“Littlest was running her tiny fingers carefully over the sweater’s soft sleeve. Then she touched a button and let her hand linger on it. It was startling, what she felt during the lingering. The entire history of the button came to her, and all it had been part of: a breezy picnic on a hillside in summer long ago; a January night, more recently, by the fire; and even, once, the time that a cup of tea had been spilled on the sweater. It was all there, still.”

This passage explains the fantasy novel’s premise by showing how dream-givers like Littlest One obtain the information they use to give humans dreams. The tender attention to detail shown in the account of the button’s history is a hallmark of the novel’s narration, and this illustration of the connection between memories and dreams introduces the theme of The Healing Power of Happy Memories. Touch serves as a motif representing this theme, and the delicacy with which Littlest One runs “her tiny fingers carefully” over the sweater characterizes her as kind and gentle.

“They were growing old together and were good friends to each other. The dog made her take walks and gave her someone to talk to. He was all she needed. The dog and the house. And her dreams. The tiny footsteps that crossed her bedroom each night never woke her.”

Lowry depicts the unnamed elderly woman’s loneliness to establish what her life is like before she takes in John. Like the boy, the woman is in need of healing. The dog that serves as her only companion serves as a symbol of love, and his companionship foreshadows the role that he will play in John’s healing.

“Thin Elderly raised his hand. ‘I’d rather have that house, as a matter of fact. My assigned house is very spare, very minimalist. Not much to touch. It makes a dull night.’

Most Ancient peered at him. ‘Have you ever supervised?’

‘No. But I think I’d do a good job. I like little ones.’”

Thin Elderly becomes an important supporting character when he volunteers to replace Fastidious as Littlest One’s teacher. The protagonist flourishes under her new mentor because he recognizes her creativity and curiosity as strengths.