Dreaming: A Countdown to Sleep - Hardcover

Wrapped in a cozy quilt, a child counts down to sleep. Starting with "Ten silent houses, everyone sleeping," the dreamy countdown continues with "Nine trees bending in windy yards," "Eight leaves airborne, whirling, swirling," and so on, all the way to "One lone swan curling into the moon." This lilting lullaby gently rocks young readers (or listeners) to sleep with quiet text on a midnight blue background. Each gorgeous, scritchy painting leads gracefully into the next. For example, when five clouds full of summer rain begin to sprinkle the tops of peach trees, the four wet peaches fall onto the following page. A lovely double-page spread near the end combines images from the rest of the book--from the 10 silent houses to the 3 red foxes to the 1 lone swan.

Elaine Greenstein's soothing words and beautiful illustrations have a mesmerizing effect. Children will barely be able to keep their eyes open long enough to realize that they're practicing counting during their bedtime story. When they wake up, they'll want to go right out and find Greenstein's other books, including Mattie's Hats Won't Wear That! and Mrs. Rose's Garden. Dreaming is a sleepy-time ode to peaceful, happy dreams. (Ages 2 to 7) --Emilie Coulter

Beginning with "Ten/ silent houses,/ everyone sleeping" and ending with a lone swan and a wish for "sweet dreams," this quietly beguiling counting book is handsomely designed and illustrated. Each painting floats on a midnight blue background, as does the accompanying minimal text (in a sophisticated touch, the text and the corresponding numeral form a diamond shape). Each page previews the forthcoming number. For example, the painting of "nine/ trees bending/ in windy yards" includes eight scattered leaves; on the next page, these are featured as "eight/ leaves airborne,/ whirling, swirling." Greenstein's (Mrs. Rose's Garden) text is lilting and serene, but the enchanting, dreamlike paintings steal the show. As in Van Gogh's Starry Night, the moon radiates a whirlpool of blues, and curling eddies of light fill the night sky. Following the "countdown to sleep," the book includes a double-page painting of all the things previously seen--10 houses, six fish, three foxes, etc. Oddly, the new landscape rearranges the initial objects, so that trees and newly redecorated houses appear in different places than when first shown. Nonetheless, "almost sleeping" children will find the moon's mysterious face comforting and radiant, almost like a guardian angel. Ages 3-7.
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