The Sandman's Journey

An illustrated stories story from Wonder Books — free to read, with narration.

The Sandman's Journey — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

The Sandman's Journey — book cover — Wonder Books
The Sandman's Journey — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Page 1

"Are you sure this is the right way, Lumi?" Pip squeaked, his voice echoing strangely. Lumi, a girl with bright eyes and an even brighter spirit, marched…
"Are you sure this is the right way, Lumi?" Pip squeaked, his voice echoing strangely. Lumi, a girl with bright eyes and an even brighter spirit, marched forward with confidence. The endless labyrinth of mirrors glimmered around them, reflecting endless versions of what might be. "Trust me, Pip!" she called back. "Adventure awaits!"

"Are you sure this is the right way, Lumi?" Pip squeaked, his voice echoing strangely. Lumi, a girl with bright eyes and an even brighter spirit, marched forward with confidence. The endless labyrinth of mirrors glimmered around them, reflecting endless versions of what might be. "Trust me, Pip!" she called back. "Adventure awaits!"

Page 2

Pip tugged at Lumi's sleeve. "But what are we even looking for? And why are all these futures so... shiny?" Lumi stopped, tapping her chin thoughtfully.
Pip tugged at Lumi's sleeve. "But what are we even looking for? And why are all these futures so... shiny?" Lumi stopped, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "I read about this place once, Pip – in the Book of Lost Dreams. It said that somewhere in this labyrinth is the Sandman's lost pouch, filled with dream dust!" she said with determination. A small, silver locket dangled from her neck, glinting in the mirror light.

Pip tugged at Lumi's sleeve. "But what are we even looking for? And why are all these futures so... shiny?" Lumi stopped, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "I read about this place once, Pip – in the Book of Lost Dreams. It said that somewhere in this labyrinth is the Sandman's lost pouch, filled with dream dust!" she said with determination. A small, silver locket dangled from her neck, glinting in the mirror light.

Page 3

"Dream dust? What does he need that for?" Pip tilted his head. Lumi sighed dramatically. "Well, according to the book, without it, children can't dream…
"Dream dust? What does he need that for?" Pip tilted his head. Lumi sighed dramatically. "Well, according to the book, without it, children can't dream peacefully. They have only nightmares! We have to find it, Pip. As Leonardo da Vinci said, 'I love those who can smile in trouble...,'" Lumi declared, quoting the great artist, "...who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.' We can do this!"

"Dream dust? What does he need that for?" Pip tilted his head. Lumi sighed dramatically. "Well, according to the book, without it, children can't dream peacefully. They have only nightmares! We have to find it, Pip. As Leonardo da Vinci said, 'I love those who can smile in trouble...,'" Lumi declared, quoting the great artist, "...who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.' We can do this!"

Page 4

They ventured deeper, the reflections growing stranger. Suddenly, a shimmering wall of mirrors blocked their path. "Oh no!" Pip wailed.
They ventured deeper, the reflections growing stranger. Suddenly, a shimmering wall of mirrors blocked their path. "Oh no!" Pip wailed. "Another dead end!" Lumi examined the wall, running her hand along the cool glass. "Wait... I see something," she murmured. One of the mirrors rippled, showing a glimpse of a dark forest instead of a reflection.

They ventured deeper, the reflections growing stranger. Suddenly, a shimmering wall of mirrors blocked their path. "Oh no!" Pip wailed. "Another dead end!" Lumi examined the wall, running her hand along the cool glass. "Wait... I see something," she murmured. One of the mirrors rippled, showing a glimpse of a dark forest instead of a reflection.

Page 5

"It's an illusion!" Lumi exclaimed, pushing through the rippling mirror. They stumbled into the dark forest, the air thick with the scent of pine and damp…
"It's an illusion!" Lumi exclaimed, pushing through the rippling mirror. They stumbled into the dark forest, the air thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. "This wasn't in the brochure," Pip muttered nervously, his fur standing on end. Lumi grinned. "According to legend, this forest is another part of the dream world, connected to the labyrinth!"

"It's an illusion!" Lumi exclaimed, pushing through the rippling mirror. They stumbled into the dark forest, the air thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. "This wasn't in the brochure," Pip muttered nervously, his fur standing on end. Lumi grinned. "According to legend, this forest is another part of the dream world, connected to the labyrinth!"

