Lovely, vivid illustrations! ( )

Author Tony Johnston and illustrator Jim LaMarche, who previously collaborated on the lovely Winter Is Coming, return to the picture-book form here, producing a title that is as poignant and moving as it is breathtakingly beautiful. A young girl dreams of seeing a puma - AKA: mountain lion, cougar, painter, etc. - and, with the encouragement of her grandmother, sets out a salt lick, hoping to lure one close to her ranch home. Her grandmother advises patience, letting her know that some dreams are long-term, taking years to come to fruition, if they ever do. But eventually, after a long time, the girl is rewarded with a glimpse of one of these elusive "ghosts of the mountain." Deeply moved and inspired, the girl chooses a new dream: to help save the endangered puma, so others might someday see it as well...

It's the rare book that earns a full five stars from me, but Puma Dreams manages it, providing both the aesthetic and emotional epiphanies necessary to make it a true classic, in my estimation. The text is simple but poetic, with a frequently insightful turn of phrase that had me stopping and rereading. From the description of pumas as creatures who "keep shy of people and to themselves. Quiet. Like secrets," to the girl's feeling, after finally seeing this elusive cat, that "the puma will always glisten there, a great golden ghost," Johnston's language here is beautifully descriptive, and emotionally resonant. LaMarche's artwork, created using acrylics, colored pencil and opaque ink, is simply gorgeous, skillfully capturing the girl and her grandmother, and the majesty of the natural world around them. The artist is at the top of his game here, and his illustrations work perfectly with the text. Looking back, it seems astonishing to me that this book wasn't awarded a Caldecott Honor (at the very least) in 2020. I don't often second guess awards committees - such judgements are of course subjective - but they really missed the ball with this one. Highly recommended, to all picture-book readers looking for lovely stories about children and their interaction with the natural world, and to fellow Jim LaMarche fans. ( )

The wonderful combination of Tony Johnston and Jim LaMarch rends this a five-star book! A young girl has a dream of spotting a Puma. Pumas are rare and illusive. The illustrations of Jim LaMarche are always incredible. He is one of my favorite artist. Each image jumps from the page and into my heart.
I found this book special because of the bond between the girl and her grandmother. Her grandmother encourages her to be still and patient. They place a salt lick in the meadow in the hope that the dream will come true! ( )