Category: Children Publisher: PM Moon Publisher, LLC
ISBN-10: 9780981777708
Type: Fiction
Pages: 48
Copyright: January 1, 2005
ISBN-13: 9780981777702
After years of living a life of ease and prosperity, something happens in the Kingdom of Laven-Cleve.
The people of the village could not remember when their most precious gift stopped coming, but at festivals, and especially at Christmas time, the villagers missed this special joy most of all.
It is the Queen who first notices the sadness in the village, and it is she who decides something must be done.
It's going to take a miracle to return the kingdom to its perfect happiness...
A miracle that can only become possible
through a gentle nature, a kind heart, and a little magic.
After years of living a life of ease and prosperity, something happens in the Kingdom of Laven-Cleve.
The people of the village could not remember when their most precious gift stopped coming, but at festivals, and especially at Christmas time, the villagers missed this special joy most of all.
It is the Queen who first notices the sadness in the village, and it is she who decides something must be done.
It's going to take a miracle to return the kingdom to its perfect happiness...
A miracle that can only become possible
through a gentle nature, a kind heart, and a little magic.
Loved by parents and children alike, The Wishing Flower is the perfect bedtime story for both new and not-so-new parent. The Wishing Flower is a wonderful way to teach each child just how special he or she is.
Excerpt
"As time passed, the village seemed to glow with the multi-colored magic of the wishing flowers swaying in the breeze."
Professional Reviews
http://www.thereadingtub.com/displayBook.asp?id=1317
THE WISHING FLOWER (Second Edition)
Summary: King John and Queen Alexandra watch over the magical kingdom of Laven-Cleve. They are good rulers. King John works side-by-side with villagers to build and repair their homes. Queen Alexandra help the residents, too. No one has any worries here, but something is missing: children. On one of her walks, Queen Alexandra found a beautiful flower. The flower would grant a wish, but only for her. Every time she tried to wish for children in the village, the flower turned her down. Will Laven-Cleve always be the kingdom without kids? This is an illustrated fairy tale for upper elementary students.
Type of Reading: bedtime story, anytime reading, family reading, middle grade reader, read aloud book, remedial reader
Recommended Age: read together: 6 to 12; read yourself: 9 to 12
Age of Child: Read with 6-year-old child.
Big Kid Reaction: What first caught my eye in this story is the vocabulary. Vortex, prosperity and inhabitants are not words you routinely see in picture books. I liked that the story's theme was accessible to younger children, but readable by older kids. Ultimately, though, I'm not sure that worked. The story got bogged down and named characters emerge on the last page. The computer-generated graphics detract from the story's theme of a magical kingdom. Some were blurry and may have been enlarged too much.
Pros: Children will enjoy this fairy tale about a magical kingdom. Parents of adoptive families may enjoy this allegory about children, families, and wishes come true.
Cons: The graphics detract from the story, which is meant to be illustrated. The fairy tale will interest young readers/listeners, but is probably beyond most of the audience at this reading level (sixth grade).
Borrow or Buy: Borrow. There are other, stronger stories that offer valuable life lessons in fairy-tale themes.
If You Liked This Book, Try: RIVER DRAGON; A REAL FLORIDA FAIRY TALE , TO KNOW THE SEA , THE BEE-MAN OF ORN
Educational Themes: The story presents an interesting question about choices, selfishness, and selflessness. When Queen Alexandra could not make a wish for everyone, was she selfish to keep the wishing flower in her garden? Fairy tales are wonderful tools for sparking imagination. Give kids the opportunity to create their own "kingdom." What would it be like? What kind of rules would they have?
Literary Categories: fiction - picture book
Date(s) Reviewed: May 2008
Other Reviews: No Critics Reviews found. Seereader feedback found at borders.com or barnesandnoble.com.
An inspirational book about a unique world where trees hold intrinsic knowledge and powerful forces of energy. The group of students called the Planeteers demonstrate character building and not judge people base on their appearance, but judge them on
