I Wish You More

In what is essentially a string of secular blessings, an unseen parent/caretaker expresses its hopes for a child's future. Building her stanzas around the idea of "more," Rosenthal (who has teamed with Lichtenheld on Duck! Rabbit! and other bestselling titles) invokes rhymes, wordplay, and relatable metaphors, keeping the tone hopeful and upbeat; Lichtenheld follows suit, presenting a multiethnic cadre of smiling, curious, and hardworking children. "I wish you more ups than downs," Rosenthal begins, as two children race across a windswept green field, a tiny red kite trailing overhead. For "I wish you more will than hill," Lichtenheld shows a boy sweating under the exertion of toting a to-be-planted sapling uphill, and for "I wish you more can than knot," a girl's dog stares intently as she attempts to tie her shoes. After a dozen or so of these statements, Rosenthal concludes with a line that's certain to reassure children that they are loved: "I wish all of this for you, because you are everything I could wish for... and more." Ages 5-8. Agent: Amy Rennert, Amy Rennert Agency. (Mar.)

PreS--The renowned duo who created Duck! Rabbit! (2009) and Wumbers (2012, both Chronicle), has teamed up again to present a compendium of pleasant images and cleverly stated, feel-good wishes. "I wish you more ups than downs. I wish you more give than take." Each spread features children of various ethnicities and a simple comparative blessing, each beginning with "I wish." Although not as engaging as some of their more notable collaborations, it is still a lovely compilation of positive moments that can be shared by parent and child, and it even offers some interesting wordplay in the simple text ("I wish you more can than knot" as a little girl tries to tie her shoes with her tongue sticking out in concentration). VERDICT While not an essential purchase, it is one title that most libraries will wish to have on their shelves.--Jessica Marie, Salem Public Library, OR