What Dreams May Come!

Veronika looked up from the book she was reading in bed to see Billy at the door to the room where she sleeps.
"Veronika, may I come in?" Billy asked.

"Sure, Billy," Veronika replied, "you can come in, but I thought you were asleep."

"I was asleep," Billy said, climbing up on the bed with Veronika. "I had a bad dream. I don't think I dare go back to sleep again."

Veronika closed her book and patted the bed to invite Billy to sit next to her.
"Do you remember your dream, Billy?" she asked.
"Yes, I do," he replied. "That's why I'm afraid to go to sleep."

"Maybe it will help you if you tell me about your dream," Veronika suggested.

"Well," Billy began, "in the dream a monster came out of the laptop and chased me around. I ran and ran, but it kept getting closer. Then I was falling. Falling doesn't usually scare me, because I know my vinyl is sturdy, but I kept falling and never hit the floor. Then I woke up. I was afraid the monster would be hiding somewhere in the bedroom."

"You know dreams aren't real, don't you Billy?" Veronika asked. "It's just something your doll brain does when you're asleep."
"This sure seemed real," he said. "I remember it as if it really happened."
"Well," said Veronika, "dolls are made to be like people, so our brains work the same way. I read that people who study how people's brains work have been trying for a long time to understand dreams. They think there is a purpose to them, like if you are learning lots of new things during the day, you will dream a lot more at night. Maybe it's the brain's way to organize and store what it has taken in all day."

Billy thought about that. "I guess I am learning a lot now," he said. "Before I came out of my box, I dreamed, but I don't remember much of what I dreamed about, just that it was sometimes interesting and never scary."

"Dolls sleep most of the time that they are in their boxes, so they have lots of dreams," Veronika explained. "That dreaming is what dolls do to get ready for the lives they will lead when they come out of their boxes. It helps teach them how to be companions to the children they will belong to. A companion is like a friend who is always there with you, who keeps you company. We dolls do that."
"But this dream was scary," Billy said.

"It's called a nightmare," Veronika explained. "It's normal to dream. Even dogs and cats dream. Sometimes you can see their legs move as if they are chasing something or running from something."
"I have seen Freckles and Pierre do that," Billy agreed. "Does that mean they are having scary dreams? Nightmares?"

"I don't know for sure," Veronika replied. "It probably means they are dreaming, but it could be a happy dream. The people who study dreams haven't figured out what dreams are for, only that there must be some purpose for them. If there is, it seems to be something animals need, too, so they dream."
"So that means sometimes children have nightmares?" Billy asked.
"Yes, they do," Veronika said, "and because children have nightmares, we have to understand what it's like, so we can comfort them."

"Children and dolls can have nightmares," Veronika went on, "especially after something scares them, like a scary movie. Maybe something happened that scared you, Billy." Then she remembered how Billy said that the dream monster came out of the computer. "Did something on the computer scare you?" she asked.
Billy thought for a long time. Then he seemed to have an idea. "I was playing a game on the computer and having a good time in the afternoon," he said.

"A picture of a strange person came on the screen," Billy went on. "Well, it looked almost like a person, but not quite. It was like a monster person. This thing told me I had to do what it told me to do, or it would hurt me. It was never there when I played that game before." Billy shivered as he talked about it. "It really scared me!"

Veronika considered what Billy had told her.

"I think there's a good chance that your brain was working through that fright," she suggested. "There are some bad people in the world who want to use our computers to hurt us, but they can't really hurt us if we don't tell them who we are or where we live, and they can't make you do something you don't want to do."

"I think I knew that. It sure scared me, though," Billy said, clearly relieved.
"If it happens again, come and get one of us older dolls," Veronika told him. "Maybe we can fix the computer so the bad person can't get through to your game."
Billy got up. "Thanks, Veronika," he said. "I think I can go to sleep now."
"I'm glad to help," Veronika replied. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," Billy said.

Billy went back to the bedroom where he sleeps. He looked into the closet. There was some stuff there, but no monster.

He looked under the bed. There was some stuff there, but no monster.

He checked the whole room. There was no monster anywhere. With a sigh he climbed into bed and turned out the light. "Make me do something I don't want to do! I don't think so!" he said to himself. 

Then Billy pulled on his sleep mask and went to sleep. This time he had a happy dream. In this dream he was using the computer to make his photos better. It was fun. Billy smiled in his sleep.

Cast--
Veronika: Götz Classic Kidz Vroni
Billy: Götz Happy Kidz Lily at London

You can follow The Doll's Storybook here.

