Dreaming, Just Like You

Dreaming Just Like You, by Terri Tatchell and Maria Flo is more than just a sweet story; it’s a gentle, rhyming meditation on empathy and the inner lives of creatures around us.

The book proposes a wonderful idea: that while we, as humans, think dreaming is just for us, it’s actually “this thing we call a dream, which all the creatures do”. It immediately creates a sense of universal experience, suggesting that all living things are connected in the nighttime theater of their minds.

The true genius lies in the structure of each stanza. It begins with the predictable, natural dream, which is comforting and familiar. For example, the puppy dreams of “chasing cats and squirrels and squeaky balls”. But then comes the moment of magic—the dream that “slips in,” which is something unexpected and aspirational, like “moonlit waterfalls”. This shift allows the animals to transcend their basic instincts and share in a sense of wonder and longing that we typically associate only with ourselves.

I found the example of the spider particularly resonant. While its “job” is to dream of “spinning webs and catching buzzy flies”, its secret desire is “of soaring through the skies”. This speaks directly to the longing we all feel sometimes, the desire to escape our routine and experience something completely opposite to our daily reality. Children will love imagining the tiny spider looking up at the sky, wishing for wings.

And who can resist the vision of the hippos? They dream of powerful things like “late-night runs around the jungle trees”, but their secret, tender dream is “of band-aids on skinned knees”. That image of a colossal animal dreaming of a small act of human comfort and care is incredibly poignant. It’s a wonderful way to introduce the concept of shared vulnerability.

The rhyming text is smooth and soothing, making it ideal for a calming bedtime ritual. It encourages slowing down and appreciating the quiet moment. The final page ties the whole theme together beautifully, prompting the child to question their assumptions: “Animals dream of animal things. Are you sure? … What if… their dreams are more like yours?” This is the kind of book that starts a lovely discussion about feelings, imagination, and what it means to be alive. I highly recommend adding this to your reading rotation; it’s a delightful reminder that we are all, creatures great and small, connected in our deepest imaginings.