Make a wish and the sky's the limit in this delightful rhyming story from the incomparable Jean Little.
If wishes were ice cream, our cones would be doubles.If wishes were soapsuds, we'd blow shining bubbles.
In this charming new picture book, children and their wild imaginations take centre stage! In a true celebration of wishers and dreamers, Jean Little entertains readers with bouncy rhymes depicting kids' favourite wishes — from puppies to pancakes; and sundaes to snowflakes.
Governor General's award-winning Canadian illustrator Geneviève Côté infuses each page with her inventive illustrations, literally turning each spread into a carnival of fun!
If wishes were stories, there would only be one — this one!
Praise for Wishes:
"[Wishes] celebrates fun and freedom . . . Cote's watercolour images are energetic and gleeful, and give Little's text room to resonate." —Quill & Quire
"The melody of this text will encourage readers to read this book over and over again for the sheer pleasure of feeling the words tumble over their tongues while the illustrations will charm them with the possibilities available in the fantasy world of wishes. Wishes is a truly delightful piece to share with children." —CM Magazine
"Whimsical desires, heartfelt hopes and crazy dreams — cashed in as wishes — are celebrated in Guelph author Jean Little's new book . . . This book makes a lovely gift for children" —The Guelph Mercury
"An entertaining romp celebrating the dreams and desires of young people . . . readers will be attracted to the energy and detail on every page." —Canadian Children's Book News
"This book is sure to delight children . . . The colourful illustrations intuitively speak to a child's world and a child's imagination and provide entertainment as well as a thoought provoking forum for personal connection." —Resource Links
"The rhyming format make the book a pleasure both to read and to listen to, and suits the dream-like quality of the words. The illustrations are equally fantastical. Featuring whimsical images of children and things, the colours used are soft, but the pictures are full of surprising details." —momstown.ca
“If wishes were horses, then poor folks would ride. If wishes were friendships, I’d be by your side.” Thus begins Wishes, an entertaining romp celebrating the dreams and desires of young people. Told as a rhyming story, one enters the realm of children to explore their favourite whims. From puppies to pancakes, time travel to trampolines, and sundaes to circuses, readers are taken on an exhilarating journey.
Wishes was inspired by Jean Little’s grandmother, who told her, “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride” whenever the young Jean asked for a puppy. Utilizing an altered version of this saying as her opening, Little has created a text which is fun to read aloud: “If wishes were ice cream, our cones would be doubles. If wishes were soapsuds, we’d blow shining bubbles.”
Geneviève Coté’s exuberant mixed media artwork portrays children from a variety of racial backgrounds having the time of their lives. Readers will be attracted to the energy and detail on every page.
In reality, most children understand that not every wish can be granted. However, in between its covers, Wishes invites readers to temporarily enter a world where dreams do, in fact, come true.
Source: The Canadian Children's Bookcentre. Fall 2012. Volume 35 No. 4.