Sunday, August 31, 2025

A Hatful of Dreams by Bob Graham



From this warm and loving house at the end of the street, dreams take flight and light the way to a brighter tomorrow. A heartfelt tale of hope and love, perfect for children and grandparents to share together, written and illustrated by master storyteller Bob Graham. Walker Books

From the front cover with that large, pink comfy chair, reminiscent of Let's get a Pup, to the title page which links so beautifully with Rose meets Mr Wintergarten and of course the little family who have surely stepped off the pages of Oscar's First Birthday - all fans of Bob Graham will be filled with happiness that we can once again enter his story world. Oh, and you will surely recognise grandad - yes, I am sure this is Bob Graham himself. 


Illustration from Oscar's Half Birthday

I collect books by Bob Graham so I went back and looked at these three books plus a couple of others. Have you noticed the way Bob Graham often highlights a small family home and his illustration contrasts this against the surrounding neighborhood for example the lightning bolt house in Max or the new house in Rose meets Mr Wintergarten. 


Houses from Max; Grandad's Magic and Rose Meet Mr Wintergarten

The title page of A Hatful of Dreams

Bob Graham is also a master of the interiors of homes. You need to take your time to notice little details such as a discarded teddy bear, washing up on the sink, slippers, the art on the walls, and the really comfortable furniture. Bob Graham is also a master of warm hugs.


Illustration from Let's Get a Pup - a comfy lounge


Illustration from Grandad's Magic - another comfy lounge

Some other things to delight you in A Hatful of Dreams: 

  • The end papers show Millie and Sonny playing tether tennis (I loved this game when I was young)
  • Chickens, a dog and washing on the clothesline
  • Look for the photo of Grandad with his wife - we can infer she has died but grandad still loves her deeply. I love that this is now an extended family and Gradad has moved in with his daughter and the three young grandchildren
  • Grandad has a tattoo of a bluebird on his hand
  • Here is a beautiful phrase "Maggie! Top of the pile, her tail wagging, with a puppy smell of fresh walnuts."
  • You can link this book with the theme of urban renewal - we also saw this in the book A Bus Called Heaven
  • "Wrappers off toffees" - go back and read Greetings from Sandy Beach - yes there are toffees there too

Blurb Penguin Random House Canada: The Mile End Road once sparkled in sunshine and children’s laughter, until hard times came and all the people left, taking with them the sun, moon, and stars. But one family stayed on this broken-down street: the Andersons, in their house with a warm little glow, where kids bounce happily on Dad’s back, and Grandad’s fingers squeak on guitar strings as he jokes about all the secrets and dreams he keeps under his hat. “Grandad, I’ve seen you without your hat,” insists Millie, “and nothing was there except your hair.” But what will the children see the next time he doffs his hat? As always with Bob Graham, the tenderness is in the details: strewn-about stuffies, tumbling children, a blue-jeaned grandad with one leg thrown over his chair arm. It’s a story where even a derelict neighborhood can spark back to life, and where the love of a playfully bantering grandad can conjure a whole universe of light.



Briony Stewart introduces the slogan here.

Today the CBCA announced the 2026 Book Week slogan or as some people call it the theme - A Symphony of Stories. There is plenty of time of course but I am sure you will want to gather a collection of picture books with musical references. In A Hatful of Dreams grandad has composed a little tune. He plays a fragment of it on his harmonica and mum joins in with her violin. Oh, I need to mention there is a harmonica (can you spy it) on the limited edition print Bob Graham did for IBBY Australia many years ago.


IBBY Australia limited edition print by Bob Graham
Notice the harmonica which links with his newest book A Hatful of Dreams

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