I’m trying to find a book I read in the mid to late ’80s. When I Google what I remember, I usually get to the Madeleine L’Engle Wrinkle in Time books, which sound like they have the right tone, but don’t contain any of the details I remember — which are:

– Lead character is a girl, she has siblings, she may be the middle child
– She has a wasted arm — it’s weak from disease or an injury
– She has to heave up some kind of orb, like a crystal ball – it’s hard for her with this arm, but eventually does it
– She goes into a trance-like state and has to say the word ‘Rowan’ a number of times
– Rowan might be a name of magical being or a way of calling this being forth

I remember this book being pretty scary and weird. It’s possible it was a by a Canadian author, since I found it at the local sci-fi kids bookstore which often stocked smaller-run Canadian books.

Many thanks!

Stephanie

 *****

Okay, here’s one with not much to go on. When I was in elementary school or maybe a bit younger (late ’80s to mid ’90s), my nana got me a children’s book — a picture book. I’m pretty sure it was new: it was a hardcover and it didn’t seem like a classic that was reprinted or anything. The premise of the book was: “Here are some very nice things, with illustrations of them. You should probably try to dream about them now, as opposed to scary or unpleasant things.” I think it was meant as a bedtime story, to put thoughts of nice things into children’s heads so they didn’t wake their poor parents (or nanas) with nightmares.

I’m pretty sure the prose was in rhyme, also. The only line that I halfway remember is “rings and kings and wonderful things” with an illustration of a golden ring and a merry-looking Old King Cole type of guy. I think there were also puppies. And candy. If it helps, I remember it being quite short, the cover as being primarily light blue, and the illustrations as being full-color and pastel-y-looking.

(The reason I’m asking? After I developed a wee anxiety problem in my mid-20s, the shrink before last recommended I dig this book up, after I told her about it, and see if it helps. I knew exactly where it would have been on my childhood bookcase — right bookcase, second shelf from the bottom, about 20% of the way in from the left — but of course, my parents finally moved and who knows where it is now, and double of course, I cannot remember the name or anything else about it.) Googling has not been helpful.

My anxiety problem thanks you!

Different Sarah

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