I Wish I Had is
a beautifully written and beautifully illustrated picture book. Words are
minimal while the illustrations cover two-page spreads throughout.
The text
begins on the first two pages: “I wish I had the eyes of a blackbird to see
every blade of grass growing in the meadow…” And
continues to the next two: “…and the feather-light steps of a tiger as it
explores the silence.”
The
author, Giovanna Zoboli, uses such animals as a leopard, an owl, a dog, a lemur and a bear in the text. The book
ends, “Most of all, I wish I had the huge ears of an elephant to hear what the
heavens say.”
What I
Like: The text is lyrical and the illustrations, by Simona Mulazzani, work perfectly with the text.
What I
Dislike: There is no mention of God. I point this out because those of you who
are looking strictly for Christian children’s picture books would probably not
choose this one. I suppose the word “heavens” could be loosely
construed to have Christian meaning in this context.
Overall
Rating: Very good.
Age
Appeal: 4-8.
Publisher Info: Eerdman’s Books for Young Readers, 2013: ISBN:
9780802854155; Hardcover, $16.00
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