- Picture Books
- Ages 5–8
- Fantasy
The Dream Factory
A vibrant, dreamlike picture book about the factory that powers a town's imagination, and what happens when a bird flies into the works. The first Tate title by a Maori author, richly illustrated by Zak Atea.
- Best for5–8
- FormatPicture
- Length32 pp
- Read aloud~6 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Lyrical
- Literary
Tone
- Whimsical
- Warm
- Inspirational
- Gentle
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
On the edge of town stands an amazing building: the dream factory. Every night it sends out a magical mist that fills the sleeping townspeople's heads with wonders, flying cars, flower cakes, talking tigers, and every day they set about making those dreams come true. But when a kereru flutters into the factory and a single feather drifts into a cog, the machinery jams and the dreams stop flowing, and the town must find a way to set imagination loose again. Steph Matuku's warm, whimsical fable is a celebration of creativity and community and the small sparks that keep them alive, brought to life in Zak Atea's luminous, colour-soaked illustrations. The first book from Tate Publishing written by a Maori author and picturing Maori characters, it makes a rich, thought-provoking read-aloud and a lovely prompt for talking with children about dreams, ideas and the things worth making real.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
A read-aloud for roughly 5-8s, with dense, rewarding artwork and a gently thought-provoking story. Confident readers of 6-8 can manage the text; younger children enjoy poring over the dream-filled pictures alongside an adult.
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- 3
- 5
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- 13
- Best fit · 5–8
- Read aloud · 4–8
- Independent · 6–8
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Workable
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Reading together
- Gift-buying
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
3 / 5 · Workable
Sensitive-child
5 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Imaginative readers
- Read aloud
- Diverse representation
- Creativity
Avoid if
- Wants fast paced action
Particularly good for children who are…
- Interested in art and creativity
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The idea of a factory that puffs out dreams every night is pure wonder, and the pictures burst with flying cars, flower cakes and talking tigers. When a bird jams the works, kids are gripped to see how the town gets its imagination back.
- Secret world
- Making a difference
- Magic powers
Why parents love it
A gorgeously illustrated fable about creativity and community, and a milestone as Tate's first book by a Maori author with Maori characters. Atea's colour-drenched art rewards lingering, and the story opens up rich conversations about dreams and ideas.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Conversation starter
- Cultural representation
About the creators
About the creators.
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