Hank Has A Dream

Are you looking for a magical book to spark your child’s imagination and language? When I first picked up the book, Hank Finds an Egg, I found something very unique about the images in the book. The pictures were captivating, pure and mystical. If you want to know more about the author and illustrator, Rebecca Dudley check out my interview with her here.

When I saw Hank Has a Dream in a bookstore recently, I immediately bought it for my children. Hank Has A Dream begins with the main character, Hank saying “Last night I dream I flew” and the rest of the book takes you through his dream as he explains it his best friend, the hummingbird. Each picture takes you through one magical scene after another with few sentences written, which helps facilitate a child’s ability to tell the story in their own words. From my perceptive, the book exemplifies what it’s like to think like a child and dream, such as flying through the clouds, running through a green meadow and rising far above the trees and ocean in a beautiful sky.

At the end of the story, the hummingbird wants Hank to repeat the whole story again but this time, Hank includes his friend on his adventure.

I love books with no words because they can help faciltate language and storytelling. Below are some speech and language tips:

Read through the story first and provide a model for your child.
Allow your child to retell the story when you are done reading the book for the first time.
As you are reading, use fill in the blank prompts to facilitate vocabulary and language (e.g. “He is flying above the ______”)
Emphasize actions (e.g. “Hank is flying”, “Hank is floating”, etc)
Encourage commenting such as using descriptive words. For example, you can comment how Hank is sitting on the bridge in between the meadows.
Encourage new words and expand vocabulary. Discuss new words such as “hot air balloon”, “bridge”, “hummingbird”, etc.
Work on sequencing. First Hank sat on the bridge, then he flew over the ocean, etc)
Answer “wh” questions such as “What was Hank’s favorite part of his dream?”.
Recall personal experience with regard to dreams. Ask your child about their most recent dream and if they ever felt like Hank.
Work on prepositions such as “in”, “on top of”, “under”, “on” “next to”, “above”. For example, Hank is floating ABOVE the trees, Hank is sitting ON the bridge, etc.