Meet a boy who can make wishes come true in this magical picture book from the award-winning Sara Ogilvie, illustrator of Dogs Don't Do Ballet
Amy Sparkes (Author)
Amy Sparkes was born in Eastbourne and graduated from the
University of Kent at Canterbury in 1999 with a degree in English
Literature and Theology. After working for charities and the NHS
for several years, Amy left work to raise a family and write
whenever possible. She now lives in Devon with her husband and five
young children. Amy is a passionate supporter of baby charities and
donates a percentage of her royalties to various causes.
Sara Ogilvie (Illustrator)
Sara Ogilvie creates award-winning art which has been exhibited
across the UK and abroad. Working as a freelance illustrator Sara
creates images for editorial, design, publishing and advertising.
She is the illustrator of many books including Dogs Don't Do
Ballet, Do Not Enter the Monster Zoo, Once Upon a Wish and Julia
Donaldson's Detective Dog.
This magical read about a wish-granting boy weaves a dreamlike tale
of dragons and midnight feasts, sure to delight even the smallest
of readers. After all, who doesn't have a wish they would like to
come true?
*Baby London*
Deep in the forest, in a giant oak tree, lives a magical wishgiving
boy, as you’ll soon see …
By night, as the wishes drift his way, he spends his time
concocting and conjuring up wish magic for girls and boys,then
delivering it right to them …
Despite their delight at receiving their heart’s desire, these
children quickly forget the wish giver who also has a wish of his
own, for it’s a lonely life he leads in that secret lair of his.
The lad wishes for a pet or a friend to keep him company but try as
he might, his own wish is unfulfilled …
Then one night this wish wafts his way “I wish I could fly” and
immediately our lad is up and doing, sprinkling, stirring and
filling a bottle of potion, before sailing off to deliver same to
the waiting wisher. This particular recipient however, is rather
different. Yes, she’s absolutely over the moon at being able to
take her maiden flight, but it’s what she does next …that makes all
the difference, though not right away. Her kind words take a little
while for their own particular brand of magic to do its work …
Amy Sparkes’ brilliant to read aloud rhyming verses mixed with Sara
Ogilvie’s sparklingly gorgeous, richly and humorously detailed,
glowing illustrations make for a magic mix all of their own: sheer
delight from cover to cover.
If you’ve ever forgotten to thank, or overlooked saying, thank you
to anybody, I urge you to get hold of a copy of this one and send
it to them forthwith; actually buy a copy no matter what; you’ll
surely find someone or many, to share its enchantments.
*https://jillrbennett.wordpress.com/2016/06/22/once-upon-a-wish-thank-you/*
Swathes of lapis-lazuli blue shimmering with a dusting of magic
wrap readers up in rhyming delight and fairy-tale enchantment in
Amy Sparkes (@AmySparkes) and Sara Ogilvie‘s Once Upon a Wish, a
truly lovely, imaginative and heart-warming tale about the value of
friendship.
Deep in the heart of the Forest of Dreams the wishgiver boy works
hard spreading joy. Wishes float in on the breeze and he sets about
stirring up the mysterious ingredients needed to make dreams come
true, before delivering the spells in person. Although happy to be
able to grant others’ wishes, the thoughtful and kind boy is
lonely. Some intangible ingredient seems to be missing and until
he’s found it, his magic can’t work on himself.
Generosity, patience and gratitude finally bring magic words to
light ensuring a reassuring, upbeat ending that will no doubt lead
to many a conversation about hopes and happiness (and what we all
can do to help each other with our own dreams and delight).
Sparkes’ sparkling story flows with a sunny rhythm and bounce,
making it a real pleasure to read aloud. It’s wonderful to see a
magical, creative and successful boy making it his business to
leave the world a better place. Ogilvie’s illustrations perfectly
balance charm and quirkiness, drawing out the warmth of the story
without ever becoming saccharine. I’m pleased to see that the
wishgiver’s new friend has dark skin; this is a rare book which
manages to bring much needed gender and race diversity gently and
so naturally into storytime, whilst also delivering a subtle
message about the power of thankfulness.
*http://www.playingbythebook.net/2016/07/11/once-upon-a-wish/*
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