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Jack and the Dreamsack
A picture book featuring a young boy who is determined to enjoy his dreams for as long as possible.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2003
About the author
Laurence Anholt
209 books91 followersIn a career spanning three decades, Laurence Anholt has produced over 200 children's books, which are published in more than 30 languages. Titles like the self-illustrated Anholt's Artists series have sold many millions of copies around the world. Laurence has also collaborated on numerous picture books with his wife, the artist, Catherine Anholt.
Laurence's first YA / Crossover novel THE HYPNOTIST was published by Penguin Random House on 6th October 2016.
The Hypnotist was described by The Bookseller as 'gripping, powerful storytelling with a powerful anti-racist message.' The book has been officially endorsed by Amnesty International, it was the winner of the Historical Association Young Quills Award, shortlisted for the Southern Schools Book Award and four major book awards. It is currently longlisted for the Carnegie Medal 2018.
Born in 1959, Laurence Anholt was brought up mainly in Holland where he developed a lasting love of Art. He went on to study Painting for 8 years, culminating in a Master's Degree from the Royal Academy of Art in London. Catherine and Laurence live and work in a house on a hill with studios and wild flower meadows, overlooking the sea in Devon, southwest England.
Laurence's books have won many awards, including the UK's prestigious Nestlé Smarties Gold Award on two occasions. For more than a decade, Laurence has been amongst the top 200 Most Borrowed Authors from UK libraries across all genres. He was included in the Independent on Sunday's Top 10 Children's Authors in the UK and was described by William Watt as "one of the most versatile authors writing for children today".
Catherine and Laurence have been closely involved with a number of literacy schemes such as the UK Government funded Bookstart scheme. Their publication Babies Love Books (also a much-loved picture book) encourages parents to share books with babies from the earliest possible age. Their work has taken them inside Buckingham Palace and Downing Street on several occasions.
Laurence's self‐illustrated Anholt's Artists series, is an introduction to great artists for young children. These beautiful books are used as part of the national school curriculum in many countries and are sold in galleries and museums all over the world. The books, which include Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World, Camille and the Sunflowers, Degas and the Little Dancer and The Magical Garden of Claude Monet have taken Laurence on many fascinating journeys of discovery. Each scrupulously researched story is based on an actual encounter between a real child and a great artist. In several instances, Laurence has been assisted by relatives of the artists or by the protagonists themselves - for example, Laurence developed a long-standing friendship with Sylvette David, Picasso's Girl With a Ponytail. This series currently includes 10 titles and it has been adapted in many forms, including Apps for iPads, stage and TV productions and a full scale van Gogh musical which Laurence launched in Korea. The Anholt's Artists books are renowned not only for their educational value, but also for their life-affirming themes of aspiration, tolerance and acceptance of those who are different.
Laurence Anholt is a much sought after public speaker, talking about literature and his own zany view of life at conferences all over the world.
The Anholts have three grown up children, Claire and twins, Tom and Maddy. Claire is an anthropologist who works for the UN in Geneva, Maddy is an actor living in London and Tom is a successful artist based in Berlin. They also have twin grandchildren, Felix and Nina.
Laurence Anholt's interests include art, literature, adventure travel and Buddhist meditation.
For further information visit the Anholts' website: http://www.anholt.co.uk
Laurence's first YA / Crossover novel THE HYPNOTIST was published by Penguin Random House on 6th October 2016.
The Hypnotist was described by The Bookseller as 'gripping, powerful storytelling with a powerful anti-racist message.' The book has been officially endorsed by Amnesty International, it was the winner of the Historical Association Young Quills Award, shortlisted for the Southern Schools Book Award and four major book awards. It is currently longlisted for the Carnegie Medal 2018.
Born in 1959, Laurence Anholt was brought up mainly in Holland where he developed a lasting love of Art. He went on to study Painting for 8 years, culminating in a Master's Degree from the Royal Academy of Art in London. Catherine and Laurence live and work in a house on a hill with studios and wild flower meadows, overlooking the sea in Devon, southwest England.
Laurence's books have won many awards, including the UK's prestigious Nestlé Smarties Gold Award on two occasions. For more than a decade, Laurence has been amongst the top 200 Most Borrowed Authors from UK libraries across all genres. He was included in the Independent on Sunday's Top 10 Children's Authors in the UK and was described by William Watt as "one of the most versatile authors writing for children today".
