Engelbert Sneem and his Dream Vacuum Machine

By Daniel Postgate

PICTURE BOOK

At bedtime, children worry about monsters under the bed and noises in the dark. This book doesn't have any of those scary things, but it has Engelbert Sneem! At night, he sneaks into homes and sucks the dreams right out of children's heads while they are sleeping with his dream vacuum machine. He stores the dreams in pottery flagons and seals them tight. Then he goes off on his dragon-pulled carriage to his Castle of Sneem, where all the dreams are stored in the Dungeon of Dreams. When Engelbert wants "a nice little treat," he uncorks a flagon and gets to "savour a sumptuous dream at his leisure." One night, Engelbert uncorks a nightmare - a dream about him! He gets to see himself as he truly is and he doesn't like it. Resolved to change his ways, he releases all the good dreams and now only sucks up frightening dreams so children will never have nightmares again. This book could be potentially frightening, but the illustrations have a softness to them as does the story, which is part-fantasy, part fairy-tale. Engelbert is not portrayed as scary or evil. Also, the text is in rhyme which makes for a good read-aloud. This is a great story for bedtime!