Page 6

A gruff voice startled them. "Well, well, what have we here?" A tall, shadowy figure emerged from behind a twisted oak tree.
A gruff voice startled them. "Well, well, what have we here?" A tall, shadowy figure emerged from behind a twisted oak tree. It was a Grumblegrunt, known for stealing dreams. "Looking for something, little ones?" the Grumblegrunt sneered, its voice like gravel. Lumi stepped forward bravely. "We're looking for the Sandman's dream dust!"

A gruff voice startled them. "Well, well, what have we here?" A tall, shadowy figure emerged from behind a twisted oak tree. It was a Grumblegrunt, known for stealing dreams. "Looking for something, little ones?" the Grumblegrunt sneered, its voice like gravel. Lumi stepped forward bravely. "We're looking for the Sandman's dream dust!"

Page 7

The Grumblegrunt chuckled, a chilling sound. "Dream dust? That's mine now! I use it to make children have bad dreams, and then I eat their happiness!" Pip…
The Grumblegrunt chuckled, a chilling sound. "Dream dust? That's mine now! I use it to make children have bad dreams, and then I eat their happiness!" Pip whimpered. "We won't let you!" Lumi declared. "Give it back!" The Grumblegrunt laughed. "You can't stop me, little girl. I am stronger than you think!"

The Grumblegrunt chuckled, a chilling sound. "Dream dust? That's mine now! I use it to make children have bad dreams, and then I eat their happiness!" Pip whimpered. "We won't let you!" Lumi declared. "Give it back!" The Grumblegrunt laughed. "You can't stop me, little girl. I am stronger than you think!"

Page 8

"Maybe not," Lumi said, a glint in her eye. She reached for the silver locket around her neck. "I read in the Book of Lost Dreams that Grumblegrunts hate...
"Maybe not," Lumi said, a glint in her eye. She reached for the silver locket around her neck. "I read in the Book of Lost Dreams that Grumblegrunts hate... light!" She opened the locket, revealing a tiny mirror that reflected a beam of moonlight directly into the Grumblegrunt's eyes. The Grumblegrunt shrieked, clutching its face. "It burns! The light, it burns!" The locket worked!

"Maybe not," Lumi said, a glint in her eye. She reached for the silver locket around her neck. "I read in the Book of Lost Dreams that Grumblegrunts hate... light!" She opened the locket, revealing a tiny mirror that reflected a beam of moonlight directly into the Grumblegrunt's eyes. The Grumblegrunt shrieked, clutching its face. "It burns! The light, it burns!" The locket worked!

Page 9

Weakened, the Grumblegrunt stumbled backward, dropping the dream dust pouch. Lumi snatched it up, her heart pounding. "We did it, Pip!" she cried, hugging her…
Weakened, the Grumblegrunt stumbled backward, dropping the dream dust pouch. Lumi snatched it up, her heart pounding. "We did it, Pip!" she cried, hugging her friend tightly. The Grumblegrunt vanished into the shadows, muttering curses. Lumi looked at the pouch. It was intricately stitched with silver thread and glowed with a soft, comforting light.

Weakened, the Grumblegrunt stumbled backward, dropping the dream dust pouch. Lumi snatched it up, her heart pounding. "We did it, Pip!" she cried, hugging her friend tightly. The Grumblegrunt vanished into the shadows, muttering curses. Lumi looked at the pouch. It was intricately stitched with silver thread and glowed with a soft, comforting light.

Page 10

Back in the labyrinth, Lumi poured the dream dust into the air. The mirrors shimmered, then cleared, reflecting peaceful, happy dreams.
Back in the labyrinth, Lumi poured the dream dust into the air. The mirrors shimmered, then cleared, reflecting peaceful, happy dreams. "We saved the children's dreams, Pip!" Lumi smiled, feeling proud. "Indeed," Pip replied. "As Maya Angelou said, '...if you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.' And we changed that Grumblegrunt right out of the forest!" Now, let's find our beds!"

Back in the labyrinth, Lumi poured the dream dust into the air. The mirrors shimmered, then cleared, reflecting peaceful, happy dreams. "We saved the children's dreams, Pip!" Lumi smiled, feeling proud. "Indeed," Pip replied. "As Maya Angelou said, '...if you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.' And we changed that Grumblegrunt right out of the forest!" Now, let's find our beds!"

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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