Dream for the Land, Laekan Zea Kemp
Dream for the Land, Laekan Zea Kemp
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Dream for the Land

Author: Laekan Zea Kemp

Narrator: Daisy Guevara

Unabridged: 10 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/18/2025

Synopsis

In this lyrical audiobook about the importance of caring for our Earth, a child and her father wish for a brighter, greener future for the parched land around their home.

When a girl finds a horned toad among the rain-starved squash, tomatoes, and poblanos on her family's Texas farm, her Pa tells her that, if she kisses it on the head—blech!—she gets to make one wish. What will she wish for?

Generations ago, when the girl's ancestors lived on this land, it was lush and green—full of life. Now, because of a decades-long drought, their soil is parched and their crops are dying.

The girl sees the worry lines on Pa's face getting deeper. She knows she has to do something to help. And so, thinking about the people who lived on this land before her, and all those who will live on it after her, she wishes for rain.

This poignant father-daughter story reminds us that, when it comes to healing our Earth, change often starts with a simple wish. With a dream for a world that could be.

About The Author

Laekan Zea Kemp is the Pura Belpré Honor-winning author of Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet, a young adult novel, as well as the picture book A Crown for Corina and numerous other titles for young readers. Her work celebrates Chicane grit, resilience, creativity, and joy while exploring themes of identity and mental health. She lives in Austin, Texas.Leo Espinosa is a New York Times bestselling illustrator and designer. His picture books include No More Naps by Chris Grabenstein; Islandborn by Junot Diaz, for which he was awarded a Pura Belpre illustrator award; and Goldfish on Vacation by Sally Lloyd-Jones. In addition, he has given multiple lectures and workshops at schools such as Parsons School of Design and Pratt Institute, and has served on the faculty of the Rhode Island School of Design. He is from Bogotá, Colombia.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Barbara on May 12, 2025

There are certainly many things that youngsters and adults dream of having or happening. But the dream of the narrator, a young girl, turns out to be quite big and quite important. The girl awakens to familiar sights and sounds on a farm in west Texas. She checks the tomatoes, only to see that they......more

Goodreads review by Read on May 02, 2025

Any readers from the southwest will be able to relate to this story of a young girl that shares the worries of her family as they wait for the next rains to nourish their crops. The story reminds the reader that it wasn't always like this. Climate has changed the environment with consequential effec......more

Goodreads review by Vincent on July 17, 2025

A touching story about how drought has changed a young girl's ancestral home from a lush, green valley to a dry, parched farm, struggling to survive. The illustrations by Leo Espinosa reminded me of the style you see in a Pixar film. This is a gentle introduction to climate issues for young children......more

Goodreads review by Courtney on October 05, 2025

Truly beautiful, Texan story. It made me tear up.......more

Quotes

★ "Kemp’s pensive, elegiac tale unpacks the hard-earned minutiae of a farming family’s everyday lives, as well as the encroaching consequences of human-fueled climate change, told from a young girl’s compelling, vivid perspective....Tender, expressive, and important." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Laekan Zea Kemp tells a tenderhearted story that depicts the hardships of tending a drought-stricken land yet maintains hope." —Shelf Awareness, starred review

"A book that motivates young readers to learn more about tending the land, growing food, and the impact of human overdevelopment on the environment." —School Library Journal

"An illuminating, galvanizing choice, particularly for agricultural areas disrupted by climate change." —Booklist

"[A] contemplative look at the real effect of a changing climate across three generations." —Publishers Weekly

"The thoughtful text has a lyrical, meditative quality to it, and the statement from the girl’s father about the drought being caused by humans is notable for a picture book." —The Bulletin

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