What do you think?
Rate this book
Dream Animals: A Bedtime Journey
Take a bedtime journey with the New York Times bestselling author of The Wonderful Things You Will Be and discover the adventures that await while you dream!
You only have to close your eyes
And when you snuggle in….
You’ll be carried to your dream tonight
On wing or paw or fin
Snuggle into bed and discover what your dream animal might be and where it could take you! Could it be a bear who brings you to bake pastries? A fox who ushers you into a magical forest? Mermaids with whom you can sip tea?
With a perfect nighttime rhyme and gorgeous illustrations, this book is the ideal addition to any bedtime reading routine. Little ones won’t mind closing their eyes once they learn what wonders await in their dreams.
“A rare, enchanting mixture of graceful rhyming verse and adorable, Hummel-sweet illustrations. . . . Nursery-worthy .” – The New York Times
You only have to close your eyes
And when you snuggle in….
You’ll be carried to your dream tonight
On wing or paw or fin
Snuggle into bed and discover what your dream animal might be and where it could take you! Could it be a bear who brings you to bake pastries? A fox who ushers you into a magical forest? Mermaids with whom you can sip tea?
With a perfect nighttime rhyme and gorgeous illustrations, this book is the ideal addition to any bedtime reading routine. Little ones won’t mind closing their eyes once they learn what wonders await in their dreams.
“A rare, enchanting mixture of graceful rhyming verse and adorable, Hummel-sweet illustrations. . . . Nursery-worthy .” – The New York Times
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 22, 2013
About the author
Emily Winfield Martin
32 books493 followersEmily Winfield Martin makes paintings, books, and other things. When she was small, she spent every moment drawing, reading, dressing rabbits in fancy clothes, and having many peculiar daydreams. When she grew up, she began to illustrate those peculiar daydreams, and after college, she created a cottage industry called The Black Apple, which sells all manner of art and etceteras.
She works in a tiny nook of a studio filled with old children's books, wind-up toys, and stacks of fabric. Her work is inspired by fairy tales, music, myths, carnivals, children's books from the late 19th through mid 20th century, her favorite films, and autobiography.
She likes bears and sea monsters and seashell pink poppies. She lives and works among the giant fir trees of Portland, OR.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/theblackapple
She works in a tiny nook of a studio filled with old children's books, wind-up toys, and stacks of fabric. Her work is inspired by fairy tales, music, myths, carnivals, children's books from the late 19th through mid 20th century, her favorite films, and autobiography.
She likes bears and sea monsters and seashell pink poppies. She lives and works among the giant fir trees of Portland, OR.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/theblackapple
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 297 reviews
January 10, 2018
"Or will you sail on moth wings
To the edges of the blue
To find the very moon and stars
Are waiting just for you?"
Donovan's review of this nudged me to read it. The idea is this: When you fall asleep, it is dream animals that take you to the amazing dreamland (too far to go it alone, sleepy little feet are too tired, and they can read the starlight maps). Sweet idea, sweet poem, sweet illustrations by the author!
To the edges of the blue
To find the very moon and stars
Are waiting just for you?"
Donovan's review of this nudged me to read it. The idea is this: When you fall asleep, it is dream animals that take you to the amazing dreamland (too far to go it alone, sleepy little feet are too tired, and they can read the starlight maps). Sweet idea, sweet poem, sweet illustrations by the author!
March 16, 2024
One of the most gorgeous illustrations i saw in a picture book. ❤❤️❤️❤️
June 29, 2017
So far this is my favorite children's book that I've read with Ryder.
The illustrations are beautiful and the writing is perfect. Every single time I pull this book down Ryder gets excited, smiles and reaches for it.
The illustrations are beautiful and the writing is perfect. Every single time I pull this book down Ryder gets excited, smiles and reaches for it.
September 2, 2015
I bought this book on the whim for my little boy and was very pleasantly surprised. In it's basic it is a lovely bedtime story, great for that bed time reading. The premise is, when the children go to sleep, what will their dream animal be and what kind of a dream will it carry them too. Love the rhyming of the storytelling, the writing is lovely and the illustrations are simply beautiful. I really enjoyed it myself and will be adding this book to our night time collections reading. So glad I discovered Martin and her creative storytelling. I will be adding more of her delightful books to my collection soon! Maybe even gifting one to my niece for her birthday :)
May 25, 2014
So exquisite! I hope this author writes 100 more books.
September 9, 2020
Beautiful images, full of whimsy.
May 27, 2014
This book illustrations are just beautiful! The story is very lyrical and I just fell in love with it. It's one of those book you want to memorize and tell back to a child. A must for me to have when my nephew comes over.
December 27, 2017
Whimsical rhymes and illustrations, one of my favorite bedtime books to read to my daughter.
May 4, 2019
This has fast become a family favorite!
December 28, 2019
"There are animals from long ago / And twice as far away. / Their maps are made of starlight / And can't be seen by day. / These creatures are the reason / dreamers get where dreamers go. / Dreamland is too far to run / And sleepy feet, too slow." And so begins this lovely bedtime book, in which a series of dream animals help children on their way to their dreams, sharing in the pleasures of elfland, of a tea party with mermaids, and of a circus almost entirely run by animals. As the narrator concludes at the close of the book, "Whatever dream you visit / When night replaces day, / Your furred, or finned, or feathered friend / Will surely know the way."
