Close Your Eyes

Close Your Eyes

By Michael Greenbaum

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Illustrated by Lisa M. Syverson H

Close Your Eyes

By Michael Greenbaum Dedicated to my first grandson Alex and to all future grandchildren.

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Illustrated by Lisa M. Syverson H

Published by TEDELFI PUBLICATIONS USA No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

All Illustrations Copyright Š 2008 Lisa M. Syverson/Syverson Studios Copyright Š 2008 by Lori Goldberg ISBN 978-1-60725-303-7 918 402 4300 1703 1172 1076

Sleep can be fun when you close your eyes.

Tomorrow comes faster and maybe a surprise.

Dreams only happen when you shut your eyes tight.

And hug your best pals as you sleep through the night.

Close your eyes and you can dream in any color, red, green or blue.

Imagine your favorite things in that color and it will come true.

Your walls can be green, your teddy bear red.

It can happen while you’re dreaming in bed.

If your animals are small and you want them to grow, close your eyes and your dreams will make it so.

If your bed is too small and you want a bigger size, in your dreams it can happen when you close your eyes.

Close your eyes and you could dream that you’re flying on top of a cloud.

You could swoop up and down until you’re laughing out loud.

Tonight you could dream of your favorite flower in bloom.

And you could see it happen right here in this room.

In your dreams you’re always happy. No one ever says “no.”

It’s never too wet or cold to play in the rain or snow.

Imagine your room full of cute puppies of every size.

It can happen in your dreams. Just close your eyes.

Close your eyes and you can be an astronaut flying to the stars and the moon.

In your dreams you can do it without leaving your room.

Imagine your room full of candy, your favorite kind.

In your dreams it can happen and your mom and dad won’t mind.

A bedtime story for you, hugs and kisses for me.

In all the world there’s no place I’d rather be.

As the story ends and happy dreams begin, I’ll be back in the morning to see your beautiful grin.

You become more precious to me each and every day.

And I love you more than I can ever say.

Goodnight.

About the Illustrator Lisa Syverson was introduced to Michael Greenbaum by a mutual friend in 2007 after he sought an artist who could illustrate his children’s book, Close Your Eyes, written as a gift and legacy to his grandchildren and family. Inspired by Michael’s writing and their conversations, Lisa has designed and illustrated Close Your Eyes to honor Michael’s wishes to provide a story dedicated to celebrating the child in all of us.

For over 30 years, Lisa has worked as a graphic designer, photographer, illustrator, and painter. Her rich and imaginative work is inspired by her insatiable love of travel, exposure to other cultures, and the intriguing stories of the people she encounters during each extraordinary journey.

Lisa’s creations reflect a unique experience, revealed through multidimensional layers of color, reflections, and a tapestry of patterns and textures, which illuminate each piece.

Lisa resides in Chicago, IL, where she is President of Syverson Studios.

She graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1984 from the Maryland Institute College of Art, with a BFA in graphic design and illustration. She has exhibited throughout the United States and China, and has artwork in numerous private collections. She has received several prestigious awards for her work, including the NYC Society of Illustrators, the American Advertising Award, “The Best of the Web” by Forbes Magazine, and received a CAAP Grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs.

Lisa’s work can be seen on her websites at www.syversonstudios.com and http://syverson.smugmug.com.

About the Author Michael Greenbaum was an executive, entrepreneur, writer, painter, and sculptor. But most notably, he was a loving husband, father and grandfather.

In the year before Michael died from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in 2007, he wrote Close Your Eyes as an inspiration for his grandchildren.

Michael spent more than 30 years in the advertising/marketing industry and was co-founder of his own agency receiving more than 50 national and international awards for his creative work.

He was also a successful painter of large scale works in acrylic and sculptor of figurative works cast in bronze. Michael’s artwork can be found in museums, galleries and private collections in the United States and Canada.

In 2005, Michael published a photographic essay book featuring children from around the world titled, Listening With Your Eyes.

It contains his photos of children, captured on the streets, pathways and playgrounds of some 34 countries during his 25 years of personal travels. In the foreword of the book, Michael writes that he never forgot what it was like to be a child. He would wish the same for all of his readers.

ISBN 978-1-60725-303-7