OLIVER AND THE WISHING STAR

A boy decides that wishing to be a dog wasn’t such a great plan after all when things go awry in this debut picture book.

Oliver, a brown-haired, freckle-faced White boy, is frustrated when his mother makes him do chores and homework before seeing his friends. As he walks his pooch, Cooper, he complains that dogs have the best lives: “You’ve got it so easy, Cooper, and I’m…cursed!” After dabbling in rule-breaking and deciding pushing boundaries doesn’t make him feel better, he returns home, noticing a falling star outside his window. He wishes he was a dog, falls fast asleep, and wakes up as a canine. Immediately fleeing to experience his freedom, he’s disappointed by pet food, bad weather, dog catchers, and the realization that his parents don’t seem to miss him. Just when everything seems bleak, his mother wakes him up—but a muddy trail makes him believe his metamorphosis wasn’t a dream. Being careful of wishes and believing the grass is greener elsewhere are both common story themes young readers will easily recognize. Decker’s accessible text features simple sentences with some fun vocabulary words (responsibilities, defiantly, bounded) to challenge independent readers. Vindhy’s soft-edged, digital illustrations give her cartoonish characters a painterly flair; the darkening sky in sequential pictures emphasizes the time passing during Oliver’s walk and his canine adventure. Readers are sure to enjoy the depiction of the boy’s energetic dog form.

For readers wishing for a better life, this tale delivers an engaging reminder of gratitude.