I Wish You More by Amy Krause Rosenthal and Tim Lichtenfeld delights visually and embodies an important concept: life is complicated. It includes joys and sorrows, ups and downs, twists and turns and surprises that delight as well as some that disappoint. Like a well-balanced meal, the life is richer and more nuanced when it includes both the sweet and the sour, the difficult and the simple.
Kids tend to see life in terms of black and white. I Wish You More uses this duality in a way that helps readers understand that along with challenges, joy follows. Like a beautiful garden which depends on a blend of sun and shade, moist and dry spells, a full life blooms with lovely moments that counterbalance the storms, sadness and tears. In the contrast we more deeply appreciate each.
The wonderful illustrations by Lichtenfeld breathe life into the words . The spare text helps readers to understand that hard things do occur and that they are balanced out by the happy, the thrilling and the tender moments. Instead of falling into the trap of seeing things as all/nothing, sad/happy readers can appreciate that life is filled with a spectrum of experiences. They get to choose on which they will focus and who/what will define them.
While this lovely book is intended for youngsters, like Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss, I would assert that it will touch the hearts of all who read it. (I gave a copy to my daughter who will marry in just a few days.)
#AQParenting Perspective: Adoptive families can feel the message of this book deeply because our lives have been shaped profoundly by the losses and gains inherent in adoption. I Wish You More lends itself to conversations about how positives can replace negatives, happiness trumping sadness and gains bridging losses. One does not erase the other; each is real, touches us deeply and sculpts our lives. I enjoy the fundamentally optimistic tone of the book and rate it 5 stars.
