How do you express your love to your family? “When the night is very dark, strange things happen.” This enchanting picture book begins from a child’s perspective, unfolding a midnight adventure brimming with whimsy, fantasy, and warmth.
In the story, a little boy sleepwalks out of his house and onto the ceiling. Strangely, he continues to walk on wires and the back of a lion, with all his toys in the room following him. Throughout this magical journey, his father quietly and tenderly guards his safety without waking him up.
Chih-Hao Yen, a children’s book author with a doctorate in children’s literature from Taiwan, weaves his life experiences into his work. He shares, “For me, Sleepwalking is not just about my childhood memories but a connection and gratitude for family love. Writing this story made me realise that love does not disappear with time.”
The boy’s sleepwalking adventure leads him to a mysterious place where he offers love and blessings to his grandfather and grandmother. How does he wake up? The answer lies in the heartwarming illustrations by Hui-Yin Hsueh. Known for her warm and diverse style, Hsueh, a mother and housewife, integrates daily life scenes into her picture books. She believes that love and companionship are the best gifts for children—and adults.
From the middle to the end of Sleepwalking, the authors boldly abandon text, letting a series of exquisite illustrations depict the boy’s safe journey home with his father. The tranquil nighttime scenes, rich in detail and childlike wonder, beautifully express the gentle, enduring love of a father.
Sleepwalking was recognised for its artistic excellence with five illustrations selected for the 2021 Bologna Children’s Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition.
Original title: 夢遊
Written by Chih-Hao Yen, Illustrated by Hui-Yin Hsueh
2019, PAPA Publishing
ISBN: 9789869743785
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
‘夢遊’. 博客來, https://www.books.com.tw/products/0010840872. Accessed 1 Aug. 2024.
Meet Wen Wu: a versatile creator, advocate of children’s literature, connoisseur of picture book aesthetics, and fervent champion of literature. She appreciates the innocence and honesty of children, though occasionally she finds herself uneasy towards the bluntness of others. Her reverence for nature extends to all living beings, those seen and unseen. A life enriched by novels, poems, movies, paintings, stories, and writing fuels her passion. Amidst the complexities of adulthood, she strives to preserve the innocence and boundless imagination of childhood. You can find Wen on her Facebook page or via wenchunwu1227@gmail.com
Curator & Translator
Eleanor Duggan is a passionate children’s book reader, a storytelling enchantress, an aspiring globetrotter, a part-time book crafter, and an impassioned foodie who is a cooking disaster. She is more known as an international school teacher-librarian and the International Association of School Librarianship (IASL) Regional Director for East Asia. She is a Taiwanese with a Belgian soul and is currently enjoying her life as a citizen of the world with her daughter and their 2 one-of-a kind cats. You may find her via The Third Culture Librarian
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Global Literature in Libraries Initiative 
Nice post beautiful pictures 🌹🌹
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