What Wonders Do You See... When You Dream?

Written by Justine Avery

Narrated by Robert Brown

"An outstanding alternative to most sleep books." —D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

This is an invitation to a new nighttime ritual, a going-to-bed book that reminds us all that bedtime can be the most wonderful time of all...

The spellbinding style and alluring rhythm of Justine Avery's writing are brought to life by Liuba Syrotiuk’s dreamlike watercolor illustrations to inspire children and adults to set aside the day’s excitement and drift into the adventure of sleep itself.

What Wonders Do You See... When You Dream? encourages calm and creativity, relaxation and imagination, and welcomes young and old alike to the blissful, magical time of bedtime.

************************************************************

"Kids realize that sleep is an opportunity; not a limiting factor to potential fun ... An outstanding alternative to most sleep books." (Midwest Book Review)

"Delightful bedtime tale, superbly illustrated ... Perfect for a restless child at bedtime ... Highly recommended." (The Wishing Shelf Review)

"The book almost acts like a lullaby ... A way for a parent to strengthen the bond with their child ... Perfect for any bedtime." (Entrada Publishing)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Suteki Creative
• Release date: Mar 26, 2020
• ISBN: 9781948124331

Justine Avery

If you love where storytellers Neil Gaiman, Edgar Allan Poe, Roald Dahl, O. Henry, and Ray Bradbury take you, then you have a new name to learn and love... Professionally, Justine Avery first traversed the murky corporate world of writing and designing technical documents to navigate through writing countless travel stories, reviews, personal essays, and articles. She is now the multi-award-winning author of numerous short stories and novelette-length works. Personally, she has been writing since first falling in love with reading and words themselves, always viewing everything happening around her—and in her imagination—in the form of images translated into poignant phrases and intriguing sentences. She has written under many different names in many different genres, and is finally coming "home" to write, as herself, the stories that transcend genre. Avery has lived countless stories, takes note of the infinitely more all around, and loves and appreciates every kind. As an avid reader of all genres, both fiction and non, she knows we, as readers, may have preferences, but we’re all—just as naturally—fans of every genre... when we find the stories with real intrigue that have no bounds, that have universal appeal. Those are the stories she prefers to find... and write. "Story's in everything we say and do. Story's what drives us, scares us, changes us. We live stories, imagine them, fear some of them. They're who we are. I'm a story reader, writer, and seer. I find everything about life and in this big, wide world (and beyond) utterly fascinating. Stories should be the same. I hope you enjoy the hell out of mine." Justine Avery loves to connect with fellow readers and writers, explorers and imaginers. You can find her at JustineAvery.com, on Twitter.com @Justine_Avery... and between the lines of that new book you've been reading.

Reviews for What Wonders Do You See... When You Dream?

[ponsonby_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Beautifully and freely illustrated book which was sent to me through Early Reviewers. The author seeks to preserve that mysterious boundary between waking and sleep as something precious and enjoyable rather than something to be feared. Would be particularly helpful with children who are fearful of the night, but really is for everyone. And while it is imaginative, it also leaves room for children's own imaginations to flourish.

[mkcagle · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Beautiful watercolor illustrations and delightful rhyming that is perfectly suited to read to a child in preparation for drifting off to dreamland. I loved how it ended with a question that could lead to further conversation between and child and parent. As children often struggle with bedtime and might perhaps even be fearful, this is a pleasant reminder that "bedtime can be the most wonderful time of all..." (If I could change one thing, it would be the font, I did not find it to fit with the flow of the poetic writing)

[kairih-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received this book in the Early Reviewers Giveaway. Thank you!This is an adorable book meant to prepare children for nighttime. The words sound like a delightful lullaby, and the book starts by putting children in a serene mood meant to prepare them for bed. It then goes on to encourage them to leave their worries behind and explore their imagination. It suggests that by sleeping, they’re about to enter a magical world of their own, which is very easy to believe from the wonderful watercolor drawings illustrated throughout the pages. They’re simply so wondrous even adults will be delighted. The book can also be a conversation starter as it suggests to children to share their dreams and further expand their imaginative side and senses.

[miriammartin-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received this as a library-thing giveaway. I loved the beautiful, detailed watercolours. Lots of interesting things for little eyes to see and find while listening to the story. Unfortunately, I don’t think young children would enjoy the rhythm or the vocabulary of the text.

[urbanaudreye · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a nice book with beautiful illustrations. It was however a little too wordy and did not hold my preschooler's attention. It does make a lovely bedtime story though.*I received a copy of this book for free. The review is my own, honest and unsolicited.

