Book description from Goodreads: “Perfect for bedtime or at any time, here is a visually stunning exploration of animal senses through dreams, from Caldecott Honoree and New York Times bestselling creator Brendan Wenzel.

Welcome to a magical world of endless curiosity. You are a sleeping salamander. A dancing octopus. A speeding falcon…even a sneaking tiger and playful human child. As one dream slips into another, every page turn immerses you in the sensory wonder of the world and all its creatures, from the ocean depths to soaring skies, and everything in between. Each creature dreams and experiences life in a different way. Each is connected despite their differences.

Poetic and universal in its gentle message of interconnectedness, Every Dreaming Creature yields deeper meaning with every read, offering new discoveries hidden within the acclaimed artist Brendan Wenzel’s dazzling, vibrant artwork.”

Need some reviews of Every Dreaming Creature?

• Bookpage
• Common Sense Media
• Kirkus
• School Library Journal

Reading Activities inspired by Every Dreaming Creature:

• Before Reading–From looking at the front cover: 
  • What animals do you notice on the cover?
  • How do the colors and shapes make the cover feel—peaceful, mysterious, energetic, or something else?
  • What clues tell you the story might involve dreams or imagination?
  • What kinds of things do you think animals might dream about?
  • Why do you think the title says every dreaming creature instead of naming just one animal?
• After Reading–Now that you’ve read the story: 
  • Which animal dream felt the most vivid or exciting to you? Why?
  • What senses show up in the different dreams (sound, touch, movement, smell)?
  • How does the story change when we discover who the dreamer really is?
  • Which page made you slow down and look closely at the illustrations? What did you notice?
  • Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
• Dream Inside an Animal’s World: Choose one animal from the book. Imagine you’re dreaming as that animal.

  *What would the world feel like?
  *Would it be quiet or noisy?
  *Slow or fast?
  *Bright or dark?

  Draw a picture of your dream and write two or three sentences describing what the animal experiences.

• Three Animals, Three Dreams: In the story, the dreamer becomes many different animals. Think of three animals you would like to dream about. For each one, finish this sentence:

  In my dream I was a _​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​ and the world felt _​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​.

  Try to describe the world the way the book does (through movement, sound, and feeling).

• Step into an Animal’s Senses: Animals notice parts of the world that humans often miss. Choose one animal from the book and imagine how it experiences its surroundings. What sounds, textures, smells, and movements might stand out to that creature?

  Write or draw three things that animal might notice that a person might overlook. Think carefully about how your chosen animal senses the world, then record your observations.

• Map a Nighttime Habitat: Many animals in the book sleep in very different environments such as forests, oceans, trees, or underground burrows. Choose one animal from the story and draw a simple nighttime habitat map showing where that animal rests. Include details that help the animal feel safe and comfortable while sleeping, such as trees, water, rocks, moonlight, or other creatures that live nearby.
• Books, Books, and More Books!: Check out these picture books that explore dreams, imagination, and nighttime worlds: