Wish: Wishing Traditions around the World by Roseanne Thong, illustrated by Elisa Kleven.

Readers get the joy of moving from country to country and seeing how children make wishes in various cultures.  Each country gets a two-page spread with an explanation of the way to wish and the culture lovingly depicted in Kleven’s illustrations.  Though we move from country to country and each is seen as unique, there is also a strong sense of global community here all based on the common thread of the wish.  What a powerful symbol for everyone’s desire for a positive future in the world.

Thong’s paragraphs on how to make wishes are each accompanied by a four line poem.  One could read the book to smaller children and just share the short poems in each one, but most children will want all of the interesting details.  Thong has edited her paragraphs with great skill, harboring no repetition from country to country and being factual but fascinating at the same time.

Recommended for nonfiction collections in libraries that are looking for books that are friendly entry points to multiculturalism.  This makes a great book to cuddle up with and start a discussion on how we make wishes ourselves.  Appropriate for ages 4-7.