Marley’s dream cloth holds her memories and reminds her of people she loves, and it helps her prepare for the day ahead. One night her cloth gets torn in half and with it her memories. Others try to offer comfort and new memories. She struggles to dream for the future. Over time she begins to remember her friends and their gifts. Eventually she reaches for a teaspoon of light and the light paints the memories back on her cloth.
Nisaluk Chantanakom illustrated this book giving it an element of whimsy, contrasting the light and the dark as Marley’s story is told. Colour and children swirl around Marley, trying to give comfort. The watercolours give a softness and glow to the story. The illustrations complement the story.
The impetus for the book was Peter O’Connor’s work with children after the earthquakes in New Zealand and Mexico. It presents a gentle way to talk to children about dealing with significant disruptions and trauma in their lives. Even though this book was written as a response to earthquakes, it could equally be used to help a child deal with any unexpected trauma. The solution for Marley is gradual, there is no magic bullet that will fix everything quickly. The light starts as a glimmer and grows to a point that there is a teaspoon of light, and then the light overflows the spoon.
Picture Books for Older Readers
