Dream Something Big: The Story of the Watts Towers

by Dianna Hutts Aston, Susan L. Roth (Illustrator)

Between 1921 and 1955, Italian immigrant Simon Rodia transformed broken glass, seashells, pottery, and a dream to "do something big" into a U.S. National Landmark. Readers watch the towers rise from his little plot of land in Watts, California, through the eyes of a fictional girl as she grows and raises her own children. Chronicled in stunningly detailed collage that mimics Rodia's found-object art, this thirty-four-year journey becomes a mesmerizing testament to perseverance and possibility. A final, innovative "build-your-own-tower" activity makes this multicultural, intergenerational tribute a classroom natural and a perfect gift-sure to encourage kids to follow their own big dreams.

Genres: Picture Books, Art, Nonfiction, Childrens, Biography, History, Architecture

34 pages, Hardcover

First published August 18, 2011

About the author

Dianna Hutts Aston was born in Houston, Texas, attended the University of Houston, and worked as a journalist for several years. LOONY LITTLE is her first picture book with Candlewick Press. She says, "It was one of the hottest summer days on record. My mind, of its own accord, kept wandering northward, to a wilderness of snow and ice, the Arctic. While listening to the news one evening, I heard Peter Jennings say, ‘The polar icecap is melting - or is it?’ In my mind, I heard, ‘The sky is falling!’ The whole concept for LOONY LITTLE literally fell from the sky and into my mind." Dianna Hutts Aston lives in central Texas with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon Rodia, whose neighbors knew him as Uncle Sam, moved from Italy to the United States when he was only fourteen. This inspiring and informative picture book tells the story behind his artistic creations fashioned from glass, tile, steel rods, and cement. He used no drawings or nails or bolts in building the structures that became known as the Watts Towers because they were built on a lot in Watts, California. Two of the towers are almost 100 feet tall. Back matter includes an Author's Note with photographs of the actual creations and suggestions for creating your own Watts Tower. The collage illustrations that fill every page are works of art in their own right, showing the vision of a man who saw beauty in what others might consider trash.

Pair this one with Magic Trash which describes the artistic vision of Tyree Guyton.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A colleague told me about this book and I was a bit skeptical that it would work. But it does! Dream Something Big is a fictionalized story about the very real Watts Towers. Built by Simon Rodia, a folk artist, the Watts Towers stand in Watts, California. The story describes Simon, known as Uncle Sam, and his commitment to creating a unique street art.

The author's note at the end is very helpful. In fact, I plan to read this part of the story to my students first. The story is a bit confusing and the gorgeous collages, white beautiful, can be difficult to interpret. This is a great book to challenge kids' thinking about art and creativity. Recommended for students in grades 2 - 4. Older and younger students may enjoy the idea and suggested art activity.

[Richie Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

28 August 2011 DREAM SOMETHING BIG: THE STORY OF THE WATTS TOWERS by Dianna Hutts Aston and Susan L. Roth, ill., Dial, August 2011, 40p., ISBN: 978-0-8037-3245-2

"He showed me and my children
the beauty of a broken angel,
a bowling ball,
a boot.
The usefulness of an airplane wing.
The patterns shells and rocks could make.
Uncle Sam was like a spider weaving his web
of steel and cement and lacy shadows.
The third tower was his last.
He wrote his initials and
'Nuestro Pueblo' in cement--
'Our Town,' a village for the world."

Between 1921 and 1955, Italian immigrant Simon (Uncle Sam) Rodia crafted the 100-foot-tall Watts Towers from rebar, cement, and wire mesh decorated with shells, rocks and thousands of tiles, pieces of pottery, and broken glass. He then gave away the property he owned, on which the Towers stood, and disappeared.

That, alone, which I learned from the author's note, is 100 times more than I previously knew about the Watts Towers. I'd heard of them primarily because they had provided inspiration for Elaine Konigsburg's wonderful novel THE OUTCASTS OF 19 SCHUYLER PLACE. I had no idea what the real towers actually looked like or that they'd been built before I was even born.

DREAM SOMETHING BIG is a picturebook celebration of the Towers, their history, and the triumph of creativity and audacity. Susan L. Roth's collages are dazzling and fun, and the story concludes with actual photos of the structures and the very informative author's note.

"Dream, do you dream,
Dreaming, do you?"
-- David Crosby

DREAM SOMETHING BIG is a true story that is filled with joy and wonder, a true story about looking beyond the necessities to the possibilities and the impractical. To reaching for the stars. It is a stellar follow-up to Dianna Hutts Aston's previous picturebook about a family's wonder over the first human walking on the moon.

Why?

Why NOT?

