The Dream Jar - Hardcover

Johnson, Lindan Lee

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0618176985 ISBN 13: 9780618176984

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers, 2005

Synopsis

One little girl, with the help of her sister, discovers The Secret for turning bad dreams into good ones. Original, quirky, and rich illustrations complement this sparkling story that deals with the very real problem of children’s nightmares.

Discover the Dream Jar and the power of your imagination—and turn your terribly horrible dreams into dreamy ones.

About this title

About the Author:

Lindan Lee Johnson is a graduate of the Vermont College MFA in Writing for Children program. She has four cats, three brothers, two daughters, and one house near Washington, D.C.

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-Grade 3–Children who have had bad dreams (or parents who have struggled to explain them away) will find solace and a solution in this story. A girl describes how, after a cuddly bedtime ritual with Mom, she and her sister drift off to sleep. When she has visions of scary sea monsters, her older, wiser, and very patient sibling decides that it's time to relay The Secret that their mother had shared with her under similar circumstances: one has the power to reinvent one's dreams. Scary turns to silly and all is well until the older girl is invited to a sleepover and the narrator is frightened at the prospect of spending a night alone. Big sister comes through once again: she leaves a Dream Jar covered in blue paper and glow-in-the-dark stars and filled with ideas guaranteed to transform any nightmare. The predominantly blue palette is rendered in pencil and acrylic and manipulated in Photoshop. The text surrounding the nymphlike duo is occasionally hand lettered and/or appears in color. The overall design, including sketchy thought bubbles, irregularly shaped panels, and dynamic spreads, exudes the vitality, energy, and whimsy of a creative and sensitive family. A refreshing departure from the usual nocturnal sibling shenanigans and parental platitudes, this tale is perfect for bedtime, storytime, or anytime. Pair it with Jane Kurtz's In the Small, Small Night (Greenwillow, 2005) for a look at sisterly love.–Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library
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About this edition

• Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0618176985
• ISBN 13: 9780618176984
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Curmi Serena