Dreamweaver

The dreamweaver collects her magical dreams and sprinkles dream-dust on all the sleepy baby jungle animals. This is an enchanting bedtime story and exciting new territory for Claire Freedman, author of the bestselling Aliens Love Underpants series. With stunning illustrations from debut artist, Carrie May, this is a story to return to night after night. * Primary Times *
Turn bedtime into a sea of calm with a lyrical story book full of magic, dreams... and sleep! Turn down the light and let little ones fall under the spell of the ethereal dreamweaver who travels the world over to fill her sack with dreams for sleepy creatures everywhere, even the little tiger who wants to fly through space. This gorgeous rhyming picture book comes from much-loved author Claire Freedman, best known for her funny, frantic Aliens Love Underpants series, who moves into more peaceful waters with this mesmeric bedtime story. 'When night shadows fall, and the moonlight gleams, The dreamweaver comes with her sack full of dreams.' The dreamweaver collects her magical dreams from mountain tops sprinkled with snow, from glittering comet trails in the heavens and from grains of sand on distant shores. Then she weaves them together and sprinkles the dream-dust on all the sleepy baby jungle animals. Travel with this gliding, graceful fairy through spectacular lands and places, and enjoy watching her work her magic on the baby animals as Carrie May's amazing illustrations move from gentle pastel shades to vivid colours at the turn of a page. The lyrical, rhyming text, with its constant refrain of quiet reassurance, and May's bold, bewitching illustrations combine in a glorious fusion of sights and sounds and are guaranteed to soothe even the liveliest of little ones as bedtime approaches. Warm, cuddly, and with a gentle fairy tale feel, this is the best bedtime book around. Zzzzzzzz... * Lancashire Evening Post *
When night falls, the dreamweaver is ready to share her sack full of dreams. This magical bedtime story follows the dreamweaver as she travels around, seeking out those baby jungle animals who need her help to sleep. Little Bear, Little Tiger and Little Monkey are just some of the creatures who get magical dreams to help them sleep. Superbly illustrated by Carrie May, this is perfect bedtime reading, gentle and thoughtful - and ideal to send your little one into a world of peaceful dreams. * Parents in Touch *

Claire Freedman (of Aliens Love Underpants fame) has created a lilting lullaby telling how as night falls the flowing-haired weaver of dreams spreads her wings, fashions from nature and stows in her sack magical fantasies for soon to be slumbering young creatures.
For her first recipient, Little Bear it's mountain flowers and snowflakes that will create a dream of playful mountain slope sliding with snow bears as companions.
Upon Little Tiger she bestows a dream of flying in space; Little Monkey's dream is woven from: 'Grains of sand on a distant shore/ Pink pearly shells from the ocean floor./ Long-lost treasure, a mermaid's kiss, The shimmering scales from a rainbow fish.' and will take him to swim with dolphins and dance to the tune of a mermaid's song.Her final dream is soft, white and full of love: this will be for the young child just on the edge of sleep; the child who has shared in the magical experiences of the baby jungle animals and is now, lulled by the sibilance of the rhyming text, ready for his or her own nocturnal adventure.
Debut artist Carrie May conjures up a lush nocturnal forest setting for the ethereal dreamweaver to scatter her dreams. The star-spangled dream scenes have for the most part, a somewhat softer palette of predominantly pinks, corals, turquoise, aquamarine, lemon yellow and white.
Just right for bedtime sharing or for other times when a spell of calm is required.

* Red Reading Hub *

Many books lay claim to being 'perfect bedtime books' but we both doubt you'll find a book more snuggly and perfect for bedtimes than this...
"Dreamweaver" by Claire (Aliens Love Underpants) Freedman and Carrie May can comfortably wear that badge with pride as a magical fairy whisks us off on a journey around the world, gathering the perfect ingredients for sweet dreams.

A scoop of snow, a mermaid's kiss, and as baby animals snuggle up to their mums they're ready for an amazing night-time journey through their own imaginations.

Claire's rhymes are beautiful (only dropping a stitch in one place we could detect with a pararhyme that just about works).

Carrie's illustrations really do make this book though, we have to say. She paints the most beautiful dream fairy, a gorgeous mermaid, and baby animals that you'd just love to cuddle up with (a lot of awwws and oohs from Charlotte - who is still going through that phase of really wanting a cuddly pet).

Sublime and dreamy stuff indeed.

Charlotte's favourite bit: Totally in love with the baby tiger, who has the most amazing sea-born dreams thanks to the fairy.

