At the start of the book, Emily Webster seems like an 11 year old any reader would recognise, forgetting homework and sometimes a bit too distracted by her phone and friends. But her mum finds a listing for an old farmhouse and the family take a year off from a busy suburban life to move to an area with no internet, television or phone. What follows opens Emily’s eyes to a wonderful world of imagination that allows her to understand more about herself without her previous distractions.
Emily Swan and the Dream Pillow also delivers more than just Emily’s story, showing how the move allows her parents to also take a step back from their busy jobs and running errands and discover what brings them joy and allows them to create magic. This is an interesting book for encouraging children to step away from their devices. There are some entertaining characters, with the brusque Star Lady and magical talking radio that adds humour to the story. The dream pillow is a unique tool for getting Emily to connect and explore her imagination. I also liked that there was an emphasis, like with the whistle, on Emily to be independent, to try to find her own solutions instead of relying on magical assistance. This is a sweet story about savouring the little things and taking the time to dream.
11-year-old Emily Webster’s parents have decided to take a year off from their busy suburban life and move to an old farmhouse in Kansas.
Emily is miserable in their new home, plopped down in the middle of nothing but wheat fields, far away from her former city life and friends. There’s no internet and they don’t even have a television or a phone!
But one night Emily’s world changes when a star zooms out of the sky and into her room, appearing as a Star Lady. She tells Emily that even though she’s unhappy, a magical world lives inside her — she just doesn’t know how to find it. The Star Lady says she can help and gives Emily a Dream Pillow to use so they can stay in touch through dreams.
When Emily decides to take a chance and use the Dream Pillow, her world opens up. Magical characters appear and guide her on an adventure of self-discovery. After Emily discovers a Swan Feather pen, she’s transformed from Emily Webster, a normal girl, into Emily Swan, a super-hero of words.
