A Smithsonian Notable Book of the Year
"Best of the Best" Chicago Public Library
Listen to a great discussion of WISH on the Just One More Book podcast here.
WISH in Japanese
WISH
Written by Roseanne Thong, Illustrated by Elisa Kleven
Chronicle Books, 2008
WISH takes us on a tour around the world to discover many ways that children make wishes. From birthday candles to giant kites, from lotus boats to peacock feathers, WISH shares an array of traditions from each continent
“The details are wonderfully expressed in Kleven’s jewel-toned mixed-media illustrations, which magically portray children and adults in rural and urban settings that look traditional and contemporary at the same time... The author and illustrator present a playfulness and a hope for better lives that is contagious.”
-- Kirkus
“...Entices readers with consistently well-rhymed verses. Rendered in Kleven’s kaleidoscopic style, many of the full-bleed spreads nearly shimmer...”
-- Publishers Weekly
“ Visually captivating...Infused with a sense of community and celebration, the colorful double page illustrations are brimming with life and movement, while offering many intriguing details for children to absorb...An original presentation.”
-- Booklist
“... For each stop on this unique tour, Thong presents a melodic poem suitable for reading aloud. .. Kleven’s rich, mixed-media illustrations of joyful figures and inviting landscapes-reminiscent of the shimmering style
of Marc Chagall-provide plenty to look at. A selection of lucky symbols to search for in the pictures adds to the fun. This positive introduction to worldwide traditions belongs in most collections.”
-- School Library Journal
“This worldwide collection with charmingly beautiful pictures will make your wishes for a wonderful book come true.”
--Chicago Public Library
