When the World is Dreaming, by Rita Gray

Perfect for: 
Ages: 2-6
Occasion: non-sleepers, bedtime

Since the Bea was six weeks old, she's slept through the night. I gently kiss her little nose at 5:45, snuggle her into bed with two stories and whisper "sweet dreams, my darling sweetpea" as she farewells me from her room with a soothing chorus of the goodnight song from the Sound of Music. #blessed

....

That sound you hear? My toddler laughing maniacally and she recalls every night for the past almost three years that we have resolutely NOT SLEPT. #lolzmama

Regardless, I have never given up the hope of finding the perfect bedtime story that will lull her off to sleep and allow me to finally finish A Little Life (yeesh, that book is some serious hard yards).

Last week we found the totally adorable When the World is Dreaming by Rita Gray. Based on a poem by Chico-Ni, the story follows a little girl, exploring the garden, as she wonders what each animal dreams when at last they snuggle in to sleep. At last, little Dreamer falls asleep - and what does she dream of?

The illustrations by Kennard Pak are beautiful - soft and sweet and dreamy - and while the story is a little repetitive, the rhyming language is soothing - which is exactly what you want at the end of a long day and with a toddler who insists that it most definitely is not night time outside (it's 9 pm Bea. 9PM!).

This is a sweet one for toddlers and preschoolers, particularly animal lovers or the wild explorers among us. I recommend this book with love, and the fervent prayer that it will bring your children, and more importantly you, sleeeeeep.

the book and the bea x