Lily was a little girl with bright, sparkly eyes and a heart full of sunshine. But sometimes, when bedtime came, Lily felt a little bit worried. She wasn't scared of the dark, not exactly. She just wished she knew what wonderful things would happen in her dreams!
One evening, Lily’s Mama tucked her into bed with a cozy blanket. “What are you thinking about, my sweet?” Mama asked. Lily sighed. “I want my dreams to be extra special tonight,” she said. Mama smiled. “Dreams are special because *you* are special, Lily. And you can make them whatever you want!”
Mama gave Lily a tiny, smooth stone. “This is a dream stone,” she whispered. “Hold it tight, and think of all the things you love. That’s what your dreams will be made of.” Lily held the stone and closed her eyes. She thought about her fluffy cat, Snowball, and how Snowball purred when Lily gave him gentle pats.
She thought about building tall towers with her colorful blocks, and how proud she felt when she finished. She thought about the yummy strawberries she ate with Papa in the garden, and how sweet they tasted. She even thought about how much she loved her bright pink pajamas!
As Lily drifted off to sleep, she found herself in a beautiful garden filled with giant, glowing strawberries! Snowball was there, too, but he was wearing a tiny crown and waving a little flag. Lily giggled. She built a magnificent tower of strawberries, higher and higher, until it touched the clouds.
Everything in her dream was soft and sparkly and filled with love. She realized Mama was right! Her dreams *were* special, because they were filled with all the things she already loved. And the best part? She was the queen of her own wonderful dream world.
When Lily woke up, the sun was shining. She hugged her Mama tight. “My dreams were amazing!” she exclaimed. “I dreamed about strawberries and Snowball and building a tower!” Mama smiled. “See? You made your dreams special, just by being you.”
Lily held the dream stone in her hand. She knew now that every night, she could fill her dreams with happiness and love. And as she played with Snowball, she felt grateful for her cozy bed, her loving family, and the wonderful magic of bedtime.