Fanny's Dream (Picture Puffins)

I first came across this book when I looked up the reviews of Crystal Kendrick, after she wrote a one-star review of another one of my favorite books, Smoky Mountain Rose: An Appalachian Cinderella. I know this might sound ugly, but because she wrote a negative review of a book I have really liked for over a decade, I thought, well, if she doesn't like this book either, maybe I should get it and read it for myself. I will say that, in a way, this book is a little sad. Fanny gives up her dream of marrying a prince (or the mayor's son), but by the end of the story, you can see that she actually realized the husband she had was a true prince. Yes, dreams are good. But, there comes a point, when we all have to grow up and realize that 99.9% are never going to live in a fairytale castle and marry a prince. If you are only 5 feet tall, you eventually have to wake up and realize that you're probably not going to become a professional basketball player. That's life. That's reality. I think fairytales are fine, but I do also think that kids should be shown some realism too rather than going through childhood with everyone always telling them they can do anything they want and then hitting adulthood and having reality smack them in the head. As for criticizing it because Fanny is described as stout and plain, well, most of us aren't movie-star gorgeous like the heroines of fairytales, right? Isn't that part of the problem today, that everyone thinks they have to measure up to the looks of models and actors? If any story is going to be criticized, shouldn't it be the fairytales that paint a rosy picture that we should be sweet and beautiful (and of course, have perfect soprano voices) and we'll live in a big castle with a handsome prince? That's not realistic. I think this story is sweet and a refreshing change from the typical "happily ever after" stories. Also, this story doesn't end with the main characters getting married and going off into the sunset. Fanny's life is just beginning with the wedding. The house burns down at one point, but they pick themselves up and start over again. That's real life! Great lesson for kids and adults from this book.

I really love this story, and wanted to read it to my husband. I have taken him into multiple different Barns & Noble stores looking for it, and nobody has it. I finally ordered this one and he really enjoyed it. It's such a cute story. The pictures aren't as bright or nice as in the hardcover, but it's still nice, and I'm really glad I found it.

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'.

This is such a darling book to help girls and boys understand true life romance. Life and love and romance and marriage take work, but that doesn't make them any less wonderful!

Fanny is a hardworking girl with dreams of being a princess. She settles (or not) for a marriage to a young (non-prince) hardworking man. After years of marriage her fairy god-mother finally arrives with the ability to make her dreams come true. Then Fanny realizes that life is just as she wants it to be. Thus proving that husbands that work and care for home and family are really better than any prince charming.This book is really charming. It was a little to wordy for my four year old but we will keep reading it because the message is so wonderful!

This has everything I want from a picture book. Humour, meaning, fun to read aloud, takes repeated reading without getting tired... and there are hidden shapes in the clouds and the puddles! We had such fun finding those.As for this not giving a good message (one-star reviewer said this): the message isn't that you shouldn't follow your dreams, the message I took from it is that sometimes what you dream of isn't what you actually want at all. Fanny would've been miserable as the Mayor's wife; and, as she says in the end SPOILER ALERT! she got her prince anyway.LOVE IT.

This is not just a children's book. Every woman who ever dreamed of a Prince Charming will relate to this delightful story. It is one of my all time favorites.

Such a delightful book. It touches the heart strings. I ordered it after hearing the author read it on Mormon Channel. I shared the audio of the author reading it with my sister, and she cried at the end. Love the beautiful illustrations!

This is best impressive story.