| Children's folk tales from 15 different countries make | | | | China, Russia, the United States, Iran, Australia, Italy, |
| up this collection on customs involving wishing. Each | | | | South and Central America and Thailand thus making |
| small tale is a two page spread with a four-line poem | | | | the book also somewhat educational in nature. The |
| and then is followed by a short paragraph that is | | | | customs and traditions are interesting and will be found |
| simple to understand and explains what the folk lore is | | | | to be unusual and make for a nice discussion with the |
| about. The illustrations use various forms of media in | | | | child. |
| gorgeous deep and brilliant tones, and show the | | | | The stories are fun and provide hope for better lives |
| children and adults who live in the numerous country | | | | through the wishes they convey. It includes a |
| and city settings. Eerily, they give the feel of being a bit | | | | somewhat poorly explained lucky symbol game and |
| old-fashioned while in the same instance they also are | | | | there is not much in the way of a bibliography or |
| rather modern in their feel. | | | | references. However, children will enjoy the fun of it |
| When each story is told, the readers will recognize that | | | | and the lovely, playful pictures that are beautifully done. |
| some are traditional and religious in nature like the | | | | Children will be entranced by the gorgeous illustrations |
| wishes made in Israel at the Wailing Wall, while others | | | | and the feeling of hope they give that wishes can |
| are as simple as a dandelion puff being blown around | | | | make the world a better place. This would make a |
| in Ireland. In South Africa, a striped weasel in Zulu | | | | wonderful gift for any child between the ages of 4-8 |
| villages can be the reason behind people's wishing | | | | especially as it deals with multi-cultural issues in such a |
| customs there. Other places where wishes are | | | | simple and loving way. |
| "explained" to a certain childlike degree are Japan, | | | | |