Richie Partington, MLIS
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[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the patchwork, mosaic feel of Dream Something Big. It really complimented the story of Sam Watts building his whimsical towers in California. Uncle Sam (or Simon) is represented as a creative but very quirky, scraggly man, who talks to himself as he collects scraps and trash and then combines and reshapes them into gigantic, spiraling towers covered with bits of color. It's not completely clear whether he's creative or crazy, but the overall results of his work are incredible, especially considering that he never used a single nail or ladder to make his towers, one of which reaches 99 feet high. The story is charitable and somewhat sentimental, and stresses Sam's immigrant story as an Italian who came to the US and wanted to do something big. While his motivation--and his ultimate disappearance from the spotlight after his art was completed--is somewhat mysterious, he seems kind as he explains to the neighborhood children what he's doing.

Uncle Sam, with his patriotic nickname, is following in the larger tradition of the American dream: of the idea that immigrants can come to the US and accomplish what they desire to do. The towers that he build also seem to follow in this vein, as he forms an amalgamation of the immigrant communities around him through using found scraps and including the words "Nuestro Pueblo" (Our Town) on the structures. In terms of change, Sam obviously changes the physical landscape of the neighborhood around him, as the train passengers see when they go past, and builds what becomes a National Landmark as a result of following his creative vision despite others' skepticism. Sam's way of being different from those around him runs counter to the traditional US ideas of "normal behavior" because of his amazing dedication, and his ultimate reluctance to be in the spotlight.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw this book on Goodreads and I just knew we had to read it. It wasn't available at our local library, so I went ahead and purchased it online. The narrative is short and inspirational, showing how a dream can become reality. It's a fictionalized child telling the true story of Simon Rodia and his Watts Towers.

The multimedia illustrations are the highlight of the story, with fascinating collages and mosaic backgrounds. The photographs of the actual towers at the end of the story, along with the author's note about Simon Rodia were very much appreciated, as they offered a bit more of Simon's story. We also liked the description of the art project that children could do that would create an object resembling the towers.

Overall, we thought this was an interesting story about a very unusual and creative man and we enjoyed reading it together. Our girls were amazed that "Sam built the Watts Towers without drawing plans or using a single nail, bolt, or ladder." After we finished the book, we donated it to our girls' art teacher at their elementary school.

interesting quote:

"People no longer call Simon Rodia foolish and crazy. They call him a man of genius who built 'a gigantic flower of folk art,' a man with a heart full of gratitude to the country that had invited him to dream without limits - the country that had given him the freedom to reach for the sky." (p. 30)

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told through the voice of a fictional child, this is a look at the building of the Watts Towers, a huge art piece that is outsider art and has been named a National Landmark. Simon Rodia, called Uncle Simon in the book, built the towers from glass, pottery shards, seashells and a vision. Each piece on the towers was selected by hand. The book shows the careful selection and then the transformation from garbage to art. This is about the artistic dream and the process more than the man himself. Because the building of the towers took decades, the story shows the girl grown into a woman with her own children. It is a story of an artist, his skill, and the strength and vision it took to make it happen.

Read the rest of my review at my blog Waking Brain Cells

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for Earth Day lesson with my first graders. I partnered it with a recycled newspaper tower build!

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pictures are all like a mosaic and the end of the book teaches you how to make your own version of the Watts Towers. Great read before going to LA in California since it is a National Monument...interesting back story about one man who made something in his time off and people didn't understand his vision.

[Rani · Rating 4 out of 5]

#Art #NationalLandMark #Immigrant #YoungReaders #PictureBook #BookReview #ChildrensBooks #amreading #Towers Simon Rodia built a national monument with bits of glass and shells.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

An odd book about an odd art installation and the man who created it.

Instructions in the back for creating your own miniature Watts towers.

[Lynne Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspiring story of an artist no one knew much about.

[Holly Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations in a book about a remarkable man creating a tower. Has activities for kiddos to create their own tower in the back

[Oak]

Not for me

[Taylor Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

multicultural
I did not like how this book did the illustrations.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Driven by his desire to "do something big," Italian immigrant Simon Rodia creates a series of massive sculptures from rebar beams, cement and a wealth of broken tile, glass and other found objects in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. Observed by a young neighbor, and then her children, he works for decades to create something wonderful, before eventually leaving the neighborhood, never to be heard from again...

