Poems to Dream Together

by Francisco X. Alarcon illustrated by Paula Barragan A bilingual collection of poetry by acclaimed Chicano poet Francisco X. Alarcon celebrating family, community, nature, and the positive power of dreams to shape our future. A young boy dreams that "all humans / and all living / beings / come together / as one big family / of the Earth." So begins this delightful bilingual collection of poems by Francisco X. Alarcon. As we travel through the boy's colorful universe, we learn about his family and community working together and caring for each other and the world in which they live. Neighbors help repair adobe homes. The boy and his family share old photographs, tend their garden, and pamper Mama¡ who "works day and night." Tribute is paid to those who toil in the fields, and to Cesar Chavez. Most of all, we see how dreams can take many forms, from the fantastic imaginary ones that occur while we sleep to the realistic ones that guide our lives and give us inspiration for the endless possibilities of the future. Partly based on Alarcon's own dreams and family memories of growing up in Mexico and California, and vibrantly illustrated by Paula Barragan, these joyous, universal poems will inspire all readers to dream their own dreams for a better, compassionate, and loving world. "Close your eyes / and now get ready / to hop on a dream."