Dream Street - By Tricia Elam Walker ( Hardcover )

About the Book

"Real-life cousins pay gorgeous homage to the street they grew up on and the loving community that made their childhood special"--

Book Synopsis

Caldecott Honor, three time Coretta Scott King Award winner, and New York Times bestselling illustrator and her author cousin pay gorgeous homage to the street they grew up on and the loving community that made their childhood special.

Welcome to Dream Street--the best street in the world! It's where love between generations rules, everyone is special, and the warmth of a neighborhood shines. Here is the perfect book for parents to use to introduce children to the importance of community.

Meet kids like Azaria, who loves to jump double-Dutch one leg at a time; Zion, whose dream is to become a librarian; and cousins Ede and Tari, who dream of creating a picture book together one day. Meet grown-ups like Mr. Sidney, a retired mail carrier who greets everyone with the words, Don't wait to have a great day. Create one! and Ms. Sarah, whose voice is only a whisper but who has stories between the lines of her face that she'll share when you come close.

Illuminating this vivid cast of characters are vibrant illustrations that make this neighborhood--based on Roxbury, a neighborhood in Boston where Holmes and Walker grew up--truly sing.

Review Quotes

Praise for Tricia Elam Walker's Nana Akua Goes to School:

"A picture book . . . that captures a complex vulnerability that every child feels at one point or another." --The Wall Street Journal

"This lovely story explores the perennial fear of being different, while showcasing the great love between a grandparent and grandchild" --School Library Journal, starred review

"An open-hearted tribute to children with immigrant parents or grandparents." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

This beautiful picture book offers a helpful perspective on cultural differences within a heartening family story. --Booklist, starred review

Walker writes convincingly about how difference can cause unease among children, and her story offers a compelling portrait of a grandmother whose pride and poise put that concern to rest." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Offers viewers both the comfort of the familiar and, for those unfamiliar with West African arts, a tantalizing introduction to interpreting symbols. Most importantly, this calls for readers and listeners to have faith in youngsters to embrace a new concept with an open mind and enthusiastic spirit." --The Bulletin

"Lucky for readers and for Zura, her grandmother has a fascinating cultural tradition that, in her first book for kids, Tricia Elam Walker presents with extraordinary grace and nimbleness.... [An] eye-opening picture book." --Shelf Awareness

About the Author

Tricia Elam Walker is the author of one previous picture book, Nana Akua Goes to School which received four starred reviews; and a novel for adults, Breathing Room, under the name Patricia Elam. She is also a cultural and fashion commentator and blogger who has written for National Public Radio, the Washington Post, Essence magazine, HuffPost, and more. She practiced law for sixteen years prior to teaching writing in Washington, DC, and Boston. Tricia is an assistant professor of Creative Writing at Howard University.

Ekua Holmes is the acclaimed bestselling illustrator of several award-winning picture books, including Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer (Caldecott Honor, NAACP Image Award, CSK John Steptoe Award, Sibert Honor) Out of Wonder (CSK Award, NY Times bestseller) and The Stuff of Stars (CSK Award). A painter and collage artist, she graduated from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Visit her at ekuaholmes.com.