Ember and the Night Lantern Tree

A Dream-Filled Adventure in a Hardcover Gift Book for Little Dragon Fans

A tiny glow can be exactly enough. That is the heart of Ember and the Night Lantern Tree by Finn Hartwell, a hardcover bedtime story for ages 3-6 about a baby dragon who longs to sleep alone but is not sure he is brave or bright enough. One tumble later he is in Dreamland, where a magical lantern tree needs help before the bedtime bell. Wrapped in pastel watercolor-and-gouache scenes of glowing creatures and soft clouds, it is a story for children who love dragons and for grown-ups who love a calm, finished ending.

Take a Bedtime Journey Across Pillow Mountains and Cocoa Clouds

Along the way Ember meets Pipkin, a fuzzy glow-moth, Bloop, a cheerful bubble-sprite, and Tika, a star-snail with a rosy trail. They cross candy-soft valleys and a slippery road, and they build a cloud bridge together. Pipkin guides, Bloop brightens, Tika marks the path, and Ember's gentle warmth dries the way. Everyone has a different kind of light, and all of them are needed. Ember at first assumes his tiny flame is less useful than his friends' brighter ones, and that quiet worry is exactly what many small listeners will recognize in themselves.

A Unique Twist on a Bedtime Story, with a Tree That Needs Ember's Light

The three bright lanterns wake the branches, but the heart of the tree stays cold. Dreamland does not need a bigger or brighter flame. It needs Ember's warm light. With one slow breath and one brave try, he lights the tree and follows a golden path home. There he turns out Mama's lamp and sleeps in his own bed, certain that his glow belongs. The story closes with the emotional and the physical journey both settled, so the last page can be read slowly, with a hug, before lights out. Share it as a bedtime ritual, or save it for the evening when a child first asks to sleep alone.

A Lasting Keepsake for Birthdays, Holidays, and Sleep Milestones

Warm, sturdy, and easy to revisit, this is a beautifully illustrated bedtime story that makes a lasting present. It suits a birthday, a holiday gift, a grandparent's visit, or the day a child moves into a big-kid bed. Classrooms and libraries will also appreciate its gentle message about confidence, friendship, and belonging. It is the kind of title a family can place on a keepsake shelf, a teacher can add to a classroom collection, and a grandparent can read aloud on every visit, with a message about the light inside that stays true as children grow.

• A reassuring story about courage that begins with one calm breath
• A celebration of different strengths and of working together
• Glowing creatures, pillow mountains, and cocoa clouds to explore on every page
• A complete ending that closes with Ember asleep at home
• Activity and brave-bedtime pages for talking about the story afterward

A Book Worth Reading Again and Again

Children who love the glow-moth, the bubble-sprite, and the star-snail will want to visit them often, and grown-ups will love how softly the story settles toward sleep. Give it to the dreamer in your life, open the hardback together, and share Ember's journey at the end of a long day.