In the Spirit of a Dream Thirteen Stories of American Immigrants of Color

In the Spirit of a Dream is a beautifully crafted collection of poems celebrating the lives and achievements of thirteen American immigrants of color. Featuring figures like Yo-Yo Ma and Ilhan Omar, alongside lesser-known but equally inspiring individuals, this book highlights their journeys to the United States in pursuit of opportunity. Each biography is presented in an accessible poetic form by Aida Salazar and vibrantly illustrated by a diverse group of 14 first- and second-generation immigrant artists, making it a rich tapestry of experiences and artistic styles. It's an ideal read for ages 4-11, fostering discussions about resilience, cultural identity, and the power of dreams.

Celebratory, triumphant, and inspiring, In the Spirit of a Dream is a tribute to American immigrants of color, written in poems and illustrated by 14 first- and second-generation immigrant artists. In the spirit of a dream, many immigrants of color set out across continents, oceans, and borders, travelling to the United States in pursuit of opportunity. This book is a celebration of 13 American immigrants of color, from world-famous to local heroes, politicians, surgeons, athletes, activists and more. The biographies included feature engineer and astronaut Anousheh Ansari; Paralympic athlete and entrepreneur Alejandro Albor; surgeon Ayub Khan Ommaya; jazz musician Candido Camero; dancer Conceiçao Damasceno; Sriracha inventor and businessman David Tran; basketball player Dikembe Mutombo; author Edwidge Danticat; politician Ilhan Omar; comic artist Jim Lee; environmental activist Juana Guttierez; cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and the Undocupoets, a group of undocumented poets. These stories are told in poems by Aida Salazar and artwork by Alina Chau, Bianca Diaz, Dion MBD, Fahmida Azim, Gaby D'Alessandro, Jose Ramirez, Ken Daley, Nicole Xu, Paulo D. Campos, Rahele Jomepour Bell, Tracy Guiteau, Vanessa Flores, and Yasmin Imamura.