Somewhere You Can Dream by Janeen Brian, illustrated by Hilary Jean Tapper

Title: Somewhere You Can Dream

Author: Janeen Brian, illustrated by Hilary Jean Tapper

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Allen and Unwin

Published: 31^st March 2026

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 32

Price: $24.99

Synopsis: From the smallest cubby to the highest hilltop, this heart-warming, read-aloud picture book is all about finding your own special place in the world. From award-winning creators Janeen Brian and Hilary Jean Tapper.

Do you love shadowy secret nooks or cosy hideaways?
Leafy, shady trees or sheltered, rocky bays?
Do you love comfy little cubbies or tree forts way up tall?
Or spaces behind places where you can curl up small?

A beautiful, lyrical story that asks readers to consider where in the world they feel most at home, exploring safe spaces and cosy feelings, self-awareness and belonging. Perfect for reading at bedtime, with glorious illustrations by award-winning illustrator Hilary Jean Tapper.

This book is perfect for:
– starting discussions with kids about belonging and exploring their place in the world
– kids with big imaginations
– cosy bedtime reading
– fans of All the Ways to be Smart and the World Needs Who You Were Made to Be

~*~

Join a diverse cast of characters as they explore different ways of finding their own special, quiet space to enjoy and thrive in. Everyone needs their own special place in the world, and this is what the new book from Janeen Brian and Hilary Jean Tapper is about.

Each character is seeking somewhere they can feel at home. And this can be anywhere. A cubby or a treehouse. Secret hideaways or somewhere in nature, like at the beach or up a tree. A place that we can be ourselves and step away from the chaos of life.

Because life today is chaotic and demanding. Everyone has a million different things competing for their attention, screens are everywhere and it feels like steeping away from all of that can be a lot sometimes. It can be hard to just take time and be in the moment. And dream about things away from technology, to engage with our creativity. We need space to draw, to paint, to read and to dream.

Which is what this book brings to life, showing the beauty in everything away from screens and technology at a time when it demands so much of us. Gone are the days when we only used screens and technology as needed. They’re so entrenched in our lives, and we need them for everything. But that doesn’t mean people should push everything else away.

Take time to slow down and recharge, because being on a screen for hours can be draining. Start small, and find ways to engage that work for you. Maybe it’s just short bursts at first to reset, or working out ways to get the balance right. It doesn’t mean give everything up. Give slowing down and dreaming a go. You might surprise yourself.