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The Weaver
As the sun rises, the weaver begins her work, spinning thread, dying it, and then weaving it into a cloth along with the signs of love and friendship she sees down on earth. At the end of the day, the weaver spreads this extraordinary cloth over us, to warm and protect us all through the night. This is a joyful, soothing, gorgeously illustrated bedtime story about the love between family and friends all over the world--and even beyond it.
The Weaver is a 2011 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
The Weaver is a 2011 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Thacher Hurd
41 books7 followersThacher grew up in a family of children's book artists, and after attending the California College of Arts and Crafts, he began to turn his talent to picture books. He is the award-winning author of Mama Don't Allow, Art Dog, and most recently Moo Cow Kaboom! He has also written two board books, Cat's Pajamas and Zoom City. Thacher and his wife, Olivia, live in Berkeley, California.
from Author Page
from Author Page
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 12, 2011
The illustrations by Kleven, whose artistic style I seem to always enjoy, are typically colorful, beautiful, and detailed. I love that a cat helps the weaver weave. I love that San Francisco and its landmarks make a couple of appearances, including the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco Bay Area and bay, San Francisco buildings, etc. I was tempted to put this book on my san-francisco shelf, but it doesn’t really belong on that shelf so I’ll restrain myself. Both author and illustrator live right across the bay from San Francisco, via the Oakland-Bay Bridge, the author in Berkeley and the illustrator in Albany; the two towns are right next to each other.
I loved the sentiments of the free verse poem story, but it didn’t read that easily, at least not for me. I tried reading it both silently and out loud, but it felt just a bit stilted. Yet, I still think that it could make for a good bedtime story. I did make it work though, by carefully paying attention to voice tone and reading rate, I found that it does in fact make for a terrific bedtime story. (The content is excellent, and I suspect that it reads more smoothly than I heard it.)
I like these two (author & illustrator) paired up! Together, they’ve created a lovely book.
I loved the sentiments of the free verse poem story, but it didn’t read that easily, at least not for me. I tried reading it both silently and out loud, but it felt just a bit stilted. Yet, I still think that it could make for a good bedtime story. I did make it work though, by carefully paying attention to voice tone and reading rate, I found that it does in fact make for a terrific bedtime story. (The content is excellent, and I suspect that it reads more smoothly than I heard it.)
I like these two (author & illustrator) paired up! Together, they’ve created a lovely book.
March 26, 2025
Such a stunning, gorgeous book!
May 13, 2010
At sunrise, the weaver watches the whole world from above, her hands already at work. Her thread is formed from “trails of shooting stars, white clouds, and spiderwebs hung with dew.” She dyes the thread with morning colors from the world and then she begins to weave with her loom. She captures in her weaving, images from the day: kisses, laughter and love. As evening falls, her work is done and she dances across the earth spreading her tapestry over the world where it enters our dreams.
This mystical, beautiful picture book is filled with colorful and joyful imagery. Hurd writes with a confidence and gentleness that suit this book well. His writing is in poem form but without rhymes. Rather it is the gentle rhythm of the loom that is part of his text and weaves it seamlessly together.
Kleven’s artistic style pairs beautifully with this subject matter. Her softness and details play out beautifully in the vistas that we see. The tapestry itself is gloriously depicted, filled with colors and floating effortlessly in the air. It is weightless, semi-transparent, yet all important.
A perfect bedtime book, this is one to curl up with together and simply enjoy. I guarantee sweet dreams when tucked in with this blanket. Appropriate for ages 3-7.
This mystical, beautiful picture book is filled with colorful and joyful imagery. Hurd writes with a confidence and gentleness that suit this book well. His writing is in poem form but without rhymes. Rather it is the gentle rhythm of the loom that is part of his text and weaves it seamlessly together.
Kleven’s artistic style pairs beautifully with this subject matter. Her softness and details play out beautifully in the vistas that we see. The tapestry itself is gloriously depicted, filled with colors and floating effortlessly in the air. It is weightless, semi-transparent, yet all important.
A perfect bedtime book, this is one to curl up with together and simply enjoy. I guarantee sweet dreams when tucked in with this blanket. Appropriate for ages 3-7.
June 15, 2012
Age: Toddler - 1st grade
In the light of the rising sun, the young weaver begins her work in the sky. Using the world around her, she creates a tapestry of laughter, love, and colors below her. As the world comes to rest, she settles in with her family in the sky.
The watercolor artwork captures the rich, flowing beauty of the world. This book is absolutely full of beautifully mixed colors. Although the story is beautiful, I'm not exactly sure what the weaver's purpose is because she does not create the earth, only creates from it. Perhaps its just a glorified projection of children creating artwork of their surroundings. In that case, this book would provide an excellent introduction to still life or using nature as your painting subject.
In the light of the rising sun, the young weaver begins her work in the sky. Using the world around her, she creates a tapestry of laughter, love, and colors below her. As the world comes to rest, she settles in with her family in the sky.
The watercolor artwork captures the rich, flowing beauty of the world. This book is absolutely full of beautifully mixed colors. Although the story is beautiful, I'm not exactly sure what the weaver's purpose is because she does not create the earth, only creates from it. Perhaps its just a glorified projection of children creating artwork of their surroundings. In that case, this book would provide an excellent introduction to still life or using nature as your painting subject.
August 29, 2013
As the sun rises, the weaver begins her work, spinning thread, dying it, and then weaving it into a cloth along with the signs of love and friendship she sees down on earth. At the end of the day, the weaver spreads this extraordinary cloth over us, to warm and protect us all through the night. This isajoyful, soothing, gorgeously illustratedbedtime story aboutthe love bet...more
April 21, 2011
A beautiful story that talks about what sentiments go into weaving a story weaving. Introduction talks about how to make a loom.
I plan to use as an introduction to a weaving activity I plan to do with my MH students.
I plan to use as an introduction to a weaving activity I plan to do with my MH students.
February 12, 2012
This strongly metaphorical poem about a girl building a world within her dreams was illustrated in simple child-like style and was short and lightly entertaining. Not my favorite book, but not bad either.
July 1, 2010
Lovely tale.
July 20, 2010
bedtime fable, weaving
April 20, 2012
The illustrations are beautiful. I read this book to my son and he fell asleep quite quickly. A lovely book.
October 4, 2014
Lovely.
March 28, 2013
I loved how this book is about patchworking together dreams and ideas, I love the sewing theme...
May 26, 2016
5 star illustrations in yet another picture book without much story.
June 21, 2015
Lovely artwork. It tells a story about a weaver to starts to weave at the start of the day, and at the end of the day uses her weaving to wrap everyone to protect them. A lovely story.
November 17, 2015
Really colorful book. Beautiful pictures.
July 27, 2011
The illustrations are magical and the story comforting.
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March 27, 2019Pictures are beautiful, story 3, pics 4
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews