Imagine a World

by Rob Gonsalves, Rob Gonsalves (Illustrator)

Overview

Rob Gonsalves—master of magical realism—presents another mesmerizing picture book in his Imagine a… series, that will “stimulate wonder and imagination” (Booklist, starred review).

Imagine a world where the sky becomes the Earth; where a waterfall freefalls to become dancing women; where you can cut mountains out of curtains, and ships sail into the sky. This amazing world is what Rob Gonsalves has created. His vision inspires and astounds—and he wants to share that vision with you.

With stunning illustrations that stretch the limits of the imagination, this fourth installment in the Imagine a… series explores a world that is boundless and beautiful, inviting you to imagine a world of possibilities—to imagine this world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781481449731
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster
Publication date:	09/29/2015
Series:	Imagine a...
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Rob Gonsalves grew up drawing images from his imagination. Before becoming a full-time artist, Mr. Gonsalves worked as an architect. He began exhibiting paintings in Toronto in 1990, and his work is now shown throughout North America and beyond. His picture books are Imagine a Place, Imagine a Night, and Imagine a Day, which was the recipient of the Governor General’s Literary award. He currently lives in Ontario, Canada.

Rob Gonsalves grew up drawing images from his imagination. Before becoming a full-time artist, Mr. Gonsalves worked as an architect. He began exhibiting paintings in Toronto in 1990, and his work is now shown throughout North America and beyond. His picture books are Imagine a Place, Imagine a Night, and Imagine a Day, which was the recipient of the Governor General’s Literary award. He currently lives in Ontario, Canada.

Editorial Reviews

06/22/2015
Gonsalves follows previous books like Imagine a Place and Imagine a Night with another showcase for his substantial visual talents. Each lush acrylic painting presents an alluring optical illusion—sometimes two or three. In one scene, a boy sets toy boats out to sea; the boats become real vessels, while white-capped waves turn into snow-capped peaks, marooning one boat. The text tends toward the blandly inspirational (“imagine a world... where you’re invited/ to step out of your solitude/ and join in the joy that you make”), and while each individual image is a stunner taken on its own, a certain sameness starts to set in (trees, stalactites, books, cakes, and bricks all transform into cityscapes at various points) when viewed together. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"Gonsalves follows previous books like Imagine a Place and Imagine a Night with another showcase for his substantial visual talents." - Publishers Weekly

"Imagine a new gallery of technically adroit paintings featuring M.C. Escher-like shifts in images and perspective...peaceful, gently unsettling visions for young dreamers." - Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

10/01/2015
K-Gr 4—This is the fourth title in Gonsalves's series, and it lives up to its predecessors. The author/illustrator draws readers into the world of his imagination with a compelling invitation: "Imagine a world…." There is great detail in the exquisite paintings for children to explore, yet the style of the art enables them to interpret the deeper meaning for themselves. Each spread of verse and picture presents an entirely new adventure for viewers, and though the book is finite, it makes clear that the world of one's imagination is infinite. The influence of René Magritte's surrealism can be seen in the paintings, as one image forms another: curtains becoming sky, arithmetic equations becoming stars, books becoming steps, and the froth on waves becoming snow on a mountain. Gonsalves also incorporates Escher-like illusions: stepping stones morph into wall stones, and a red brick path morphs into red roofed houses. The text is just as powerful as the art, evoking the illustrations and extending readers' imaginations. This book is very versatile. It can be used to encourage creativity and critical thinking and can also be a contemplative read in which children get lost in all the worlds of possibility. VERDICT An excellent purchase that will enchant both reluctant and enthusiastic readers.—Gretchen Crowley, Alexandria City Public Libraries, VA

School Library Journal

2015-06-23
Imagine a new gallery of technically adroit paintings featuring M.C. Escher-like shifts in images and perspective: Gonsalves' fourth, and first solo, pictorial outing. The artist has one main idea, and from Imagine a Night (2003) on, he's worked it thoroughly. Each scene begins at one edge with a realistic outdoor or interior view containing one or two elements that shift in either gradual or sudden transitions as the eye moves across. Here, clouds become mountains or whole continents, for instance, fallen autumn leaves are transformed to swirls of monarch butterflies, a row of open books becomes a row of doorways, and a high waterfall is a troupe of lithe Martha Graham-style dancers by the time it reaches the bottom. He tucks human figures of diverse ages (almost all Caucasian), including several self-portraits, into the paintings. Here, for a new wrinkle, he provides his own one-sentence captions, written in the same vein as Sarah Thomson's lyrical comments in previous outings: "imagine a world… / …where the beauty that has fallen / can find a way to fly."It may be interchangeable with its three predecessors, but it still provides peaceful, gently unsettling visions for young dreamers. (Picture book. 7-9)

Kirkus Reviews