Daddy's favourite bit: Gorgeous stuff, perfectly pitched and so relaxing I could have seriously done with 40 winks myself after reading it to Charlotte one bedtime.

* Read It Daddy *
Dreamweaver is one of the most beautiful books I have had the pleasure of reading recently. Claire Freedman, most famous for being the author of the 'Aliens love Underpants' series, has created a text that is just perfect for bedtime - which is exactly what it's purpose is. The story is all about the Dreamweaver, a magical fairy who flies around the world with her sack of dreams, trying to drift sleepy animals in the world of sleep. As a stand-alone read aloud book, this is just wonderful as the pictures help make it so beautiful. My year 1 children enjoyed spotting things within the picture and making connections with the dreamweaver. The girls within my class certainly enjoyed it and it was refreshing to read a book with a female lead character to them. Although maybe not the first book the boys would have picked, I do think they enjoyed listening to it. The rhyming couplets used throughout help the text flow from page to page and the language use is amazing. This in itself would make a wonderful English lesson as children could explore the use of imagery within. My children also liked being able to connect to the dreamweaver on a personal level as she used phrases their own parents used at bedtime. I think this book could be used to create a wonderful reading corner project in a school or community library and would be great to read as a 'bedtime story' event to try and inspire parents into a regular bedtime reading routine. I also found myself thinking that lots of wonderful art and music work could be planned and completed through using the book. Primarily aimed at the younger children in a primary setting, I could see this picture book being used well in KS2 also. Very enjoyable * Reading Zone *
The dreamweaver collects her magical dreams and sprinkles dream-dust on all the sleepy baby jungle animals. This is an enchanting bedtime story and exciting new territory for Claire Freedman, author of the bestselling Aliens Love Underpants series. With stunning illustrations from debut artist, Carrie May, this is a story to return to night after night. * Right Start Magazine *

Make the
most of this snuggly time
with a bedtime tale that
you'll enjoy too.
Dreamweaver (£6.99,
Bonnier Publishing)
follows a magical character
as she collects dreams and
sprinkles dream-dust on
sleepy baby animals.

* Mother and Baby *

Claire Freedman (author of the Aliens Love Underpants series) has teamed up with debut picture book illustrator Carrie May to create an enchanting bedtime book. Dreamweaver, published by Templar Publishing.

The Dreamweaver is a magical fairy-like creature whose night time task is to ensure little ones heads are full of good dreams just before they drift off to sleep. We follow her as she finds young animals all snuggling down to bed and searches land, sky and sea for a perfect mix of dreams to match the wishes of each little sleepy head.

Snowy mountain slides for the young bear, an undersea adventure with mermaids for the little monkey and a flight through space for the tiger cub.
The soft lyrical text is full of delicious alliteration and asks to be read out in quiet, hushed tones:
"Dream, Little Bear, that you tread your feet
On crags where the clouds and the mountains meet.
Slide down the slopes in the silver light,
And play with the snowbears, all through the night."
Captivating illustrations flow through the book, changing effortlessly with a dusting of stars as the Dreamweaver makes her way through the night. Every page contains some new magical wonders to discover as we sneak a look in to each animals dream.
I feel we also need to take a moment to appreciate the endpapers, a fabulous floral design in the starlit dusk.
Rhythmical and soothing with the added comfort of good dreams this is a wonderful bedtime read. We can't make any promises that you will get the peaceful and easy bedtime we all crave but it's certainly worth a try.

* Acorn Books Blog *

I shouldn't have sat down to read Claire Freedman's newest picture book on a damp, dark August day. I was already sleepy, craving the warmth of my duvet (I repeat, IN AUGUST!), and by the end, and with the help of Carrie May's beautiful drawings, I was ready for bed.
Claire Freedman is better known for her Alien Love Underpants series, but this title marks a new direction for the bestselling author. Instead of zany humour, this picture book looks at the dreamy Dreamweaver, who travels the earth and the skies, searching for wonderful dreams to add to her sack and give to little ones who are struggling to get settled. She's a fairy-like version of the Big Friendly Giant, without the threat of any nasties!
The book is written in verse which is lullaby-like in nature, and Freedman's heavy use of the 's' sound in her words helps to create a sleepy, relaxing feel. Carrie May's illustrations are as comforting as the words, creating gentle worlds of magic. Children will love the different settings the Dreamweaver visits to gather her dreams and the colours that bring them to life.
A lovely, comforting bedtime read that will be popular with little ones who are partial to a gentle lullaby at bedtime.

* Childtastic Books *