Catherine and Laurence have been closely involved with a number of literacy schemes such as the UK Government funded Bookstart scheme. Their publication Babies Love Books (also a much-loved picture book) encourages parents to share books with babies from the earliest possible age. Their work has taken them inside Buckingham Palace and Downing Street on several occasions.
Laurence's self‐illustrated Anholt's Artists series, is an introduction to great artists for young children. These beautiful books are used as part of the national school curriculum in many countries and are sold in galleries and museums all over the world. The books, which include Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World, Camille and the Sunflowers, Degas and the Little Dancer and The Magical Garden of Claude Monet have taken Laurence on many fascinating journeys of discovery. Each scrupulously researched story is based on an actual encounter between a real child and a great artist. In several instances, Laurence has been assisted by relatives of the artists or by the protagonists themselves - for example, Laurence developed a long-standing friendship with Sylvette David, Picasso's Girl With a Ponytail. This series currently includes 10 titles and it has been adapted in many forms, including Apps for iPads, stage and TV productions and a full scale van Gogh musical which Laurence launched in Korea. The Anholt's Artists books are renowned not only for their educational value, but also for their life-affirming themes of aspiration, tolerance and acceptance of those who are different.
Laurence Anholt is a much sought after public speaker, talking about literature and his own zany view of life at conferences all over the world.
The Anholts have three grown up children, Claire and twins, Tom and Maddy. Claire is an anthropologist who works for the UN in Geneva, Maddy is an actor living in London and Tom is a successful artist based in Berlin. They also have twin grandchildren, Felix and Nina.
Laurence Anholt's interests include art, literature, adventure travel and Buddhist meditation.
For further information visit the Anholts' website: http://www.anholt.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 24, 2012
A really superb take on the Jack and the Beanstalk. Although really, the two have next to nothing to do with each other, as this book, as suggested by the title, is all about dreams vs. reality.
The story itself is written in a somewhat humorous way that will appeal to children most especially, describing reality as the "Hohum Humdrum Waking World" and the middle of "Dreamland" as "the very center, the bellybutton of all dreams everywhere." Its message is simple to grasp and the illustrations do an amazing job with furthering this.
When Jack is in reality, the illustrations are limited to one per page, using neutral colors for everything but his toys (which are tools of imagination, tying in well with the later bright, vibrant colors of Dreamland) and straight lines to emphasize the boring, structured way of the real world (even his bathroom floor is made up of a checkerboard pattern). And then suddenly Jack is in Dreamland and the text is bouncing around the page, carrying you through the incredibly busy world he's in, holding multiple illustrations to a page with many eye-catching, strange images, all colored brightly and infested with curvy lines that sometimes don't bend to the rules of our world (even the straight lines are somehow tampered with; either angled or made wobbly, as by a shaking hand).
These aspects come together at the end to give us a full understanding of the wonderful message that though dreams while asleep can be "AMAZING", reality has its share of wondrous joys as well, and it is better to enjoy those than waste one's time wishing you could carry your sleeping dreams into that reality.
The reason I talk so much about the illustrations is that they are such an important piece of this book. It is a true picturebook in every sense of the word; the text without the illustrations, or vice versa, would truly leave something to be desired (for instance, the illustration's use of Jack's normal-looking dog to let us know that we are back in reality would be completely gone if it were plain text). They absolutely work together throughout the text to give you a full picture (no pun intended) of what the book is saying; I highly recommend it for anyone to read, but most especially as a wonderfully fantastical addition to your child's bookshelf.
The story itself is written in a somewhat humorous way that will appeal to children most especially, describing reality as the "Hohum Humdrum Waking World" and the middle of "Dreamland" as "the very center, the bellybutton of all dreams everywhere." Its message is simple to grasp and the illustrations do an amazing job with furthering this.
When Jack is in reality, the illustrations are limited to one per page, using neutral colors for everything but his toys (which are tools of imagination, tying in well with the later bright, vibrant colors of Dreamland) and straight lines to emphasize the boring, structured way of the real world (even his bathroom floor is made up of a checkerboard pattern). And then suddenly Jack is in Dreamland and the text is bouncing around the page, carrying you through the incredibly busy world he's in, holding multiple illustrations to a page with many eye-catching, strange images, all colored brightly and infested with curvy lines that sometimes don't bend to the rules of our world (even the straight lines are somehow tampered with; either angled or made wobbly, as by a shaking hand).