Dream Something Big: The Story of the Watts Towers is the tenth book I have read from picture book author Dianna Hutts Aston, whose work on such titles as An Egg Is Quiet and A Rock Is Lively I greatly admire. Although told from the perspective of a fictional neighbor, the story here is a true one—Simon Rodia did exist, and so too did (and does!) his massive folk sculpture. I enjoyed learning a little bit more about the Watts Towers and their creator, as I have long been aware of this folk art monument, but didn't know too much about it. I still don't know very much about Rodia—apparently not much is known—but I do feel I have a better appreciation for the art he created. The story here emphasizes the role of creativity and art in the lives of ordinary people, and is well-matched by the collage illustrations of Susan L. Roth, whose work I have encountered before, in Joseph Bruchac's The Great Ball Game: A Muskogee Story . All in all, this was an engaging, thought-provoking book, one that both entertains and informs. I appreciated the story and the visuals, and particularly liked that there was a craft section at the back, to help children make their own small Watts Towers. Recommended to young artists and sculptors, and to anyone searching for children's stories about the Watts Towers or folk art in general.

[Ashley Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is a great book about the Watts towers in Watts, California. The reason why I thought it should have won the Caldecott award is because the pictures looked so realistic. The artwork in the book is by Susan Roth and she actually created collages on the pages to depict the towers. What I thought was most interesting about the illustrations in the book was that it actually looked like artwork that a child might do. The people are very big and stick out on the pages. Also there is a lot of cut up pieces of paper featured in the background. This was very appeasing to the eye for me. Having a daughter of my own I get to see artwork and illustrations to "stories" all the time. When I read this book, I could immediately see the similarities in the two. Not only do I like the artwork, but the colors are also beautiful. They are bright but also have a duller background which makes the illustrations look so kid friendly. Overall I think the illustrations in the book are awesome and that kids reading the book will really enjoy the books. This book should have won the Caldecott because this is something children would like to see. Artwork that looks like what they can create :)

[Jessica Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This nonfiction story of an ordinary man with an extraordinary vision is a text that highlights creativity and individuality. I think it is awesome for children to read this story and know that something which is ordinarily looked over and taken for granted was appreciated and turned into something beautiful by someone just like them; not a celebrity or music artist, etc. The paper art depictions of the characters makes this story visually appealing and unique in its story telling. The text of this book would require support from an adult in the classroom or it could also serve as a strong text for picture reading and retelling the story. Culturally, as Uncle Sam is an Italian man, children are exposed to variety in culture as they can either see someone who could be a part of their family or just someone who could be a neighbor; in either scenario, "appreciating the person for who they are" is a strongly communicated message in this book.

[Christine Turner]

Between 1921 and 1955, Italian immigrant Simon Rodia transformed broken glass, seashells, pottery, and a dream to "do something big" into a U.S. National Landmark. Readers watch the towers rise from his little plot of land in Watts, California, through the eyes of a fictional girl as she grows and raises her own children. Chronicled in stunningly detailed collage that mimics Rodia's found-object art, this thirty-four-year journey becomes a mesmerizing testament to perseverance and possibility. A final, innovative "build-your-own-tower" activity makes this multicultural, intergenerational tribute a classroom natural and a perfect gift-sure to encourage kids to follow their own big dreams.

Notes
Susan L. Roth is the author and illustrator of many beautiful books for children. To create the collages for her books, Ms. Roth uses papers from sixteen baskets in her studio, which are lined up by color.

[Deanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dream Something Big: The Story of the Watts Towers was extremely interesting to me, a 45 year old woman. I had to keep asking myself, however, as I read it "Who is this book for?"
Between 1921 and 1955, Italian immigrant Simon Rodia transformed broken glass, seashells, pottery, and a dream to "do something big" into a U.S. National Landmark. Readers watch the towers rise from his little plot of land in Watts, California, through the eyes of a fictional girl.
I didn't quite "get" what the Watts Towers were, until the very end of the book where the author finally includes a picture of the Landmark. The book might make more sense had the author's note come first. Included is a "Create your own Watts Tower" section with ideas on how to make your own "found object" masterpiece. A fun activity sure to give the book more meaning to its young readers.

[Emma Apple · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve seen the Watts Towers in a documentary before, so I knew of them, but didn’t know much about them or the man behind them. This story is from the perspective of a girl who grows up next door as they’re being built. She talks about the eccentric Uncle Sam (Simon Rodia) and how he spends his time collecting bits of broken garbage and turning them into something beautiful. She admires the process and the builder, and through her, we do too. It’s a heartwarming story that allows us to look at the human behind the art, and not just as a mysterious eccentric artist. It’s illustrated with collage, not my favorite style, but fitting for the subject. At the back is a short authors note telling the story of the Watts Towers and Simon Rodia, and then a crafting activity you can do yourself. Definitely worth reading and especially as an educational book.

