Dream Weaver

by Jane Yolen, Michael Hague (Illustrator)

For a penny a dream, the old blind Dream Weaver weaves dreams for seven sets of passers-by.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Fairy Tales, Picture Books, Fiction, Young Adult

80 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Jane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.

Reviews

[SheriC · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is really not a children’s book. Like most real fairy tales, these stories and their intricate illustrations are much darker than their Disney counterparts, more violent and bloodthirsty, with very adult themes. The book contains 7 re-imagined classic fairy tales, tied (woven, ha ha) together by the narrative of a blind old woman who weaves dreams for a series of passers-by. They are strange and disturbing, and I did not enjoy reading them, but I did find it an interesting exercise to try connecting each fairy tale/dream with the persons for whom it was woven.

This is a good-quality hardcover version with glossy illustrations that I picked up at a used bookstore and has been sitting unread on my shelf for several years. I read this for the 2017 Booklikes-opoly game.

[Slee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed me. Huddled low in a library, trying to avoid the helpful gaze of a librarian and bored beyond all hope of salvation while my dad was busy talking to someone else, I plucked this slim volume off the shelf and decided to go ahead and read it. Don't misconstrue me and suppose that I didn't enjoy reading, I did. However, reading hadn't yet blossomed into a full-fledged hobby for me. I was pretty young and still reading mid-grade chapter books, at best, and teachers were still telling us that a lack of pictures and book length were some of the most important characteristics of any given text. This felt naughty. Some ten full page illustrations ornamented it's meager eighty pages of transporting storytelling.
I remember the first time I looked at the copyright page and saw that Dream Weaver was published in 1979. It was like Jane Yolen had written it just for me because she knew I'd been born. I know she didn't, but it felt that way, nonetheless.
The Tree's Wife particularly resonated with me at the time, and since then dryads have come to hold the foremost place in my heart with regards to mythic creatures. I keep a copy of this book near my bed, beside Faery Flag, just in case I need a good short bedtime story for one of my kids.
I love this book.

[Reading Through the Lists · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of nice, original fairy tales. The frame of the old Dream Weaver telling tales doesn’t add much, and takes up quite a bit of room in a short book, but the stories themselves are enjoyable.

I particularly enjoyed “The Tree’s Wife.”

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book. It's short and looks like a children's book, but it's a lovely read for an adult. Looking forward to revisiting this one. I think this is the kind of book that will allow you to discover something new with each reread

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books as a child. It really stuck with me. Wish i had it still. It was in an old school library and stolen. Miss it. Sweet story. Made you think. Ty Jane 💖💔

[Eliot Fiend · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent magical and old-school stories (stylistically similar to many great myths though distinct), good for kids and adults alike. i love the "dream weaver" character (who speaks a bit between stories.)

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorite books! What a haunting collection of fairy tales...

[Chanel Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful collection of fairy tales framed within a story that is also interesting and meaningful. I enjoyed every tale.

[Maureen]

Good