Do you have questions or comments for us? Would you like to order an autographed copy of one of our books? You can email us at thedollsstorybook@icloud.com.

Note: No dolls were harmed during production of this blog. All dolls shown are Götz Happy Kidz, Classic Kidz or Little Kidz. If you like these stories and are willing, please make a donation of any amount to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or any organization that supports pediatric cancer research and treatment. We are not affiliated with St. Jude in any way other than these donations.

“The Doll’s Storybook” is not affiliated with Gotz Dolls USA Inc. or Götz Puppenmanufaktur International GmbH.

Watch for the next story each Friday afternoon at 1:00 PM Pacific Time.

Do you like our stories? Some of them are available in print:

The stories in Mariah: Stories from The Doll’s Storybook are Being Little, Besties and Distraction.

The stories in Emil: Stories from The Doll’s Storybook are Best Buds, Getting What You Want and The Boys Cook Dinner.

The stories in Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll’s Storybook are Little Green Greatcoat, The Boy Doll Who Cried Wolf and Lost in the Woods.

Our book of poems, Our Favorite Verses: Poems from The Doll’s Storybook includes Valentine's Day, Keeping Pets, Back to School, Victor the Vulture, The Week Before Christmas, Insomnia and Veronika's Vocabulary Verses.

The stories in More Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll’s Storybook are Welcoming a Stranger, The Rescue, Unmasked, Fuzzy Town––A Play and Sky Blue.

Available now from BookBaby and other booksellers: Billy: Stories from The Doll’s Storybook. The Stories in Billy: Stories from The Doll’s Storybook are Talking About Boys, Changes, Shhhhh!, Staying After and Money in a Jar.

Royalties go to an organization that provides pediatric cancer research and treatment. If you don’t get free shipping from Amazon or B&N, buy from the BookBabyBookshop, because 50% of the price goes to our designated charity. Other booksellers pay much less, because the vendor gets a cut. The Writer’s author’s page at Book Baby is here. Scroll down and click on any of the books that interest you, or ask your library to get our books for you. 

Note: This blog post was produced on the iPad and the MacBook, using the iPhone for some photos and some photo processing. No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for, cleaned or broken. No animals or dolls were harmed during the production of this blog post.

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Copyright © 2019, 2026 by Peggy Stuart

Dreaming of Christmas

 The mother and the father were in the kitchen, getting supper ready. The boy and the girl were in the living room, reading.

Suddenly, the girl looked up. “What’s that sound?” she asked.

The boy stopped reading and listened. “It sounds like tiny feet on the front porch,” he said.

“Do you think it’s Santa Claus?” The girl asked.

Then there was another sound. “That sounds like someone is scratching on the front door,” the boy said. “Santa comes down the chimney, not through the front door.” 

“Let’s go see,” said the girl. “Help me, so we can hurry!”

The boy pushed the girl’s wheelchair to the front door. They opened the door slowly, and what do you think they saw?

“They’re singing, I think,” the girl said. 

“They’re caroling,” the boy agreed, “but how can they sing without moving their lips?”

“I think it’s a doll thing,” the girl replied.

The children watched and listened to two more carols, and finally “Silent Night.” Then, suddenly, the dolls were gone.

“Let’s not tell the parents,” the boy suggested.

“No,” agreed the girl. “They wouldn’t understand.”

They quietly closed the door and went back into the living room. This time, the girl insisted on moving her chair on her own, which she did by placing her hands on the big rings that went around the wheels and pushing them forward.

They were quietly reading in the living room when the father called them to come and eat.

Back at home, the dolls took off their coats, hats, scarves and boots, and settled down in our living room for some pretend hot chocolate and a pretend snack. They had those little donuts that look like Cheerios, some raisins and some popcorn.

“That was fun,” said Charlotte. “We should do it again.”

“I like it when real children come to the door,” Jolena said, placing her cup carefully on its saucer.

“It was fun seeing a real boy,” Billy added, as he stuck his fingers through the holes in the little donuts, just to see how far they would go.

“Is that the first time you have seen a real boy, Billy?” Charlotte asked, taking another little donut from the plate Mandy offered her.

“Yes,” said Billy. “It’s the first time I’ve seen any real children. I really liked the thing the girl was sitting on, too,” he added, looking at the little donuts on his little fingers. “It had wheels, like a bicycle or a car, so you can ride it.”

“It’s a wheelchair,” said Mandy. “It’s for people who can't or shouldn't walk,” she explained. “I read a story once about a human person who had to use a wheelchair all the time.”

“I wondered about the wheelchair, so I looked it up. I learned that sometimes people just use a wheelchair for a short time,” Mandy explained, “if they have been injured or sick, or they need to go somewhere where they would have to do too much walking. Some people, even some children, need a wheelchair all their lives.”

“I think it would be fun,” said Billy.

“I think it would be fun for a while,” suggested Jolena, “but I like to get up and run or dance.”

The dolls all thought about that and agreed.

“I think using a wheelchair is better than lying in bed or sitting in one place all the time,” said Veronika, who knows about sitting in one place for a long time, because she’s a doll.

“I have an idea!” exclaimed Mariah, who had been sitting quietly, listening to the conversation. “Let’s go visit them at night, when they're asleep. It would be fun to tell them happy stories while they’re sleeping, so they have happy dreams.”

The dolls all thought that was a good idea.

“I want to tell stories to the boy,” said Billy. “I know what kinds of adventures boys like to have.”

“I want to take the girl with me when I do flips on my skis,” Jolena said. “I think she would like to know what it's like to fly.”

“And it would be safe,” agreed Mariah, “because you can’t be hurt in your dreams!”

The dolls all thought that would be fun. They picked up their little dishes and food and put everything away. Then they all brushed their teeth, which is hard to do, because they can’t really open their mouths. (They have to use their imaginations.) Finally, they put on their pajamas and went to bed. They dreamt about going caroling and visiting real children who were asleep.

Did you ever think that maybe when you have happy dreams at night, it’s because Mariah, Billy or Jolena, or one of the other dolls is sitting by your bed, telling you stories?

Or maybe you have a doll who lives with you who does that for you.

Cast--

Jolena: Götz Happy Kidz Lena in Aspen

Veronika: Götz Classic Kidz Vroni

Mandy: Götz Happy Kidz Katie 2015

Charlotte: Götz Happy Kidz Anna in Paris

Mariah: Götz Happy Kidz Mariah, “Chosen” from My Doll Best Friend

Billy: Götz Happy Kidz Lily of London

Caroling music to print was found here: https://www.heartwoodguitar.com/extras/christmas-carol-songbook/

You can follow The Doll's Storybook here.

Do you have questions or comments for us? Would you like to order an autographed copy of one of our books? You can email us at thedollsstorybook@icloud.com.

Note: No dolls were harmed during production of this blog. All dolls shown are Götz Happy Kidz, Classic Kidz or Little Kidz. If you like these stories and are willing, please make a donation of any amount to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or any organization that supports pediatric cancer research and treatment. We are not affiliated with St. Jude in any way other than these donations.

"The Doll's Storybook" is not affiliated with Gotz Dolls USA Inc. or Götz Puppenmanufaktur International GmbH.
Watch for the next story each Friday afternoon at 1:00 PM Pacific Time.

Mariah: Stories from The Doll's Storybook, Emil: Stories from The Doll's Storybook, Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook, Our Favorite Verses: Poems from The Doll's Storybook and More Classic Tales Untold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are available from BookBaby and other booksellers worldwide, such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. 

Author's page on Amazon. 

Royalties (net proceeds) go to support pediatric cancer research and treatment. If you don't get free shipping elsewhere, buy from Book Baby. Half of the price goes to charity (specific information available upon request). Autographed copies of all three books are available from the author. (Multiple books to the same address have a discount on shipping.) To inquire, email thedollsstorybook@icloud.com.

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Copyright © 2018, 2024 by Peggy Stuart

Caroling and Dreaming

The mother and the father were in the kitchen, getting supper ready. The boy and the girl were in the living room, reading.

Suddenly, the girl looked up. “What’s that sound?” she asked.

The boy stopped reading and listened. “It sounds like tiny feet on the front porch,” he said.

“Do you think it’s Santa Claus?” The girl asked.

Then there was another sound. “That sounds like someone is scratching on the front door,” the boy said. “Santa comes down the chimney, not through the front door.” 

“Let’s go see,” said the girl. “Help me, so we can hurry!”

The boy pushed the girl’s wheelchair to the front door. They opened the door slowly, and what do you think they saw?

“They’re singing, I think,” the girl said. 

“They’re caroling,” the boy agreed, “but how can they sing without moving their lips?”

“I think it’s a doll thing,” the girl replied.

The children watched and listened to two more carols, and finally “Silent Night.” Then, suddenly, the dolls were gone.

“Let’s not tell the parents,” the boy suggested.

“No,” agreed the girl. “They wouldn’t understand.”

They quietly closed the door and went back into the living room. This time, the girl insisted on moving her chair on her own, which she did by placing her hands on the big rings that went around the wheels and pushing them forward.

