Come Catch a Dream

Last year, the brown-skinned narrator of this encouraging picture book took a spill at the city’s outdoor ice rink. Now, with the rink reopening for the season, the protagonist is determined to try again, and to execute a perfect spin. Does Momma think the child can do it? “Nothing is impossible,” she says. Again stepping onto the ice one day, the youth quickly hits the cold surface in another spectacular belly flop. But they get up, block out the crowd, and with “Momma’s magic words spinning out of my mind,” begin to whirl: “I am spinning./ I am spinning./ I am spinning./ Bet.” Thurman aptly renders self-aware kid talk, capturing the immediacy—and comedy—of the ice-rink experience and the deeper, driving power of dreams. Depicting a kid who is by turns impish and tenacious, digital artwork by Mil renders the smooth, glimmering ice as both adversary and launchpad for triumph. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4–8. (Nov.)