Irene’s Wish by Jerdine Nolen –OPTIONAL

Nolen, Jerdine Irene’s Wish 32 pgs. Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 2014. $17.99 Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G Violence: G. PICTURE BOOK

Irene wishes her father was home more, he is a popular and busy gardener. So she makes a wish on seed, and then puts the seed in some tea her father is going to drink. After he drinks it, he is really sick, then becomes a tree. Now he is in the yard..so he is home more, but can’t come inside or really interact with his family. Irene finally wishes to take back her wish, but will it work?
The book is stunningly illustrated! The images just come to life on the page and make the reader wish they were there. I like the tricky nature of wishes, a common theme in fairytales and legends.  But I found the story to be very odd, for me the author failed to establish that the father wasn’t around enough, looks like he was just in the front garden most of the time to me. I realize the main character Irene, learns a lesson in the end, but how will that change anything? Her father has to work and support the family if they want to eat. I may have missed the boat here on the bigger picture, but if wishes are so tricky, why bother to keep wishing them?
EL (K-3) –OPTIONAL Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.