[Sara Bland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great nonfiction about a man who was quirky but never gave up on his dreams. This man was Uncle Sam, and not the one you're thinking about. Everyone in town thought that this man was strange, but a young boy found him interesting and spent a lot of time with him. Over the years, Uncle Sam built the most beautiful "something big" that the town had ever seen. Long after he has gone, the "something big" still stands and is a national landmark. I would recommend this for elementary students who are interested in art and/or have a quirky dream about them as well. This book is very encouraging to anyone who reads it, and then you are left with a sense of awe when you finally see his "something big".

[Olivia Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uncle Sam, the main character of this book, collected broken parts of teapots, plates, and glasses. He worked daily in a tile factory except for Sundays and holidays. Aside from these days, he dogged continuously in collecting trash. For this reason, people thought Uncle Sam was crazy and some even excoriated him for doing so. Nonetheless, Uncle Sam was undeterred and continued to do this task. Years passed and he continued his work using cement, sand, and water until his fingerprints disappeared. The day came when he displayed his masterpiece to the world, which put the people in awe. His fame spread here and there, causing people to ride the train in order to look at his creation. Years later, Uncle Sam relinquished his tools and left without anyone ever seeing him again.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book describes "Uncle Sam" and the towers that he built in Watts using found objects like broken tile and old ice cream parlor chairs. In the story, a girl earns a penny for each bag of cool looking junk that she collects for Sam, who uses the scraps for his towers. At the end, there is an Author's Note to give a little more detail about the mysterious Uncle Sam who was inspired to design the towers by things he saw in his childhood in Italy. A section on creating your own Watts Tower using pipe cleaners completes the book. A great book for teaching folk art, recycled art and inspiring creativity!

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engaging story about Simon Rodia, an Italian immigrant who could barely read or write. For thirty four years, from 1921 to 1955, he fashioned broken pottery, tiles, shells, and glass into an imaginative land of birdbaths, fountains, and towers almost one hundred feet high, without nails, bolts, or even a ladder! He relied on rebar, cement, and wire mesh. This feat of creative perseverance is now a National Landmark and is located where it was created--East 107th Street, Los Angeles CA. Book is a tribute to an individual who put his architectural talent to good use. I wonder what he would have created with an actual education in architecture!

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dream Something Big is a story about the Watts Towers built by Simon Rodia, an Italian immigrant. He has been described as a man who was of great mystery. Looking at his famous towers, it's amazing to think that he built each one using mostly recycled glass and metal and that he built them alone. One of his towers was almost a 100 feet high. I couldn't imagine building something that tall without any help or at least a safety net.

I thought this was a touching tribute and my children enjoyed hearing his story. It taught them and me something new because we had never heard of Simon Rodia or the Watts Towers before. Great read.

[Beth Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One seemingly insignificant person with vision and unrecognized potential sees beauty and possibility where others do not. This “neighbor,” “dreamer,” and “foolish and crazy” immigrant expresses gratitude to his new country by creating a treasure from trash. The narrator grows from child to adult throughout this heartwarming and inspiring story.
The collages illustrating the story are a reflection of the story itself, using scraps to create art. These illustrations, as well as the towers themselves, draw the curious eye of the reader to examine the art more closely.
This is a book I keep going back to as a mentor text, a story that does everything right.

[Lisa Lathrop · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story about the Watts Towers in California and the Italian immigrant who built it. Beautifully illustrated in collage style...to match the style of the towers. The story of a man with a big dream and how he made it happen....and how his neighbors and the citizens of Los Angeles County never let it be torn down. This is definitely on my "to buy" list! There is an sculptural art lesson plan included in the back of the book for an easy connection between literature, art, and the real world.

[Tyler Marfin]

"Dream Something Big" by Dianna Hutts Aston is a unique multicultural picture book. The author uses collages of different artwork to illustrate the story of a uncle Sam. The story comes to life and is very colorful and artistic. The story itself is very interesting and welcoming to children of all ages. This multicultural picture book is both American and Spanish in nature. It is Spanish because the author includes some Spanish culture in the book. The whole frame of the page is filled with vibrant pictures and illustrations.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story itself is rather fascinating - an Italian immigrant uses "trash" to create a work of art on a monumental scale, before disappearing from the scene. The illustrations are nicely done, with an emphasis on mixed media, and they really do enhance the story. I think this would be a great book for elementary teachers to use to get kids to think about art and materials. I only wished for more actual photos of the Watts Towers.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Watts Towers are splendid. Want to see them sometime. Liked the photos of the real thing though over Roth's renditions which weren't always easy to "read." The story frame to -- a girl from the neighborhood views their construction - was a bit confusing when she mentioned her children seeing them -- yes, I got that the work took a long time, but this wasn't smoothly expressed. Think I like the older book about this better, though this is more colorful.