Quick Look
- From the creators of highly-acclaimed USBBY Outstanding International Book The House of Lost and Found
- A story of grief and ultimately finding hope, with lyrical prose and a happy ending, perfect for bedtime reading
- The interconnected stories of two very different children, told from alternating viewpoints, carry a heart-warming message about finding where you belong
- The story is brought to life by evocative illustrations of dreamy landscapes and vivid characters – including Mia's cat and Noah's dog – by award-winning Emilia Dziubak.
- 'A wonderfully uplifting book.' – Juno on The House of Lost and Found
A poignant and uplifting story about finding hope and a home after a courageous journey. From the creators of USBBY Outstanding International Book The House of Lost and Found.
Description
Noah and Mia live far, far away from each other, but look out upon the same great sea. In the evening, Noah and his dog Gus watch the sun softly slip beneath the waves; in the morning, Mia and her cat Olive watch from the cliffs as it rises.
When Gus dies, Noah is heartbroken. In his dreams he searches for his loyal friend, but instead finds only an unfamiliar black cat. Mia dreams too: of a life better than the one she has now, and of a place to call home. When Olive leads her down an unknown path, Mia begins an epic journey which takes her somewhere she never expected.
Will Mia and Noah find all they've dreamt of?
Poignant and uplifting, Martin Widmark's story of finding hope and a home is accompanied by stunning illustrations from Emilia Dziubak, which alternate between the two characters' interconnected journeys. Martin and Emilia are co-creators of USBBY Outstanding International Book The House of Lost and Found, and of Little Pearl.
Reviews
'Dreams of Near and Far is a beautiful story about two young children who seem worlds apart yet have so much in common... From the poignant illustrations to the heartwarming storyline, this is unquestionably a masterpiece for children and adults alike.'
-- San Francisco Book Review, 5 stars
'It is a quiet, gentle story, which has left us in a peaceful, contemplative place after each reading. Enter a fantastical world where dreams and life intermingle, transporting us away from the craziness of our lives for a while. I will be searching out other titles by Widmark and Dziubak immediately... The stunning, dream-like illustrations were hand-drawn using a digital stylus pen and tablet. The color palette used in each illustration enhances the mood of the text, moving from darkness to light as hope and happiness grows in the characters.'
-- My Kids Read the World
Author
Martin Widmark is the bestselling Swedish children's author of over 100 books. His titles consistently top Sweden's bestseller lists and have been translated into more than thirty-five languages. Before becoming a full-time author, Martin worked as a middle-school teacher and a Swedish language teacher for immigrants, and now uses his experiences to promote reading and literacy for young people. He is the author of The House of Lost and Found and Little Pearl (Floris Books).
Emilia Dziubak is an award-winning artist from Poland. She is a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Poznan and has illustrated numerous children's picture books that have been translated into many languages. She is the illustrator of USBBY- listed The House of Lost and Found, as well as Little Pearl and Dreams of Near and Far, also co-created with Martin Widmark.
