Book Review: “Freeing Freddie the Dream Weaver” — Reader, Workbook, and Activity Book by Brent Feinberg and Kim Normand
During a time when many children were schooled remotely and kept at a distance from their friends and extended family, what is that doing to the magic of childhood? And what of parents, searching for books to enlighten, inspire, comfort and engage their children — and perhaps get them off their screens?
Freeing Freddie the Dream Weaver is a new set of books written for children ages 8 and up that will enchant, captivate and comfort as well. There’s a reader by Brent Feinberg, as well as a workbook and activity book by Feinberg and Kim Normand. Daniel Clarke did the lush, color-drenched illustrations, which sometimes feel as if they’re springing to vivid life right off the page.
Freddie is a young boy who lives in a marvelous rainforest and gets trapped in giant spider web. The web, as it turns out, is a web of his own making, spun of his own fears and doubts. A gigantic, wise and very kind spider named Mr. Cotton helps Freddie get free, and the two embark on an incredible journey in which Freddie learns to overcome his fears and find joy and love in the world.
Throughout the story, Mr. Cotton acts as tour guide, guardian and guru — like a happy-faced, spidery combination of Ram Dass and Mr. Rogers. He helps Freddie to find his way, encouraging him up a steep mountain, reminding him to keep his intentions clear in the face of every challenge. “Stay focused on your goals and your dreams in order to achieve them,” says Mr. Cotton. There’s a gorgeous story within a story involving a lotus flower, and plenty of inspiring metaphors. The tale itself is more than enough to capture a child’s imagination, and parents will recognize the meaning and value within.
The workbook and the activity book provide a whole array of fun exercises for kids, fleshing out the story with questions designed to bring about self-reflection and compassion. There are lessons on valuing and loving other people, and prompts for considering one’s own experiences, waking as well as dreaming. Designed with a child’s pace and attention span in mind, there are pages that invite the reader to take a break from learning and just have a good time. The activity book has pages of adorable stickers to test comprehension and build on the readers’ teachings — one page includes a heart that has to be filled with stickers to make it full. Other pages include affirmations, recipes, visualizations, and more — all designed for children. But again, the teachings are sure to resonate with parents (and Deepak Chopra has endorsed these books).
If the story has a global feel, it’s no surprise: Feinberg and Clarke are South African natives, and Norman lives part time in Johannesburg. It’s also no surprise that these highly engaging, sweet books are best-sellers in South Africa. The original publisher, the Tomorrow Trust, is a South African nonprofit dedicated to supporting the education of orphans and vulnerable children, and proceeds all go to the cause. Kudos goes to Square One for bringing them to the U.S. In a year when so much can seem to be wrong with the world, this lovely set of books reminds us that there’s plenty to celebrate as well.
Reader:
· Publisher: Square One (October 26, 2017)
· Language: English
· Hardcover: 48 pages
· ISBN-10: 075700458X
· ISBN-13: 978–0757004582
· Reading age: 8–12 years
Activity Book:
https://www.amazon.com/Freeing-Freddie-Weaver-Ultimate-Activity/dp/0757004598
· Publisher : Square One; Act Clr Cs edition (October 26, 2017)
· Language : English
· Paperback : 56 pages
· ISBN-10 : 0757004598
· ISBN-13 : 978–0757004599
· Reading age : 8–12 years
Workbook:
https://www.amazon.com/Freeing-Freddie-Dream-Weaver-Realizing/dp/0757004601
· Publisher : Square One; Workbook edition (October 26, 2017)
· Language : English
· Paperback : 72 pages
· ISBN-10 : 0757004601
· ISBN-13 : 978–0757004605
· Reading age : 8–12 years
