Lowry, Lois.
GOSSAMER
New York : Houghton Mifflin, 2006
IL 5-8, RL 5.4
ISBN 0618685502

(2 booktalks)

Consider the idea that objects retain memories.  A loved teddy bear might hold within its stuffing a vacation to the mountains, your first overnight at a friend’s house, or a time you had the flu and the animal brought comfort.  Now, imagine that there were creatures that just by touching your teddy bear, could bring about these memories and then weave them together into a story and give them back to you in your dreams.  Gossamer by Lois Lowry is a story where these dream creatures exist and through them you meet the characters of John, a boy who is in need of some good memories and comfort.  The Old Woman, who takes care of John. Toby, the trustworthy dog, and John’s mom, who is working to make a better life for John.  This beautiful fantasy will linger with you, in fact the story might just make it into your own dreams.   (New Hampshire Great Stone Face nominee, 2007-2008)

Booktalk #2

What’s a dream? A hint of something hoped for, a brief glimpse of the past or a fragment of a nightmare.  In Gossamer, Littlest, “dream-giver”, delivers bits of memories to two unsuspecting people in the hopes that they will be able to help each other overcome sadness in their lives. But will the Sinisteeds counteract the good with their nightmares? Some reality with a dash of fantasy makes this book a great read.  (Jean B. Bellavance for Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Awards, 2007-2008)