Children’s Bedtime Story

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Dreamland Sagas" by Douglas Schwartz.]
5 out of  5 stars Share This Review

What if dreams were real? What if, when we closed our eyes each night and drifted off to sleep, we truly entered some mystical realm where the regular rules of reality no longer applied? A realm where our imaginations and deepest desires had free rein to construct vivid landscapes, strange situations, and impossible scenarios? Constance,  Titus, and Evie are lucky siblings whose father is a toymaker. One night, the children snuggled into their beds with the three plush stuffed animal toys their father had made for each child.
 

That night, the three Drapkin children embarked on an extraordinary journey as soon as they entered the magical realm of Dreamland.  Accompanied by their toy mouse companions, they roamed mystical lands and traveled to fantastical locations and the children befriended talking animals. Yet the true magic lies in how Titus, Constance, and  little Evie fully immerse themselves in each of their extraordinary dream adventures.
 

Nestled at the start of each chapter are descriptive illustrations that transported me into the magical world of the Drapkin children's dreams,  and this was what I loved most about the book. The author deftly infuses educational morsels throughout the story, allowing young readers to effortlessly absorb insights into history, technology, and language. The Dreamland Sagas: The Sagas Begin, by Douglas Schwartz, was also exceptionally well edited, as I did not encounter any errors while reading it. I happily rate it 5 out of 5 stars, as I did not dislike anything about it.
 

Through both believing in their children's creativity and providing them an outlet for expressing their adventures, the Drapkins establish the sort of supportive environment that allows imagination to thrive for everyone who reads this book. As a result, I recommend this book to readers, both young and old, who love adventure stories. The author reminds us that boundless imagination not only brings joy but also holds the power to develop young minds if we nurture it. With its lovable characters and fantastical settings, Douglas Schwartz delivers a truly transportive tale sure to delight young fans of whimsical fiction.  They'll readily lose themselves in Dreamland's delights, emerging with smiles and visions of wondrous new adventures dancing in their imaginations long afterward.  

 
4 out of 4 stars

The Dreamland Sagas: The Sagas Begin is the first book in a planned series of books written by Douglas Schwartz.  This series is being created to comfort children as they drift off to sleep peacefully with adventures in their minds, so they might have exciting dreams rather than nightmares.

 It starts in the early 1900s with a toymaker named Jack, who is a  father of three young children, Constance, Titus, and Evie. He and his wife created three stuffed mice who received power from the Sandman.  This power allowed the children to journey into a magical place called  Dreamland when they slept. As long as the children slept with their animal friends by their bed, they could enter dreamland as soon as they fell asleep. Therefore, they become extremely excited to climb into bed at night for their next adventure. Their adventures consisted of birthday parties, canoeing, sailing the ocean, train rides, and treasure hunts, just to name a few. The best part about dreamland is the void of monsters or frightening creatures, only joyful characters and exciting adventures to embark on.
 

I love how the author includes fragments of information that accompany the story. Thus allowing them to learn while they are enjoying the story without even realizing it. For example, he mentions that not everybody had electricity in the early 1900s, facts about  George Washington, and different terms used to describe parts of the train and boat they rode in. The vivid descriptions used throughout the story allow your mind to be transported to a different time. At a time when family values were once a priority, sitting down together for dinner, helping each other, praying before meals, storytime, and just family togetherness were not only expected but enjoyed. I admire how the author approaches diversity and accepts each other as we are without preconceived hatred.
I did not find anything I did not like about this book. It was extremely well-edited, inspiring, adventurous, diverse, informative,  family-oriented, and a wholesome book. As a result of this,  I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars.
 

 In conclusion, I recommend this book to children,  families, teachers, grandparents, and anyone who enjoys a  wonderful adventure in dreamland. So grab a cozy blanket or favorite stuffed animal, and prepare to embark on numerous great adventures as you drift off into a peaceful slumber. 

Douglas has a wonderful gift of storytelling, and will stand out wonderfully in the market! I have read many children's books, and this one has been by far one of the best children's books I've seen in ages!

The Dreamland Sagas is amazingly well written. I love the concept behind a special plush toy being able to gateway to a magical Dreamland where Children can go on awesome adventures with their little plush friends who come magically alive. The toys make a marvelous addition. Even without them, there is enough material to make dreams materialize from your words. 

It's easy to fall in love with the main characters. They are easily relatable from a child's point of view. The book also appeals to adults/parents/caregivers to become part of a shareable nighttime ritual to induce a relaxed, creative sleep in the youngsters they care for. I can also see older children reading this willingly.

I love that it was set to begin in the 1900s before children were bombarded by instant entertainment, although we do have the surprise twist in the (no spoilers). I felt connected to Titus, Constance, Evie, Remy, and Harper personally. I honestly can't wait, now that I've previewed the collection of stories, to share these with my own beloved children in hopes of encouraging their own adventures in Dreamland. 

The reason it took me so long to read is I like to get engrossed with books. I want to be part of the adventures. Once I gained a proper balance to read, and join the scene, I found this to be quite the treasure! Most children can get into the story easily enough, especially at bedtime readings, so illustrations won't be necessary. They could be a potential bonus, but wouldn't feel required. 

Overall this is an amazingly charming book by a wonderfully charming author! Very understanding to some unplanned life events, and I can't wait to share the adventures they have created with my own offspring! Can see the possibilities of cartoons and movies as well.

I cannot stress how important The Dreamland Sagas and books like it are to the target market. 

There are three things that directly apply to the reason I truly enjoyed Matchbox Dreams: 

1. I am a writer of flash fiction and enjoy the art of the short story as a writer and a reader. 

2. I am a parent and I am also a grandparent. Today's children in the 3-7 years old range are overstimulated by tech and being robbed of the inspiration to create. Matchbox Dreams puts parents/grandparents at the controls all the way to and through Dreamland. The series has an infinite number of roads to take with applicable merchandise streams. 

3. As an adult, I enjoy the vivid details. It's no secret that too many parents employ the plugin babysitter screens and have lost the key to raising well-rounded kids. Communication is everything. Even if it is as simple as reading. Even better if the adult enjoys the story as much as the kids! You can have a hero without a frightening villain and the story line supports that. The positive life lessons abound within the text and are very well placed. 

I love that Evie started talking in her dreams first. It seems like a very early introduction to lucid dreaming and I find it delightful.
 

I believe the potential for The Dreamland Sagas is as limitless as the Dreamworld. I like the way the introduction of next characters for book two at the end of book 1. Joel happens to be our son's name. 

The way action is written into every story is commendable. There are some word choices throughout the book that will inspire children to ask for meaning and lead to increased vocabulary earlier in development.