‘Why is the ocean Blue? Every night, when you go to sleep, the fish take out guitars. They sing sad songs and cry blue tears.’

And so begins this surreal and gorgeous picture book. A girl is tucked up in bed, her little dog is there too, and she stalls sleep by asking her father a string of big questions about the natural world and the universe. He answers each question patiently and poetically, and each answer is illustrated with a stunning double page spread by the incredible Isabelle Arsenault.

The final question – ‘why do we have to sleep?’ – is answered with a most beautiful celebration of imagination and dreams. This is an absolutely wonderful book to share at bedtime; it will be adored by dreamers of all ages.

Kim Gruschow is the children’s book buyer at Readings St Kilda.