The Dreamer

Pam Munoz Ryan writes a fictionalized story of the real-life Chilean poet, Neftali Reyes, in the book, The Dreamer (Scholastic, 2010).  It is a beautifully written story with equally beautiful illustrations by Peter Sis.  Reyes, more well-known as Pablo Neruda, was a shy boy growing up with an overbearing father.  His father wanted him to grow up to be a professional but Reyes dreams of being a writer.  We know that eventually he does become a successful poet.  Ryan weaves her own poem,  "I am poetry" throughout the book.  The use of blue ink through the book is also reminiscent of Reyes.