THE WISH

The happiest life is a busy solitude. Lila lives far from the world with her cat, on a cliff overlooking the sea. She works in the field from morning ‘til night: sowing sunflowers in the spring, picking beans in the summer, collecting apples in the autumn, and in the cold winter, sitting by the fire. When the food runs out, Lila wishes upon a falling star. Next day she receives a bag of flour. She makes enough bread for a week, then wishes again. Thus, she survives the winter. Lila could have made grand wishes—a mountain of gold, elaborate food, fancy clothes—but the thought never crossed her mind. On her birthday, she wishes for—and gets—two small cakes and a shiny red tractor. While the text is minimal, each of Gerritsen’s two-page watercolors is a story in itself. Adults should enjoy this subtle parable as much as children. (Picture book. 3-6)