Imagine a Night by Sarah L. Thompson (2003) seems to have text written specifically for Rob Gonsalves' unique paintings. This is a large book so as to highlight the artwork. The book jacket compares Gonsalves' paintings to "the richness of a Chris Van Allsburg". I guess so, because I'm not sure who else paints surrealism with such precision for children. Let me try to describe the cover art: A landscape of tall evergreens and cloudy blue sky are reflected in a lake. The spaces between the reflections of the trees gradually transforms into a line of young women emerging from the water. Thompson's text is: "Imagine a night. . . when moonlight spills across the water to make a path for the lightest feet." These images depict "that delicious time between sleep and wakefulness. . ."
I'm also reminded of the art in The Painter and the Wild Swans and possibly the art of David Wiesner .
