Imagine a World

Gonsalves follows previous books like Imagine a Place and Imagine a Night with another showcase for his substantial visual talents. Each lush acrylic painting presents an alluring optical illusion—sometimes two or three. In one scene, a boy sets toy boats out to sea; the boats become real vessels, while white-capped waves turn into snow-capped peaks, marooning one boat. The text tends toward the blandly inspirational (“imagine a world... where you’re invited/ to step out of your solitude/ and join in the joy that you make”), and while each individual image is a stunner taken on its own, a certain sameness starts to set in (trees, stalactites, books, cakes, and bricks all transform into cityscapes at various points) when viewed together. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)