Fanny's Dream (Picture Puffins) [Paperback]

Caralyn Buehner (Author, Illustrator), Mark Buehner (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Picture Puffins

In this inventive take on the traditional Cinderella tale, Fanny Agnes is a sturdy farm girl with a big dream. Someday, she believes, she will marry a prince. When the town mayor announces he is throwing a grand ball, Fanny is convinced her time has come. She puts on her best calico dress and goes out to the garden so that she'll be ready when her fairy godmother arrives. As the seconds tick by, Fanny waits and waits. Finally, she hears a voice. It isn't her fairy godmother-but it is someone who will change her life forever.

Illustrated by Mark Buehner.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Pminty:
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3?A warmhearted story with striking illustrations to match. Fanny Agnes is a "sturdy girl" who foresees a prince?or at least the mayor's son?as the man of her dreams. She's even depending on her fairy godmother to provide one for her. But she marries Heber Jensen, a farmer, and they share a life filled with ups and downs, babies, laughter, and love. Finally, when the fairy godmother arrives (several years late), Fanny Agnes has discovered that she doesn't need her anymore?she's found her prince. The characters' expressive, round, cartoonlike faces give form to their personalities. Buehner's farm scenes, so dramatically angled and brilliantly hued in Jerdine Nolen's Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm (Lothrop, 1994), are softer here, with a more muted palette. Especially effective are overhead sky views, such as the scene of the fairy godmother flying over the watermelon patch toward a content Fanny. Fanny's strength is not the epic kind found in a tall-tale heroine like Anne Isaacs's Swamp Angel (Dutton, 1994); hers is strength of character to recognize the dreams that make life worthwhile.?Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (June 23, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142500607
• ISBN-13: 978-0142500606
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 9.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #271,188 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #41 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Family Life > Marriage & Divorce
  • #46 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Issues > Divorce
  • #73 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Family Life > Marriage & Divorce

More About the Author

The husband-and-wife team behind the best-selling Snowmen at Night and Snowmen at Christmas, Caralyn and Mark Buehner are also the creators of the award-winning Fanny's Dream. Upcoming collaborations include an original fairy tale about a lonely princess who decides to become a hairdresser. They live in Utah with their nine children.

You can find more information about Mark and Caralyn's books and upcoming signings by visiting their website at www.buehnerbooks.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really great reality book, July 23, 2000

By 

Dana G. Williams (Savoy, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fanny's Dream (Hardcover)

Fanny's dream is a great story for kids. It teaches them to make hard choices and to recognize that dreams are often reachable through love, hard work and kindness, rather than through a fairy godmother. Fanny, herself, doesn't run into the usual Cinderella fairytale. She's not a "pretty girl" that just needs to be cleaned up nice for the king's ball. She's an every woman who dreams of marrying someon great and having a great life... and comes to realize that fancy gowns and capitalistic royal fantasies don't necessarily make everyone happy.

I would recommend this book to any child, male or female. Although it is nice to have a woman as a main character who doesn't fit into any televised stereotypes.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Heber and Fanny, June 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Fanny's Dream (Hardcover)

It's amazing how there can be so much impact on one's emotions from a simple children's book! When you and your wife put yourselves in the places of Heber and Fanny and start to look at the simple tasks that need to be completed to make a happy home and the satisfaction that comes from having a trusting mate, your partner for life with you no matter what your occupation or appearance, you will start to experience real love and happiness. My wife and I both had happy tears after reading this with our youngsters because the story shows that there is a Heber and Fanny in every couple that is aching to scream "I love you no matter what!" Read this book. Shed the plasticity of the world and learn from the simple example of true love that is portrayed in this wonderful story. We're going to be giving copies as anniversary gifts to our friends!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful realistic anti-fairy tale, August 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Fanny's Dream (Hardcover)

Anyone with a little girl who is a little too caught up in the idea of Prince Charming should buy this book. Fanny marries a nice guy, lives on a farm, raises kids and works hard. Not her original plan, but in the end realizes that she does have her prince. A wonderful message to little girls that great things don't always come in gorgeous/rich packages!