Aboy’s dream gives his family hope.

Yokki and his family are Travelers, or Romani. They live in canvas tents, sell their handmade goods, and mend household objects when not working in the fields. Yokki has a special gift that is treasured; he tells “the best tales.” But one year, work is hard to find and money is scarce. Finally finding a place where they can rest, the family gathers around the fire and listens as Yokki tells a tale “from his dreams,” of a great horse called the Parno Gry. Still, things get worse for the Romani family as they are forced to sell almost all their possessions. Grandma, the Phuri Dai, agrees that a story about the horse will help lift their spirits. It is a tale of wonder, as the great white steed carries them all to a green land of plenty. And so the story remains with all the following generations, who “believe that as long as they value children’s imaginations, the Parno Gry will inspire them with new ideas and possibilities.” O’Neill, an honored Traveler storyteller from the British Isles, and Quarmby have collaborated on a gentle story of a different culture in which dreams inspire. Nelissen’s mixed-media illustrations are softly textured, colorful, and atmospheric.

A Romani story to share and treasure. (authors’ note, glossary) (Picture book. 5-8)

-Kirkus Review

In this traditional tale from the Romani**, a traveling family fall upon hard times after a poor harvest season leaves them with little work, and a cold winter sets in. Their only comfort in dark times is the storytelling of young Yokki, who relates fantastic tales of the Parno Gry, a magical (and massive) white horse capable of picking up the entire family and transporting them to a land of plenty. And one bitter night, the miraculous equine does just that...

Retold by Richard O'Neill, a traditional Romani storyteller from northern England, together with author Katharine Quarmby, Yokki and the Parno Gry is one of two folktales from the Romani people recently published by the Swindon-based publisher, Child's Play - the other being Ossiri and the Bala Mengro. I found the narrative here engaging, and think that the story of a family confronting hardship is one that many young readers and listeners will likewise find involving. The artwork by Marieke Nelissen is lovely, utilizing a subtle but appealing range of colors, and capturing the sense of warmth and family to be found around Yokki. There aren't many depictions of the Romani in children's literature that aren't stereotypical, so the appearance of these lovely books is cause for celebration!

**Note: I've always used the alternative spelling 'Romany,' which is the name of my tag here on LibraryThing, but have adopted the term used in the book itself, in this review. ( )