Books of Wonder

Areli Is a Dreamer : A True Story by Areli Morales, a DACA Recipient

Areli Is a Dreamer : A True Story by Areli Morales, a DACA Recipient - Main image
$9.49 $18.99 In stock

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In the first picture book written by a DACA Dreamer, Areli Morales tells her own powerful and vibrant immigration story.

When Areli was just a baby, her mama and papa moved from Mexico to New York with her brother, Alex, to make a better life for the family--and when she was in kindergarten, they sent for her, too.
 
Everything in New York was different. Gone were the Saturdays at Abuela’s house, filled with cousins and sunshine. Instead, things were busy and fast and noisy. Areli’s limited English came out wrong, and schoolmates accused her of being illegal. But with time, America became her home. And she saw it as a land of opportunity, where millions of immigrants who came before her paved their own paths. She knew she would, too.
 
This is a moving story--one that resonates with millions of immigrants who make up the fabric of our country--about one girl living in two worlds, a girl whose DACA application was eventually approved and who is now living her American dream.
 
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is an immigration policy that has provided relief to thousands of undocumented children, referred to as “Dreamers,” who came to the United States as children and call this country home.

Customer Reviews (5.0 / 5 · 5 reviews)

Christopher ★★★★★

I read it aloud to my fourth-grade class and even the squirmy kids went quiet the whole way through. Areli's own voice makes the immigration story feel personal and real, not like a lesson. The illustrations and her honest words sparked the best conversation we've had all year.

Steven K. ★★★★★

My niece is eight and asked me to read it twice in one sitting—she was glued to the way Areli’s story unfolds from baby to girl crossing borders. The pictures are bright and personal, but it’s the true firsthand voice that makes it hit so hard. A keeper for any kid learning about immigration.

Zoe R. ★★★★★

The way Areli’s own voice carries the story makes such a difference—my kids actually asked questions about immigration afterward, which never happens with our other picture books. The illustrations capture both the sadness of leaving and the joy of finding home, and it’s the kind of book that feels