Rose and the Wish Thing (Wunderkind Reads)

Caroline Magerl's new children's picture book, Rose and the Wish Thing, will surely strike a chord with children, parents and teachers alike. Moving to a new city or town, or any change for that matter, can be a daunting task and it's not always easy to adapt. Rose's story, coupled with beautiful illustrations, shows us that sometimes what we're looking for is right outside our own window. {Book provided for review/feature consideration}

Rose is a new face in a new street...she looks out of her window but won't step out of her own front door. Instead, she calls for something "small and far away," and a wish thing answers by beginning an epic journey in a tired brown box. When at last the wish thing arrives, Rose ventures out of her front door to find what was always waiting for her there...

The book was previously published as Hasel and Rose in Australia, the book has received outstanding reviews. Drawing on a migrant background and an itinerant childhood aboard a yacht, Magerl's gentle approach to the question of finding belonging and friendship is explored in this new picture book. As Rose searches for something small and far away, the wish thing begins an epic journey toward Rose. Described in a unique line and wash style and accompanied by an easy-to-read text, this magical story helps children understand what we are looking for is often right under our noses.

Caroline Magerl is a talented author, artist, illustrator and print-maker. Magerl immigrated to Australia from Germany as a young girl and spent the majority of her childhood at sea on her parents' yacht, sailing the east coast of Australia. This lifestyle accommodated little in the way of possessions, and so she especially treasured the East German picture books gifted to her by her Great Oma; "the two languages of imagery and words whose interplay had a profound impact on me”.

Until next time...