They were quietly reading in the living room when the father called them to come and eat.

Back at home, the dolls took off their coats, hats, scarves and boots, and settled down in our living room for some pretend hot chocolate and a pretend snack. They had those little donuts that look like Cheerios, some raisins and some popcorn.

“That was fun,” said Charlotte. “We should do it again.”

“I like it when real children come to the door,” Jolena said, placing her cup carefully on its saucer.

“It was fun seeing a real boy,” Billy added, as he stuck his fingers through the holes in the little donuts, just to see how far they would go.

“Is that the first time you have seen a real boy, Billy?” Charlotte asked, taking another little donut from the plate Mandy offered her.

“Yes,” said Billy. “It’s the first time I’ve seen any real children. I really liked the thing the girl was sitting on, too,” he added, looking at the little donuts on his little fingers. “It had wheels, like a bicycle or a car, so you can ride it.”

“It’s a wheelchair,” said Mandy. “It’s for people who can't or shouldn't walk,” she explained. “I read a story once about a human person who had to use a wheelchair all the time.”

“I wondered about the wheelchair, so I looked it up. I learned that sometimes people just use a wheelchair for a short time,” Mandy explained, “if they have been injured or sick, or they need to go somewhere where they would have to do too much walking. Some people, even some children, need a wheelchair all their lives.”

“I think it would be fun,” said Billy.

“I think it would be fun for a while,” suggested Jolena, “but I like to get up and run or dance.”

The dolls all thought about that and agreed.

“I think using a wheelchair is better than lying in bed or sitting in one place all the time,” said Veronika, who knows about sitting in one place for a long time, because she’s a doll.

“I have an idea!” exclaimed Mariah, who had been sitting quietly, listening to the conversation. “Let’s go visit them at night, when they're asleep. It would be fun to tell them happy stories while they’re sleeping, so they have happy dreams.”

The dolls all thought that was a good idea.

“I want to tell stories to the boy,” said Billy. “I know what kinds of adventures boys like to have.”

“I want to take the girl with me when I do flips on my skis,” Jolena said. “I think she would like to know what it's like to fly.”

“And it would be safe,” agreed Mariah, “because you can’t be hurt in your dreams!”

The dolls all thought that would be fun. They picked up their little dishes and food and put everything away. Then they all brushed their teeth, which is hard to do, because they can’t really open their mouths. (They have to use their imaginations.) Finally, they put on their pajamas and went to bed. They dreamt about going caroling and visiting real children who were asleep.

Did you ever think that maybe when you have happy dreams at night, it’s because Mariah, Billy or Jolena, or one of the other dolls is sitting by your bed, telling you stories?

Or maybe you have a doll who lives with you who does that for you.

Cast--

Jolena: Götz Happy Kidz Lena in Aspen

Veronika: Götz Classic Kidz Vroni

Mandy: Götz Happy Kidz Katie 2015

Charlotte: Götz Happy Kidz Anna in Paris

Mariah: Götz Happy Kidz Mariah, “Chosen” from My Doll Best Friend

Billy: Götz Happy Kidz Lily of London

Caroling music to print was found here: https://www.heartwoodguitar.com/extras/christmas-carol-songbook/

You can follow The Doll's Storybook here.

Do you have questions or comments for us? Would you like to order an autographed copy of one of our books? You can email us at thedollsstorybook@icloud.com.

Note: No dolls were harmed during production of this blog. All dolls shown are Götz Happy Kidz, Classic Kidz or Little Kidz. If you like these stories and are willing, please make a donation of any amount to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or any organization that supports pediatric cancer research and treatment. We are not affiliated with St. Jude in any way other than these donations.

"The Doll's Storybook" is not affiliated with Gotz Dolls USA Inc. or Götz Puppenmanufaktur International GmbH.
Watch for the next story each Friday afternoon at 1:00 PM Pacific Time.

Mariah: Stories from The Doll's Storybook, Emil: Stories from The Doll's Storybook, Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook and Our Favorite Verses: Poems from The Doll's Storybook are available from BookBaby and other booksellers worldwide, such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. 

Author's page on Amazon. 

Royalties (net proceeds) go to support pediatric cancer research and treatment. If you don't get free shipping elsewhere, buy from Book Baby. Half of the price goes to charity (specific information available upon request). Autographed copies of all three books are available from the author. (Multiple books to the same address have a discount on shipping.) To inquire, email thedollsstorybook@icloud.com.

<a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/19832501/?claim=j3fj3mbb8kt">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Copyright © 2018, 2023 by Peggy Stuart