a colorful journey of a lifetime. Whoosh through the teddy bears and castles of childhood, on yellow, red, and purple pages. Whoosh again into the labyrinths and mountains of adolescence and adulthood, moving from blue to black-and-white to gray. There are stops along the way to explore famous people and inventions, culture and learning. The story culminates in lush, fertile green with a symbolic Dream Tree. The old star encourages the reader to find a dream and follow it, "Be a dreamer... dream a dream, your very own dream."

"The world certainly needs practical people," says Bosak. "But it also needs dreamers. It needs people with creativity and courage to try new things and overcome obstacles. That's a hopeful message both children and adults need to hear: go ahead, be a dreamer!"

While younger children respond to the colorful design of the book, thought-provoking historical quotations on each page engage older children and even tempt teens. Endnotes offer fascinating insights into each illustration and artist. The book has also proven popular as an adult gift book, for milestones like a birth or graduation.

There are dozens of LifeDreams activities to go with the book, like making origami Dream Stars, joining the Club of Dreamers, and crafting your own Dream Chest.

The book's other honors include the iParenting Award, Adding Wisdom Award, Teachers' Choice for the Family Award, and being named by the American Booksellers Association as one of the best books of the year.

The International Reading Association is a nonprofit educational organization whose members include classroom and reading teachers, school administrators and supervisors, parents, college/university faculty, and others who are dedicated to improving reading instruction and promoting literacy worldwide. The Children's Choice list of selected books is designed for use not only by teachers, librarians, administrators, and booksellers, but also by parents, grandparents, caregivers, and everyone who wishes to encourage young people to read for pleasure.

Dream by Susan V. Bosak is available in bookstores. For more information and activities to use with the book, visit www.dreamstorybook.com or call 1-800-772-7765.

To receive a MEDIA KIT, REVIEW COPY of the book, or to schedule an INTERVIEW with Susan Bosak, contact Brian Puppa, Legacy Project, e-mail or call (905) 640-8914