Yoko Tanaka

A dandelion is transformed into a 'real' lion in this dreamlike wordless picture-book from the marvelously talented artist Yoko Tanaka, setting off on a fantastical voyage around the world. Riding a rushing train, sailing on a tall-masted ship, encountering a cityscape of skyscrapers - the Dandelion has many extraordinary adventures, until finally he finds his way back to his home field, and the the life of an ordinary dandelion. But is it so ordinary...?

Although I have encountered the show more artwork of Yoko Tanaka before, in the illustrations for Kate Dicamillo's middle-grade novel, The Magician's Elephant, as well as in Laura Godwin's picture-book, One Moon, Two Cats, this was my first book where both storytelling and artwork were her own. I don't say 'writing' of course, because Dandelion's Dream is a wordless picture-book. Fortunately, Tanaka's artwork is more than enough to carry the story here, and the Dandelion's voyage is beautifully captured. I loved the sepia tones throughout, the play of light and dark, and the way in which the Dandelion provided the one colorful element. Recommended to picture-book readers who appreciate beautiful artwork and/or wordless narratives. show less

In a field of dandelions, one flower becomes an actual lion. It leaves the field and travels, having many adventures, but eventually ends up in the field again, where all the yellow dandelions have turned gray and fuzzy. As they begin to blow away, they make the shape of a lion, leaping across the sky toward the moon.
Yellow is the only pop of (digital) color in the charcoal art.

A beautiful wordless story for little ones about a flower with a powerful imagination, emotions, and a sense of adventure. Dandelion begins its journey under bright sunlight and, as the story progresses, decides to venture forth and explore the world. That journey involves dancing, hopping a train, hitching a ride on a big, soft sheep, then onto a sailing vessel to the big city. There more adventures, involving encounters with kind entities, both human and not, and a final flight of show more imagination. The story end as all adventures dandelions do, but I won't spoil the story. I love the final illustration and bet that many little ones with active imaginations will add great words as they follow along. show less

Dandelion's dream is a wordless picture book. It portrays very graphic artwork that is succeeding at expanding the reader's imagination to look outside the literal meaning. It helps to help children step outside the box of assumptions and looking to see the author's purpose or theme.