[asbjorn.academy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The illustrations in this book make it worth a look; they are absolutely stunning, creative...things I'd want to frame and put on my child's walls. They are full of whimsy and creativity. I like to look at the book just for the pictures. The story is a bedtime rhyme, which I find a bit trite. It's not that it's bad, it just doesn't match up to the greatness of the pictures. Overall, it's a great bedtime book to have in your collection.

[ray_-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received this book from the author in the Early Reviewer Giveaway, in exchange for an honest review.This is my first time, as an adult, reading and reviewing a children's book so I am unsure of how this should go, but I'm giving it a shot.This book was very visually pleasing, I really enjoyed looking at it, the watercolored art was so beautiful, the colors very soothing and the overall look of the book perfect.As for the content, I found it quite interesting, especially for the mind of a child, the rhyming was very beautiful and pleasant to hear, I loved the intrigue the question at the end would leave in a child, it's such a good conversation starter between parents and their children, or at least, that's how it seemed to me.More importantly I gave this book to my sister and her friend to read and they absolutely adored it, about an hour after they read it I found them still discussing their dreams and what they see in them.So all in all, this is a very good kids book and I really enjoyed taking a look at it.

[zechariahsmom1982 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I won this book from library thing giveaways...Thank You. This book was a cute one. I thought that the story was good given the fact that it was aimed towards children. Getting them to sleep by helping them find a way to wind down and relax was an adventure to read. Showing children that they can make their dreams fun and relaxing was a really good idea.

[withlightandlove · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really love the premise of this book. It's about bed-time and the beautiful things we can dream and experience in bed and asleep. My daughter really liked it too, and she particularly loved the animals in the shapes of clouds. The artistry is beautiful and there were lots of things for my daughter to look at and point out as we were reading. The only thing I didn't particularly like about the book was about keeping quiet and keeping those giggles inside and not saying a word etc. Other than that, it was a lovely read for us.

[finndragon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A beautifully illustrated book on getting ready for bed and what's to come in your dreams.The cadence on the rhyming is a little off, which didn't bother my little one, but it did cause me to stumble a few times while reading.I love the line "Put a stopper in your snicker" and will probably be using that in the future!

[cindirelli · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very sweet book/story with pretty watercolor pictures. A good way to draw children into the "getting ready for bed" time.

[ellinpollachek · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What Wonders Do You See…When You Dream?Justine Avery – Author Liuba Syrotiuk - IllustratorJustine Avery invites parents to participate in a new nighttime ritual if, of course, they are not already taking part in the bedtime “read me a story, Mommy and Daddy."If not, What Wonders Do You See…When You Dream? is a great book to start with if your kids are little. It’s the perfect length book for that bedtime read. Liuba Syrotiuk is the illustrator who brings Justine Avery’s get-ready-for-bed preparations like brushing teeth, putting on one’s p.j.’s, cuddling and snuggling and relaxing under the covers to life in a palette of dreamy watercolors.Avery wants children to know that bedtime isn’t a lonely time or a time to shut down. She wants them to know that the mind is a creative traveler, taking them on adventures to the sea where octopus’ and fish swim together. In their dreams children can visit gardens filled with flowers and bunny rabbits. They can even fly where stars form animal shapes and angels and birds befriend them. All imaginatively pictured by Syrotiuk. The sentences are short, as are the words, giving parents a chance to point out the letters and words for sight-reading. I also like the fact that there are a couple of pages with no words and just pictures. That will give kids a chance to make up their own stories.All in all, What Wonders Do You See…When You Dream? is a lovely book for children to dream on.

[inah14 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dreams are magical and creates imagination. I love how catchy the title is and makes you wonder what dreams are about. If you want a bedtime story book, I highly recommend this. The illustrations are amazing and I love the touch of watercolor pictures on each page. It helps a child calm down for a bedtime story. It's beautifully written book and contain rhyme words which made it fun for my little one.

[derek.stuhan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

-Received free from Early Reviewers-Let me open this review by stating the writing is the book is the reason I'm docking it a star (I'd actually go 4.5/5 if I had the option and may edit this if I do and didn't realize it). That is NOT a knock against Justine Avery at all. This is a well-written and light-hearted children's book about dreams and bedtime that I think any kid would enjoy having read to them or reading themselves. The rhyming was a bit much/simple, but it's a children's book. I thought it was clever to occasionally play with the font on words like 'yawn' as well.The only fault in this book is that the beautiful art completely overshadows the writing for me. The style of art meshes beautifully with the subject matter of dreams and is a nice balance of abstract/dreamy and real-world enough that kids will enjoy the colors, but also not think it is pure fantasy. I have to give a lot of credit to Liuba Syrotiuk for the artwork in this piece.If you have a pre-school aged child (or through kindergarten I'd wager) that enjoys a bit of whimsy in their bedtime stories, this is a wonderful book to read them.

