Dream for the Land

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.

Laekan Zea Kemp is the Pura Belpré Honor-winning author of Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet, a young adult novel, as well as the picture book A Crown for Corina and numerous other titles for young readers. Her work celebrates Chicane grit, resilience, creativity, and joy while exploring themes of identity and mental health. She lives in Austin, Texas.

Leo Espinosa is a New York Times bestselling illustrator and designer. His picture books include No More Naps by Chris Grabenstein; Islandborn by Junot Diaz, for which he was awarded a Pura Belpre illustrator award; and Goldfish on Vacation by Sally Lloyd-Jones. In addition, he has given multiple lectures and workshops at schools such as Parsons School of Design and Pratt Institute, and has served on the faculty of the Rhode Island School of Design. He is from Bogotá, Colombia.