The Wishing Flower

Red-haired, pale-skinned Birdie loves to direct her dreams at "wishing flowers"--seeded dandelion heads--but "feels inside out at home and at school" and keeps to herself on the playground. The arrival of new girl Sunny, portrayed with brown skin, leaves Birdie gobsmacked: "When Sunny smiled, two dragonflies played tag in Birdie's tummy. When Sunny waved, Birdie's heart fluttered as fast as a hummingbird's wings." Birdie longs for bravery, thinking it will take a very big wishing flower to gather it up. But when the two bond without magic, they become inseparable, holding hands, jumping in sync, and braiding each other's hair. Finding a wishing flower, they blow on it together in an intimate moment of honesty and tenderness, and share that both of their dreams have already come true. Textured digital illustrations by Alizadeh (What Will You Be?) echo the unabashed exhilaration of text from Irving (Dance Like a Leaf). The vibe turns lyrical and impressionistic after the two girls connect, watching a sunset amid dusky whirls till "their toes kissed the clouds"--showing exactly how it feels to be seen and understood as never before. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Jordan Hamessley, New Leaf Literary. Illustrator's agent: Mandy Suhr, Miles Stott Literary. (May)

PreS-Gr 2--Nature-loving Birdie, a white girl with bobbed red hair, uses "wishing flowers" (dandelions) in hopes that her wish will come true. She finds company in books and bugs until the day a new girl arrives at school. Together Birdie and Sunny, who has a "nature name," long black hair, and tan skin, discover what it is like to move through the nerves of building a new friendship. The daily experiences of lunch, recess, and art class help show the realistic nature of making friends. The use of imagery (Birdie is "quiet as a starlight" and Sunny has "freckles like constellations") bring the girls to life. In addition, the alliteration creates a strong read-aloud flow to the story and emphasizes the focus on nature ("Birdie loved books and bugs and birds"). Full-spread watercolor images highlight the natural world and school environment in which the girls spend time. Floating across the pages are stars, butterflies, birds, and bright lights that add to the upbeat tone of the book. Surrounding school children present as a diverse group. VERDICT A strong purchase for all collections, especially as a social-emotional text.--Danielle Schwessinger