Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A movement of leaves, a rustle and creep, then the Trainee Dream Weaver spilled out in a heap. His Master’s last words ringing loud in his ear – Last chance or you’re out. No more blunders, you hear?“

Can I PLEASE grab your attention for just a moment – I’ve just read another stonking children’s book published by Blue Falcon Publishing! I read The Snark last year by the very same publisher, and it’s clear that nothing but incredible quality is being put out there by these guys. I’m so happy to present my review of Atch…oops! by another very talented author, who just knows what her target age range wants in a book and has absolutely nailed it.

About the book

The poor trainee dream weaver has a broken wand and a big problem – everyone has the wrong dream! With dawn on the way, can he put things right in time?

A heart-warming story showing that good can come from even the biggest mistakes!

Atch…oops! is written by Nicky Gilbody, a qualified speech and language therapist and mother of two. Nicky understands the importance of shared reading, and she is passionate about promoting storytelling as a way of supporting language development. Young children will find much to enjoy in this delightful tale of mishaps and fun!

The story…

Firstly, can we please just appreciate how wonderful and inviting this book looks! The images are so quirky looking yet with a warm and welcoming feel that will encourage even the biggest of kids (a.k.a, me…) to read this and appreciate everything it brings. I love rhyming books and am a big fan of Dr Seuss stories, so learning that rhyme is a big part of this book was instantly appealing. Combine this with magic and we’re onto a winner! The story is thrilling for a younger audience and has such a heart-warming ending, but more on that a little later.

The story begins by the author introducing us to a Trainee Dream Weaver who’s job is quite literally creating and distributing the right dreams to the right people! The idea of a main character such as this was different and really refreshing to me, but the fact that he was a little clumsy and didn’t always get things right first time made me feel sorry for him. His little sad, worried face in the illustrations made me want to give him a hug! He’s on his final warning – would he be able to fulfill his duties without doing something wrong?! Just as we learn of all the fantastic dreams he’s conjuring up for children and adults far and wide, we experience it – the loudest sneeze you ever did hear, not only ruining those dreams, but also breaking his wand in the process! How on earth would he get the right dreams to the right people now?!

The idea of all the dreamers getting the wrong dreams really put a smile on my face, purely because of how imaginative this is as well as how well the author has told this story in rhyme. You’re forced to panic a little because of how confused these dreamers will be, worried about how the Trainee Dream Weaver’s master will react, but also laugh because of how daft (and brilliant) it is! The mismatched dreams for some very memorable characters were hilarious, even for someone my age, and through my experience as a Reading Mentor in the past, I just know this is the sort of book that all kids would enjoy up to the 6-7 years age range.

The thought and attention to detail in this book was phenomenal, each piece fits together so well and creates such a lovely, memorable story as a result. I must mention how brilliant the ending of this story is without ruining it for those who want to give this book a try. Just as the Weaver thinks he’s well and truly blown it and that he’ll lose the job he loves, there is a great silver lining which changes everything. It not only restores your faith in humanity, but it also made me think about just how good it is to try something new – you might just enjoy it!

The best bits…

The ending of the book really stood out for me – if I don’t get that uplifting feeling at the end of a children’s book, I feel like it could potentially be improved upon. This book, however, just ticked every possible box, with an ending that is moving and just a downright perfect finale to an addictive and involving children’s story. I also loved how clever the author has been with the rhyme in this book, each sentence flows perfectly and each word gripped me from beginning to end. Just a truly fabulous reading experience for people of all ages to enjoy in any setting, from a bedtime story, to reading within a group. It seems anything is possible with this book!

The moral of the story…

Trying something new is always daunting – even I still get that instant feel of dread if I have to do something I’ve never done before, even if it’s something as trivial as driving somewhere I’m not familiar with! This book sends messages of hope and strength to a younger audience, encouraging them to give new things a chance before they make up their minds about something. The story proves that good things can come out of a bad situation, and that worrying about an issue won’t change the outcome. Make the most of everything that comes your way – you might be surprised!

“His Master’s last words ringing loud in his ears – A fine piece of work – the best feedback in years! Don’t be held back by what’s normal and dull – let your dreams wander free and live life to the full!“

This lovely book has just well and truly blown me away – if you’re looking for a beautifully illustrated, and cleverly catchy rhyming book with a completely unique main character and a surprisingly lovely ending, I urge you to give this one a try. I cannot fault any of it! The author is an absolute natural when it comes to creating engaging children’s stories and I can’t wait to read the author’s other book, Dig!

A huge thanks to the extremely talented Nicky Gilbody for my copy of this book to read and review! You can purchase your own copy of Atch…oops! on Blue Falcon Publishing‘s website, or over on Amazon. Make sure you’re following the author over on Twitter and Instagram for more updates.

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