As a mom I love to use books to help explain new experiences to my children. My 3 year old has been waking up at night recently and I keep wondering if perhaps she is having a bad dream. It's hard to get a straight answer out of her in the midst of her agitation though, so I have been looking for a book about dreams to see if that will help her feel better. Or at least help her talk to us about what is going on.
As a parent I am sure I am not alone in my desire to make everything "all better" but when you don’t know what the problem is that can be kind of a challenge. Albert and the Amazing Pillow Monsters is a delightful story about dreams that not only helps to explain the concept to young children, but also helps to allay any fears of monsters or the dark.
This is the first book by, Justin Drazin, who channeled his own experiences with fear of the dark from his childhood when writing this book.
"You can swim, you can fly, you can jump to the moon. Or take a nice nap on a bed of balloons!" The prose itself has a great meter to it, which easily captivates even younger readers. And the monsters aren't actually monsters at all, but whimsical puffing, fluffing, imaginary creatures.
The moral of the story-- your imagination is the brightest night light. How true that is, and for young children the imagination is such a powerful and fun tool when channeled appropriately. Creating a safe space where the imagination can run wild, with illustrations that can't be beat, this book is a true treasure.
It's no surprise that Albert and the Amazing Pillow Monsters recently won the Mom's Choice Award as well as the Gellett Burgess Award for best bedtime story. Sure to become a classic, this would make a wonderful holiday gift for your own children or anyone else on your list!