[astampb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a lovely book that I plan to read to my niece when she sleeps over. It is beautifully illustrated with watercolor washes of soothing colors.

[schuhmacher22 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I received this book as a Library Thing Early Reviewer.Pros: -the beautiful watercolor illustrations-the font choice-the last page of textCons:-the writing (It wasn't awful, but in my opinion it wasn't good either.)The rhyming seemed forced and often out of place. Word choices were often questionable for the intended audience. The storyline was boring and it didn't get to 'the wonders of dreams' until the very end.

[lin_k-431834 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A charming little children's book. Written beautifully full of rhyming delight.A perfect bedtime story, although I believe this book would be enjoyed any time of the day many many times.The striking whimsical watercolour illustrations makes this adventure even more precious.In all, a fun read that will entertain and amaze the little ones as well as the adults reading to them.I thoroughly loved it and wouldn't hesitate to recommend to all.

[polarmath · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fun book that makes a fun bedtime read. The pictures are great and really add to the story. A really great imagination. The pictures really help the child to get into the story.

[yukinatsuo-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

*Got this as free e-copy from LibraryThing*I loved reading this story and this would be one of a good bedtime read if I have a child. Loved the illustration of this ebook. I feel that the illustration itself can be a good conversation between you and your child.

[janpietwijn · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A delightful bedtime tale. Superbly illustrated by Liuba Syrotiuk. The writing style, often simple but always visual, works perfectly for a picture book of this nature. Pacing is also excellent, the paragraphs never overly long, perfect for a restless child at bedtime.

[mcgeerhonda · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My grandchildren enjoyed this story and I was pleased that it kept their attention. They have asked that it be re-read (which is always a sign that the book is a hit for them). The illustrations are very well done and allowed me to ask lots of questions to my grandchildren while they were enjoying the story. Well done!

[msoul13 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

NOTE: I won a free copy of this book in MOBI eBook format from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers (October 2019).This pleasant picture book celebrates the ritual of sleep. Children will engage with the beautiful illustrations depicting fantastical dreams. The story also discusses the importance of having a bedtime routine. My only complaint was that my digital MOBI copy repeated one of the pages.

[louisianareader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Vivid Watercolors and well worded rhymes. Easily read to by both an adult reading a bedtime story or a new young reader (some words may be a challenge..

[witchywoo-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A lovely book for children and nicely illustrated. The book is about winding down, going to bed and dreaming possibilities. This book shows children that bed time and sleep is an important part of the day.

[rachelmalone · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a beautifully illustrated children's book which shows the fun bedtime routines and how to prepare and get yourself settled for bed. It looks at creative, fun filled children and how mindfulness allows you to settle into sleep and dream beautiful dreams. This is a positive look at childhood and it's beauty.

[gravan-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is a cute bedtime book for little ones. The story spent more time on getting ready to go to bed than dreams, so don't expect the book to be about dreams. The rhyming wasn't the best and some of the words sounded like made up words but I looked them up and they are words, so be prepared to explain what a niggle or a sniggle is. The colors in the book aren't very vivid as I would expect as they are supposed to depict dreams; they are more pastel colors. But these are all things that adults might notice; children will probably love the book. And it is a good little book, but I've seen better.

[jaxlynleigh · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A cute bedtime story. Wish it went into a little more detail with the dreaming. Beautiful watercolor illustrations!*i received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[victoriabrodersen · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

The Good: Gender equality - the slightly older brother/younger sister pair are given equal attention on the page and treat each other with clear kindness.The Bad: The pastel color palette is tiring to the eye and discretely fades away otherwise charming scenes into a background blur. The lovely rhythm would endure at a poetry slam but it's near-rhymes leave parents tongue-twisted and listless at every turn of the page. The open-ended nature of the finale where dreams are explored give the book no sense of conclusion. This is a book meant for little one thought it seems like a far cry from children's literature.I wanted to like this snack-size bedtime book but it came up short and left me feeling both frustrated and without direction.

[bengan_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a very cute story and a lovely bedtime read for young children. The illustrations are beautiful and make me think of the first book my mother read to me when I was 3 or 4 years old.

[whisper1_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Richly illustrated with pages filled with images of a boy and girl and what happens when they dream. This book made me smile, and at one point when I realized the cat was on each page, I laughed out loud.Images of free floating sea creatures, flowers and life undersea, this is a book to read to children before bed.