Author Julius Lester and Illustrator Jerry Pinkney create a tale set in modern days; 'Albidaro and the Mischievous Dream'. Following the events of a dream gone awry and Albidaro, the Guardian of Children, plays a trick on his sister, Olara, the Guardian of Animals, in the mountains in Africa, where kids around the world, want one thing; to wake up one day and do what they want to and not have to listen to their parents. This story adds a connection to its readers. The can see these things happening around them(in a manner of speaking). Of course, there won't be any giraffes going golfing or skating dogs in reality. But if you feel most fables take place so far back in time that the style becomes a bore and the theme unaffective, this is a nice alternative. The story takes place at different points around the world in different homes of children. But all these kids of different cultures have two things in common that universally connect the world; teddy bears and dreams. The style has a bit of randomness to it halfway through the book with the animals doing whatever they want as well, with no consequences. With a type of Dr. Seuss wackiness the the text about what the animals do when they are free. But I believe that was the point with the theme of using the animals to prove a point to both the children and parents of the world as well as Albidaro and teach them a lesson.(and to listen to your teddy bears). ( )

Albidaro and the Mischievous dream certainly may have a place in my classroom, but I'm not sure what that place is at this point. The book is enjoyable, and light. It engenders a love of story and reading. That's good enough for me, but it' might not be my first choice. ( )