Wishes. Jean Little. Illustrated by Geneviève Côté. Toronto, ON: Scholastic Canada, 2012. 32 pp., hardcover, $19.99. ISBN 978-1-4431-0772-3. Preschool / Ages 2-4. Review by Rachel Yaroshuk. ***½ /4 Reviewed from Advance Reading Copy.

excerpt:

If wishes were circuses
I'd be a clown,
with a bulging red nose
and my pants falling down.

Wishes, by Jean Little, is a rhyming picture book that encourages children to expand their imaginations with the possibility of wishing. Numerous wishes are made, many of which draw on the world of fantasy. Rather than requiring readers to connect each wish incident to a larger plot, Little's individually fabricated wishes release readers, allowing children to marvel at the wonder of each stanza.

      To accompany each wish, artist Genevi�ve C�t� captures the essence of these fantasies with her whimsical illustrations. Her vibrant water colour palate and expressive crayon lines mirror the playful, free-spirited essence of the text. With the paints spilling over their traditional linear boundaries, the illustrations offer a space that is both inviting and relatable to children.

      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.

Highly Recommended.

Rachel Yaroshuk is a Master of Library and Information Studies student at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright � the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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