Customer Reviews

Fanny's Dream (Picture Puffins)

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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!

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!

My girls and I fell in love with this book! Beautiful illustration's and story. Teaches what is truely important ingredients to a happy life!!!

We have tons and tons of books for our kids. This is my favorite -- or at least one of the top five. The clouds are so beautiful. The color/tint of the night -- to die for. And such a heart-warming, life-affirming story. This is one of those rare books that kids and their folks will love.

Great book! I would give this to teenage or young adult girls who are making big choices in their lives or have fantasies about romance.

Fanny's Dream (Picture Puffins)

A wonderfully illustrated story that has a powerful moral. We often have big dreams and wishes that are beyond the realm of reality. My Mom used to warn me, 'be careful what you pray for'. Fanny had a dream to marry a prince and have a life of ease and luxury, waited on hand and foot. But the reality was that she married a simple farmer, just like her. They had a good marriage full of happiness, but also a life of hard work and the occasional disaster. Although she did not marry the tall, dark, handsome prince, she felt that her life was 'close enough, close enough'. I purchased a book for each of my 6 children as a Christmas gift, and labeled them 'Marriage Manual'.

I'm sure this book would be enjoyable by children, though my kids are too young to appreciate it yet. However, being at a very non-dreamy stage of life (3 kids 4 and under, 2 in diapers, and me covered in spit-up most of the day) I really related to Fanny. The book made me laugh and cry, and reminded me of what's important. My husband's new nickname is Hebie (and I wouldn't mind him calling me Fanny). Next time I need a wedding gift, Fanny's Dream will be it (though I'm sure the newlyweds won't understand it for a few years).

Fanny has a dream. Although she is a sturdy (plain) farm girl, she wants to marry a prince or mayor's son. But she marries a kindly (but short) neighbor, who is a farmer like herself. She has to do much hard work, which is not what she had planned, but ends up with a pleasant, peasant life with Heber. Fanny and Heber have much in common, especially the life and home that they have worked hard to create and three children whom they love.

This is a lovely children's book with absolutely terrific illustrations. I love the one where Fanny sits on a stump in her best dress waiting for her fairy godmother while looking down at the town where the mayor is giving a ball. Fairy godmother doesn't show up, but Heber comes a-courting with a fist full of daisies.

"Fanny's Dream" presents a valuable message that is worthy of thought. Are some dreams so unrealistic that they aren't worth pursuing? Perhaps happiness is just around the corner and not in some far-away exalted realm. Is the dream just a superficial fantasy and not a good and true goal? What will bring real happiness, and what is simply vain dreaming?

Along with the many children who reviewed this book, I ask: Is Fanny throwing away her dream, a chance at a different life? True, she gets no support for her dream--her girlfriends say she is "about as graceful as an elephant". Her brother laughs, "You're as big as an ox!", and even Heber challenges Fanny's dream with "can you twirl and walz and curtsy..." She is made to believe that she is can't be a society lady because of her looks and her lack of knowledge of society culture. Do you have to be beautiful to be a lady? What is beauty?

But attaining a worthy goal requires work,and not a fairy godmother.One can LEARN to waltz and drink from a goblet. Fanny's desire to be a city girl may well be based on some superficial concepts. BUT. I don't think that putting her down for her looks or her lack of learning of the social graces so that she gives up sends a particularly good message to young people.

This book could stimulate interesting discussions. The children can consider how some dreams are not realistic, and won't lead to lasting happiness, whereas others are worthwhile goals. Also to question the idea that one should not be judged by looks, or lack of skill. A child should feel good about herself and not made to feel ugly. She can take courage in the fact that she can learn skills outside of her own realm. A child can learn what is real and what is fanciful, but also she should not just "give up" a true goal because someone says she can't do it. But, also, that true happiness may be right "under your nose". Lovely book; FABULOUS illustrations. good food for thought.

Many young adults, like Fanny, are looking for their "Prince Charming". This causes them to miss happiness they could have by accepting someone that is "close enough". There ought to be a magnet for the refrigerator that simply says "close enough".