When Lucy makes a wish a dreamstone falls from the sky.
With the help of her young brother, Jack, Lucy secretly becomes the Ooma, the keeper who must care for a stone and then for Sharni, a tiny creature who carries the colours of the world in her fingers and a gold pen in her pointers.
From the very beginning having a dreamstone is not what you would think. Read this story and follow the adventures of Lucy – the sadness and tears, the joy and laughter – the trials of owning a dreamstone.
Did I say own?
Can you own a dreamstone?
Or if you do insist on owning it, will it stay just that, a stone for ever?
Suggested Activities for Writers
If you would like to try some writing activities that relate to a story like Dreamstone, feel free to try some of the suggestions in Helene Smith’s Writer’s Notebook for Dreamstone.
From the Author
Dreamstone began with a sketch I drew one evening when I was feeling disappointed about something that had happened in my life. I wasn’t really thinking about what I was drawing but allowing the pencil to make what ever marks on the page it would.
When I looked down at the page I saw a sad little face with a droopy little body and a forlorn pair of wings. A series of questions flicked through my mind. Who are you little one and where did you come from?
I began to scribble the answers: I came from between the stars in the form of a dreamstone…
‘A dreamstone, are you?’ I said.
Writing Dreamstone was a joy to me. I loved inventing the persona of Sharni at every stage of her development. Equally I enjoyed creating Lucy, her little brother, Jack and the cousins who might have been my own grand children. It was very special to work closely with an illustrator for the first time. I feel Geraldine Gruinard’s beautiful pencil drawings express some things about the characters that can’t be spoken with words alone.
I think it’s a story that offers hope to people; to kids. It’s about building bridges between people and places.
Reviews
Helene Smith has a magic way with words that keeps children reading, dreaming and captivated to the last page… Dreamstone, illustrated by Geraldine Guinard, is about transformation and creativity and the element of fantasy and humour will appeal to primary school children and young teenagers…
Hannelore Hepburn, Harvey Reporter, May 3, 05.
This is a gorgeous book with excellent illustrations … A must-have on the bookshelf for everyone of every age! Launceston Examiner Sat. 21/5/2005.
I would recommend this as a beginning novel for the 7 to 9 year olds, it has a storyline which captures the imagination and is simply but effectively illustrated with black and white drawings which bring Sharni to life. MM In Reading Time Aug 05.
Smith’s writing for children is wildly inventive and a delight to read…Dreamstone is about adventure, friendship and dreams that come true. The heroine, Lucy is staring at the sea while on holiday with family and feeling miserable. ‘I wish I had a friend, just one friend who would listen,’ she thinks… Lucy finds a friend and the summer is unusual and inspiring…
David Cowan, West Australian, May 7, 05.
Extracts from Letters
Extract from children’s letters on Dreamstone (at manuscript stage)
I love your new story. How did you come up with such a great idea! It was almost the best story I ever heard. I wonder who will be the illustrator….I like the part when Shiny (Sharni) said that she was going free and Lucy got mad at her….it was a lovely book.
D.S. (Year 3)
That story is one of the best I have read…My favourite part was when Lucy found the stone and when it cracked open. C.D (Year 3)