When the stars begin to twinkle and the moon casts a soft glow, a very special little fellow gets ready for his nightly visits. His name is Ole Lukøje, which means Ole Shut-Eye, and he’s a master of dreams! He tiptoes into children's rooms so quietly, you wouldn't even hear a pin drop.

Ole always wears a silk coat, but its color changes like a rainbow, depending on his mood. Under each arm, he carries an umbrella. One umbrella is covered in the most wonderful pictures – of brave knights, dancing princesses, talking animals, and flying ships. He opens this one over good children, and they have the sweetest, most exciting dreams all night long.

But his other umbrella is quite plain, with nothing on it at all. If a child has been a bit naughty, Ole opens this plain umbrella over them, and they sleep soundly but without any dreams to remember.

Ole also has a tiny squirt bottle filled with sweet milk. He gently squirts a tiny bit into children's eyes, just enough to make them sleepy, but not so much that they can't see him if they peek!

One week, Ole decided to visit a little boy named Hjalmar every night.

On Monday, Ole tiptoed into Hjalmar’s room. Hjalmar’s schoolbooks were scattered about. Ole waved his hand, and suddenly, the letters in the books started to dance, and the flowers in the wallpaper pots grew tall and bowed to Hjalmar. "Time for bed, little scholar," Ole whispered, opening his picture umbrella. Hjalmar dreamed he was in a garden where flowers sang to him.

On Tuesday, Ole found Hjalmar looking at a painting of a ship on a stormy sea. "Let's go on an adventure!" Ole said. He touched the painting, and whoosh! Hjalmar and Ole were on the deck of that very ship, sailing through splashing waves, but they weren't scared at all. They saw mermaids waving and friendly dolphins leaping.

On Wednesday, it was raining outside. Ole opened his picture umbrella, and suddenly Hjalmar’s little room became a cozy boat. They sailed right out the window, not on water, but on the rainy wind! They floated over the town, looking down at all the shiny, wet rooftops, and Hjalmar felt like a bird.

On Thursday, Ole told Hjalmar, "Tonight, we're going to a party!" He shrunk Hjalmar down to the size of a mouse. They scurried under the floorboards and found a grand wedding! Two little field mice were getting married. They wore tiny clothes made of flower petals, and the wedding cake was a crumb of cheese. All the mice danced and squeaked with joy.

On Friday, Ole said, "Let's see what your sister's dolls are up to." They peeked into the dollhouse, and guess what? The dolls were having their own party! The soldier doll was dancing with the ballerina doll, and the teddy bear was playing a tiny piano. Hjalmar giggled, watching them.

On Saturday, Ole didn't have a story ready. Instead, he showed Hjalmar pictures of his grandparents and other kind old people. "These people have many stories in their hearts," Ole said. "They love you very much." Hjalmar dreamed of all the kind faces and felt very warm and happy.

On Sunday, Ole looked a little more serious. "Hjalmar," he said, "I have a brother. His name is also Ole Lukøje, but people sometimes call him Death. He doesn't only visit children; he visits everyone, young and old, when it's their time for a very, very long sleep."
"Does he tell stories too?" Hjalmar asked.
"Oh yes," Ole replied. "He has two kinds. For good people, he tells the most beautiful stories of peace and wonderful new adventures. For those who weren't so kind, his stories are not as pleasant. He rides a horse, and he takes people to a land we don't know. But don't you worry about him for a long, long time."
Ole then opened his picture umbrella, and Hjalmar dreamed of flying on a gentle, white horse through a sky full of soft, fluffy clouds.

And so, Ole Lukøje continued his nightly rounds, bringing dreams to children everywhere, always with his two umbrellas and a sprinkle of sleepy, sweet milk.

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