“Mohammadi has a marvelous understanding of the role of repetition in a children’s picture book text . . . Safakhoo’s art is sublime. I absolutely adored the facial expressions of the seventh horse (which has, and I mean this in the best possible way, a kind of Berkeley Breathed quality to it).”
–Betsy Bird, School Library Journal
“Not a folktale, not a poem, not a dream, but some whirling mixture of the three, this lulling recitation by Iranian author Mohammadi affirms generosity as a natural impulse . . . Repeating phrases and softly amusing drawings give this imaginative realm of loving-kindness a gossamer touch.”
—Publishers Weekly
“This fantastical adventure draws readers in with lyrical text and mesmerizing illustrations. Each page turn reveals a new layer of fantasy . . . Deft composition pairs slightly rough, stonelike textures with exquisite details . . . Though the story is ultimately joyous, there’s an emotionally compelling sense of longing that thrums just under the surface.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“In the Meadow of Fantasies is bursting with warmhearted inspiration. Most likely this book will comfort in many ways. As a bedtime story, as a tale for horse lovers everywhere, as a companion in the question-laden wonder years of childhood, as a stunning example of where imaginations lead.”
–Cindy Helms, New York Journal of Books
“Delicate pen-and-ink drawings filled with watercolor wash relate a dreamy story of a little girl confined to bed . . . The girl’s legs are encased in splints, but a spinning mobile of horses overhead provides comfort and diversion . . . I especially enjoyed the animals arrayed at a dinner table with plates of grass, each with their fanciful dreams erupting from the heads.” .”
–Youth Services Book Reviews
“Between the captivating art, the lyrical narration, and the fantastical story, readers will be swept away into a little girl’s wonderland . . . In the Meadow of Fantasies is an ode to imagination and a celebration of beautiful creation.”
–Victoria DiMassa, Glass of Wine and Milk
“When you pick up this book, you are holding something precious in your hands—a velvety, folkloric tale of seven horses and the young disabled girl who dreams of them from her bedroom . . . Nooshin Safakhoo’s breathtaking illustrations left me sighing in awe and contentment. A dream of a book!”
–Mary Wahlmeier Bracciano, Bookseller at The Raven Book Store (Lawerence, Kansas)
“Characters with disabilities are rare in children’s books and even rarer is a character with a disability who gets to be a character first, rather than serving as a teachable moment or discussion point for inclusion and diversity. To have the opportunity to read an engaging and enchanting story with a protagonist as one with a disability—not to mention, a story in translation—is a joy.”
–Melanie Ho, Asian Review of Books
“This picture book follows a girl and her seven imaginary horses—some of whom are blessed with gifts like homes, and dreams, and shades of being, but one of whom is not . . . Delicate line illustrations with dazzling touches—pools of color; trees sprouting from imaginative heads; moonlit celebrations—are used to follow along as he, and the girl, blossom.”
–Michelle Anne Schingler, Foreword Reviews
“This is a joyful book about sharing and imagination – simply drawn in a palette of mainly natural colours one would find in nature . . . A wonderful opportunity to read a work in translation and appreciate the worldwide message that we all need fantasies and imagination.”
–Love Reading 4 Kids
“In the Meadow of Fantasies is a gently profound book on sharing, imagination, and caring for others.”
–Kendal A. Rautzhan, The Canton Repository
“Hadi Mohammadi’s evocatively named In the Meadow of Fantasies . . . tells a tender and beguiling story about a child’s imagination and is a story of generosity . . . There is an underlying joy that permeates the story, as we see the girl — and it’s understood that she’s not able to get about on her own two feet — run and engage in imaginative play with the seven horses. She, in essence, creates her own agency with her imagination.”
–Julie Danielson, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
“The story works using repetition so the child can learn the words and join in . . . Your child is going to love it and will want to read it over and over again. It’s a perfect book to start introducing reading and counting . . . An amazing book to sit and read together.”
–Lady Reading blog
“Part fable, part fairy tale, Mohammadi’s story feels both timeless and contemporary . . . This book is about the ways we are created by the people, culture, and community around us. Safakhoo’s illustrations are gloriously full of expression and movement.”
–Timothy Otte, Wild Rumpus Books
“The illustrator, Nooshin Safakhoo, has a very unique and fanciful way of visualizing horses and their environment. The colors are bright but not overbearing… all are soft natural shades evoking the feeling of being in the middle of a forest . . . The translator, Sara Khalili, perfectly captured the feel of a grandmother spinning this tale for her little ones. It is definitely a very enjoyable “must read” for you and yours.”
–Sybrina’s Book Blog
“In this imaginative adventure, a girl and seven horses embark on a fantastical journey. This is a lyrical parable that invites multiple readings and interpretations as the horses gather to share their visions and dreams. The poetic language and stunning illustrations effortlessly coalesce into themes of wonder and delightful discovery.”
–Mildred L. Batchelder Award Committee
“Repeated poetic refrains and imaginative illustrations combine to create a compelling tale from the rich storytelling tradition of Iran.”
–Marie A. LeJeune, Batchelder Award Committee Chair
“Hadi Mohammadi’s text, with its multiple repeated words, has a deceptively childlike, mesmeric quality about it that transports readers to another time and place. And Nooshin Safakhoo’s illustrations are surreal and sublime . . . In the Meadow of Fantasies is a beautiful picture book for all to enjoy. It has a . . . richness and depth that invite further thought and exploration.”
— Global Literature in Libraries Initiative
“In the Meadow of Fantasies prompts valuable conversations about sharing, accommodating, and celebrating one another.”
–Mary Ann Cappiello and Erika Thulin Dawes, Text Sets and Trade Books
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