I've been meaning to pick Dream Animals up since I first saw its lovely cover, and I am glad I finally have! The rhymed text offers a gentle, contemplative reading experience, while the gorgeous artwork captures the enchantment of dreams, in all their many forms. My favorite dream journey (naturally), involved the red fox escorting a young girl to her fairy dance. I understand that Emily Winfield Martin first gained notice selling her artwork on Etsy, and had built up a loyal following before publishing this, her first children's book. I wasn't familiar with her work before encountering this picture-book, but I will certainly be seeking out more of it. Recommended to anyone looking for good bedtime books for young fairy-tale lovers, and to anyone who enjoys beautiful picture-books.
I've been meaning to pick Dream Animals up since I first saw its lovely cover, and I am glad I finally have! The rhymed text offers a gentle, contemplative reading experience, while the gorgeous artwork captures the enchantment of dreams, in all their many forms. My favorite dream journey (naturally), involved the red fox escorting a young girl to her fairy dance. I understand that Emily Winfield Martin first gained notice selling her artwork on Etsy, and had built up a loyal following before publishing this, her first children's book. I wasn't familiar with her work before encountering this picture-book, but I will certainly be seeking out more of it. Recommended to anyone looking for good bedtime books for young fairy-tale lovers, and to anyone who enjoys beautiful picture-books.
December 26, 2015
I might be a little biased as I read this book when I got to meet the two new additions to my family, my Grand-Nephew Ezra & Grand-Niece Eva, so I was is a particularly happy mood. But this is still a delightful story of kids heading off into the land of dreams with the animal companions (who were, most often, their stuffed animal of choice) to guide them and keep them company. This would an excellent bedtime story and the pictures are as gorgeous as the story is wonderful.
July 8, 2014
I loved these illustrations so much I wanted to fall asleep so I could ride one of these dreams animals to the fantastic places Emily Winfield Martin has dreamed up for us (please let it be the fox). Something I else I loved was that this wasn't the land of blonde white children either – children of color can easily find themselves. Beautiful bedtime book.
December 27, 2020
“Or will you sail on moth wings, to the edges of the blue....”
LAMP
LAMP
December 8, 2016
Too twee for me. I'm not surprised to see that the author is childless. And who has dreams this organized and lovely, anyway? The only one that resembles the kinds of dreams I know about is the first boy: "Perhaps a bear will carry you to meet peculiar friends... who set their misfit table for a feast that never ends." If this is successful in your family, yay you. Personally, I think Go the Fuck to Sleep (though I've not read it) is more fitting more often.
August 24, 2016
This remains one of the most beautiful children's books of all time. A clear winner for young children.
May 2, 2016
Beautiful paintings. So pretty.
August 16, 2016
Lush illustrations accompanied by a lyrical and dreamy bedtime poem. Makes me wish my boys were younger.
December 1, 2021
The illustrations.. oh my god! ❤ I had my eye only for them in this book. Beautiful, beautiful and beautiful!
October 31, 2019
OMG! This is the sweetest story before bedtime!
Amazing idea, attractive picturing and joyful rhymes:
"Whatever dream you visit
when night places day,
Your furred, or finned, or feathered friend
Will surely know the way."
LOVED IT!
Amazing idea, attractive picturing and joyful rhymes:
"Whatever dream you visit
when night places day,
Your furred, or finned, or feathered friend
Will surely know the way."
LOVED IT!
December 27, 2021
This book is beautiful and reads very well. It won't serve much of a purpose other than having a fun bedtime story with animals but that is the only purpose it needs to serve. My daughter, almost two, would rate this a 6 of 5 if she had an account.
March 21, 2018
This book is truly what dreams are made of.
January 10, 2019
Beautiful illustrations and imagery that got my 3 year imagining and talking about so many things!!
September 2, 2019
I loved the pictures and the rhyming! Dreams have endless possibilities!
January 6, 2021
I want to go to the Dreamland!!!
May 15, 2023
The kind of book you'd give as a gift. Beautiful pictures.
July 5, 2023
Excellent illustrations, a fun story to get kids excited for bedtime and the adventures that sleep can bring. I really liked the idea of sleep being something to look forward to.
March 21, 2024
“To find the very moon and stars
Are waiting just for you?”✨🕊️🪐🌙❤️❤️
Are waiting just for you?”✨🕊️🪐🌙❤️❤️
July 27, 2022
A very cute book, with beautiful illustrations.
July 6, 2023
Short and sweet story about what you can dream about in dream land. Great book for bedtime. Beautiful illustrations.
October 27, 2020
Beautiful
Beautiful illustrations. Nice rhythm. Very Imaginative. We enjoy the book over and over. Love the giant animal guides. Bunny and cat are our favorite
Beautiful illustrations. Nice rhythm. Very Imaginative. We enjoy the book over and over. Love the giant animal guides. Bunny and cat are our favorite
Displaying 1 - 30 of 297 reviews