These aspects come together at the end to give us a full understanding of the wonderful message that though dreams while asleep can be "AMAZING", reality has its share of wondrous joys as well, and it is better to enjoy those than waste one's time wishing you could carry your sleeping dreams into that reality.
The reason I talk so much about the illustrations is that they are such an important piece of this book. It is a true picturebook in every sense of the word; the text without the illustrations, or vice versa, would truly leave something to be desired (for instance, the illustration's use of Jack's normal-looking dog to let us know that we are back in reality would be completely gone if it were plain text). They absolutely work together throughout the text to give you a full picture (no pun intended) of what the book is saying; I highly recommend it for anyone to read, but most especially as a wonderfully fantastical addition to your child's bookshelf.
December 2, 2019
This book is on my list because it unique and encourages children to pursue their imagination. This story allows students to think outside the box and it reminds them of crazy dreams that they might have had in the past, which helps them relate to the book more.
December 30, 2017
I loved the fantasy in this book! Very creative way to describe night dreams.
April 9, 2019
Incredibly imaginative and filled with hope!
June 25, 2023
Loved the art and the message.
September 23, 2024
“Jack and the Dreamsack” is a fascinating tale about a little boy who sets out to stay awake and collect all the dreams he has. He goes on an adventurous journey and sees and collects many beautiful things, even getting a dream seed. However, when he makes it back to the “Hohum Humdrum Waking World,” he finds that his dreamsack is empty! Jack is dismayed and sheds a tear, taking out the handkerchief he used to hold his dream seed to wipe his eyes. But much to his surprise, the seed falls out and a dream tree begins to grow! As the tree flourishes, Jack gives out slices of dreams in paper bags to people far and wide. In the end, Jack discovers that the best kind of dreams are the ones you have when you’re wide awake. This is such a creative book that helps kids see the importance of living to make their dreams a reality!
“Jack and the Dreamsack”
Author: Laurence Anholt
Illustrator: Ross Collins
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books (2003)
Genre: Fantasy
“Jack and the Dreamsack”
Author: Laurence Anholt
Illustrator: Ross Collins
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books (2003)
Genre: Fantasy
September 22, 2011
Dreaming. Such an important part of childhood so often overlooked. With today's emphasis on test scores, encouraging children to dream is often glossed over. This book encourages dreaming and shows the value of imagination. This book shows how dreams, while you may not remember them in the morning, they can turn into something so much more great and wonderful to be shared with all those around you.
January 16, 2014
This book encourages imagination in readers. A little boy goes to dreamland and attempts to bring back with him the dreams that he finds there. However, the dreams do not make it back but a dream seed does. The boy plants the seed in his town and the dreams of other individuals begin to sprout and grow. The story itself is beautiful because of the theme that revolves around dreams and their ability to grow in all of us. There is inspiration to be found in this book.
January 23, 2012
The story of Jack is one of my favorites I've read. His desire to find his dreams is so relatable, and his journey is one most people have or will experience sometime in life. His disappointment with his failure is so true, but his powerful success is encouragement to each reader. The image are breathtaking, and the words exciting. I look forward to owning this soon.
March 14, 2012
"The trouble with dreams," says young Jack, "is that you're always asleep when you have them." Ah-ha...but what if you WEREN'T? That's the answer this story explores, as Jack wakes up from a dream and gets to experience the wild magical ride it takes him on. Fun for talking about "imaginary" versus real.
August 16, 2011
Jack decides to stay awake one night to see the dream world. His travels reminded me a bit of a Roald Dahl style adventure.
February 11, 2013
I loved the surrealist nature of the dreamland. When Jack woke up, things got more dull.
January 16, 2014
I would like this book for my library. Theme to be taken away is to always chase your dreams. No dream is too big.
January 29, 2015
A lovely picture book about Jack who wants to capture his dreams so he can share them when he's awake.
August 30, 2016
The story was simple but i was entertained. I wish there was a little more character depth to Jack but its a kids book so it gets a path. I liked the ending because it made me feel happy.
September 27, 2011
To me the story was okay, but my kids really liked this one a lot.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews