Poems to Dream Together/Poemas para soñar juntos

Review
By Miami Family

Author Francisco X. Alarcón’s bilingual collection of Poems to Dream Together is a celebration of ‘family, community and the power of imagination.’ The poet recognizes the importance of questions more than answers; reminds readers, daydreaming is another way of brainstorming;’ is realistic about nightmares being dreams gone awry; remembers the past with affection even when it is sometimes painful, voices the power of farmworkers’ needs and hopes, and chases readers into an optimistic tomorrow. Artist Paula Barragan’s dynamic illustrations offer an authentic vitality that animates Alarcon’s thoughtful boy’s reflections. The flat, stylized, almost primitive quality of her artwork enhances the blending of word and image into a mood of cooperation whose exuberance illuminates the author’s intent.