Dream Animals – A Bedtime Journey

By Emily Winfield Martin

Year: 2013

Publisher: Random House Children’s Books, New York

Age: 5 - 9

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Bedtime, Picture Book

ISBN:  978 0 44981 080 4

This enchanting bedtime book about children’s journeys to Dreamland employs lyrical text to weave a web of dreams and twilight magic.

The illustrations are a combination of pencil sketches and elaborate finely detailed paintings that seem to be infused with life.  

Simply beautiful! :-)

Excerpt

There are animals from long ago

And twice as far away.

Their maps are made of starlight

And can’t be seen by day.

One Sleepy Night

By Sebastien Braun 

Year: 2013

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 2 – 4 years

No. of Pages: 20

Book Type: Bedtime, Board Book

ISBN:  978 1 84895 512 7

This charming bedtime board book is beautiful. And, of course, the central character is a baby bear on his way to bed. They stop by one sleepy owl, two badgers and three fireflies before finally calling it a night.

The rhyming text is memorable too!

Excerpt

Three sleepy fireflies litter and peep.

Softly, the wind whispers, “Hush! Time for sleep!”

One little bear has a wash before bed. 

The Easter Chick

Text: Geraldine Elschner

Illustrations: Alexandra Junge

Year: 2003

Publisher: North-South Books, New York

Age: 4 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Books

ISBN:  978 0 73582 076 0

A little chick (yet to hatch!) has heard exciting things about Easter. She is determined to wait to hatch so she can be an Easter chick. It sounds like a fine idea except that no one knows when Easter is.

Max the owl comes to the rescue. The other animals at the farm learn when Easter is and how the day is decided. Of course, the farm is delighted to welcome a happy, Easter chick. 

Excerpt

The little chick counted down the days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.

On Saturday night, there were three loud calls through the farmyard.

Whoooo hoooo!

Whoooo hoooo!

Whoooo hoooo!

Laura’s Star

By Klaus Baumgart, Wikipedia

Year: 1996

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 3 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Novelty Picture Book

ISBN: 978 1 85430 696 0

Sometimes, we find the gift of friendship in the most unexpected places.

Lonely little Laura wishes for a friend. Her wish is granted in the most extraordinary manner – a star comes whirling down from the sky! 

She brings it home and tends to it as a point has broken off.

Laura has a wonderful time with the star but its glitter begins to fade. She knows a star is happiest up in the sky and sets it free.

Oh yes, the star is all silvery, shiny and smooth to touch. Little ones will love it. :-)

The book is perfect in every way especially because of the almost magical quality of the illustrations.

Excerpt

Outside on the pavement lay a little star, fizzing sparks and colours like a giant sparkler.

“You’re beautiful,” Laura whispered, as she tiptoed towards it. 

I Love You, Little One

By Nancy Tafuri

Year: 1998

Publisher: Scholastic Press, New York

Age: 2 – 5 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Bedtime, Picture Book

ISBN: 0 590 92159 2

Here’s a beautiful “I Love You” book.

I loved this book because it borrows profoundly from nature - coolness of a river, shelter in a pond and the snugness of earth. It also celebrates other unique attributes of our world like the strength of a mountain and constancy of stars.

It might be a mite too intense for a little child but it might just find resonance somewhere in their little hearts. :-)

Excerpt

“I love you as the stars love you,

Constant and bright above you,

Giving you joy and peace and wonder.”

How to Catch a Star

By Oliver Jeffers, Wikipedia

Year: 2004

Publisher: Harper Collins Children’s Books, London

Age: 2 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 30

Book Type: Picture Book, Board Book

ISBN: 978 0 00732 461 3

This is a truly delightful board book guaranteed to set afire many a toddler’s imaginations.   

The book starts with the ubiquitous “Once there was a boy” and then takes us on a fantasy adventure into a little boy’s mind who dreams of catching a star.

At last, after many creative attempts at getting a star, his wish is fulfilled. In a way. :-)

Excerpt

The boy decided he would try to catch a star. E thought that getting up early in the morning would be best, because then the star would be tired from being up in the sky all night. 

I Love You as Big as the World

Text: David van Buren

Illustrations: Tim Warnes

Year: 2008

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 0 to 3 years

No. of Pages: 20

ISBN:  978 1 84895 644 5

This is a beautiful “I Love You” board book for little ones.

It uses the imagery of a bear and its cub to convey the beauty and vitality of one of the strongest bonds known to man, that of a parent and child. I found it a great bedtime read. The kids giggled and reveled in the creative expressions of love. :-)

Excerpt

I love you as strong as the wind.

I love you as soft as the dew.

I love you as far as a star.