As a young girl finds solace in her toys, a turtle sets off on a mission to deliver dreams in this comforting tale of parallel narratives told in spare text and lushly detailed, luminous illustrations.
Beyond the city and over the sea is a forest of dreams. At the edge of the forest lives a turtle—the Dream Keeper. In a small boat, the turtle sets off on a tumultuous journey to deliver dreams to sleeping souls nearby. Meanwhile, a young girl, scared by the nighttime shadows in her room, finds consolation in her toys . . . but cannot sleep. While their stories unfold side by side, the girl and the turtle must each harness their courage and overcome their fears as their worlds intertwine in the most wonderful, magical way. Brimming with glowing, dreamlike scenes, Anna Walker’s picture book is a visual sensation that articulates the boundless power of inner strength and will offer companionship and reassurance for young children as they drift off to sleep.---from the publisher
40 pages 978-1536247466 Ages 3-7
Keywords: turtles, dreams, sleeping, journey, boats, courage, overcoming fears, reassurance, alternating perspectives, 3 year old, 4 year old, 5 year old, 6 year old, 7 year old
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"What if there lives a Dream Keeper ... and when you're scared of shadows, the Dream Keeper sees?
As evening draws on, the little girl finishes her drawing , switches on her nightlight, arranges her little soft toys just so around the light so they will not be afraid of the dark and she is, and settles into bed after a story with her mum...
At the same time, on a faraway island, a turtle mixes up a dream, and guided by lantern light and watched by his animal friends starts his journey through the forest, across the water in his little boat and even though it is tossed by the storm and some of the drops of the dream still, he perseveres...
And as the little girl's nightlight goes out and she is surrounded by ominous shadows, gathering her toys close for extra comfort, so too does the turtle's lamp but he finds himself on the shore being offered light by its animal inhabitants, which are remarkable like those in the girl's arms and in her drawing, so he can continue his journey.
As one prepares to face the uncertain shadows of the night, the other brings a light to banish them in this story that is primarily told in the illustrations in murky, muted colours that deliberately blur the lines between awake and asleep...
While at first read it appears to focus on the common childhood fear of the dark, it has a broader application to any "darkness" or fear that is threatening to overwhelm the reader, as Walker concludes with Victor Hugo's quote, "What makes night within us may leave stars." Thus, it becomes a story about courage, overcoming fear, hope, friendship, co-operation and light-at-the-end-of-the tunnel, even silver linings. Like the turtle bringing the light and lightness to the little girl's dreams, there may be delays, even detours, but the destination will be reached through imagination, determination and perseverance.
In an interview about the story's origins, Anna Walker says she was inspired by the idea of "a child having a creature that protects them. A creature that helps the child know that the courage they need is within… [and that they] might think about their own Dream Keeper and know that their imagination can provide a lantern in the dark when needed.' It echoes the belief of First Nations peoples that each has a totem, an element from the natural world -an object, plant or creature - that serves as a spiritual emblem that both protects and guides them while also reinforcing their relationship with and responsibility for the land, adding yet another dimension to an already deeply-moving and personal story.
Look for this one among the award winners in coming months.
Recommended by: Barbara Braxton, Teacher Librarian, New South Wales AUSTRALIA
See more of her recommendations:
500 Hats http://500hats.edublogs.org/
The Bottom Shelf http://thebottomshelf.edublogs.org/
