Dream for the Land

Written by Laekan Zea Kemp · Illustrated by Leo Espinosa

A girl makes a wish to save her drought-stricken farm.

4.1 Goodreads · 112 ratings

40 pages· 822 words· Est. 7 min read-aloud· ~440L

$18.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

On a drought-ridden Texas farm, a young girl discovers a horned toad and learns she can make a wish. With her father's worried gaze and the memory of lush past generations, she faces a choice. Will her wish bring the rain needed to revive their dying crops? This touching tale of hope and environmental care explores the power of a single wish to inspire change.

From the publisher

In this lyrical picture book about the importance of caring for our Earth, a child and her father wish for a brighter, greener future for the parched land around their home. When a girl finds a horned toad among the rain-starved squash, tomatoes, and poblanos on her family’s Texas farm, her Pa tells her that, if she kisses it on the head – blech! – she gets to make one wish. What will she wish for? Generations ago, when the girl’s ancestors lived on this land, it was lush and green – full of life. Now, because of a decades-long drought, their soil is parched and their crops are dying. The girl sees the worry lines on Pa’s face getting deeper. She knows she has to do something to help. And so, thinking about the people who lived on this land before her, and all those who will live on it after her, she wishes for rain. This poignant father-daughter story reminds us that, when it comes to healing our Earth, change often starts with a simple wish. With a dream for a world that could be.

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