The Weaving of a Dream

This is a beautiful picture book telling a traditional Chinese folktale. I love everything about it: the story, the illustrations, and the fact that it still keeps the edge that all folktales started with before they were made "safer" for kids.

"When the beautiful tapestry woven by a poor woman is stolen by fairies, her three sons set out on a magical journey to retrieve it. A retelling of a traditional Chinese tale."

Gorgeous illustrations! I'm still thinking on the story, though... the old woman sacrificed food for her family in order to weave the brocade, and then asks her sons to risk their lives to retrieve it for her. Then the two eldest sons betray their mother for gold, but the youngest son completes the quest, restores his mother's health, and gets the girl. And his two older brothers end up beggars. So its potential takeaway/ deeper interpretations might not be the best for the youngest of readers, but the pictures are dazzling.

4 stars

I read this with my 11-year-old son and both of us really enjoyed it. The art is beautiful and the story was very whimsical, with an unrestrained creativity that was inspiring to say the least.

Highly recommended for young readers. It's fantastical without being cutesy or speaking down.

This is at least the third time I've read this tale (in different editions & collections). And I still don't get it. Heyer's text and her stunning illustrations just don't help me understand why mom destroys family harmony for a material goal.

This story is about an elderly mother who dreams of living in a great palace. Her son gives her the idea to weave the palace as a brocade because her weaving is so life like. She spends three years weaving the beautiful brocade which then gets blown away in the wind. All three sons take turns going out to find the brocade for their dying mother. The story goes into detail about the quest of the youngest son.

The story is brought to life through intricate illustrations and attention to detail within the text. The story's key features include the elaborate, intricate, beautiful illustrations which bring the story to life. For example, everything seems to have detailed texture such as the mother's hand, the scales of a lizard, fur of a show more boot, the surface of the brocade, and more.

The text is very beautifully written. For example, "the beautiful palace, songbirds of every kind, luscious fruits and vegetables ready to pick" and "a river ran in front of the palace, and the whole painting was warmed by a great red sun" are phrases used to describe the setting or painting.

The main message of this book is to follow through with your promises, be selfless, and stay loyal to your mother. You will be rewarded. I love that the son who remained loyal and sacrificial for his mother was rewarded. His humble spirit made it even better since he didn't expect a palace, a beautiful wife, his mother's health, or a child on its way. This is a wonderful story. show less

I remember being enchanted by this chinese folktale when I was younger largely because of the beautiful illustrations and the end where the weaver girl ,the servant of the East wind weaves herself into the tapestry.

You can read the fairytale here http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111114/LIFE/111140302

Beautiful, vibrant illustrations.

The story is a retelling of a Chinese folktale, "The Chuang Brocade."