Mabel won't go to sleep so her mom tells her about the Queen of Dreams, a Fae who paints children's dreams. The story is very simple but the imagery is vivid and calming.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.

Mabel is an expert at not going to sleep. She’s needs to pee, wants a drink of water, get’s tangled in the covers, etc. So her mom tells her the Fae queen will only come once Mabel closes her eyes. She waits until Mabel settles in bed and then, in the Fae queen’s voice, she tells Mabel all about how she travels the world bringing dreams to children.

I really enjoyed all the imagery in this book – the Fae queen’s coach was crafted by a beetle! If she travels about your knees as you sleep, then you dream you are dancing! Those are just two examples and plenty more are told simply in this children’s bedtime story book. The final page has some lines from Shakespeare and I always like little touches like this because they stand the chance of planting a seed – in this case, one that will blossom into a love of Shakespeare.

The illustrations are beautiful and some are rather detailed. I especially liked the ones showing other kids and what they dream of. I also loved the illustration of the beetle working away at making a fairy coach. The Fae queen does put in an appearance and I was not disappointed!

I received a copy of this book at no cost from the authors in exchange for an honest review.

Another delightful picture book by Henry, Harrison and Joshua Herz, with wonderful illustrations by Lisa Woods.
In this one little Mabel, like many young ones, has difficulty sleeping and many excuses for delaying her nightly visit to the Land of Nod. So her mom tells her the story of the Queen of Fae who won’t visit her until she closes her eyes.
Herz spins allusions to Shakespeare into the story which is whimsical and beautiful. My absolute favorite page holds the illustration of the “Old beetle working deep in an enchanted wood.”
A beautiful book that will be enjoyed by both youngsters and their parents.

If you’ve got a little one who loves making excuses for not going to bed, you’ve got to read them Mabel and the Queen of Dreams. Mabel is a little girl who just does not want to go to bed. She needs a drink. She isn’t tired. Does this sound familiar? Thankfully, Mabel’s mom has the solution!

Thus begins the story of the Fae Queen who tells Mabel how she gives children their dreams. With each dream explanation, Mabel gets a little more sleepy until finally she falls asleep, so the Fae Queen can give her a dream.

This story is very simple, yet the illustrations bring it much life. They are very detailed and gorgeous! I loved looking at all of the details in the pictures. You will love reading this with your little one!