I Wish

A wrapped present. A curious young girl. A whole wide world of possibility. What would you wish for? From internationally renowned artist and designer Christoph Niemann, I wish is a universal and timeless celebration of anticipation and the limitless power of the imagination. I wish will inspire fans of Kobi Yamada’s What Do You Do with an Idea? and Suzy Lee’s Wave.
When a young girl finds a wrapped present, she wonders what’s inside. In her imagination, the gift becomes anything she’s ever wished for: a fashionable pair of shoes, a pony to ride, and even wings to help her fly. As the girl’s anticipation expands and her imagination soars, so does the gift’s ability to surprise her and to transform itself into even greater and more meaningful things.
Using an appealing limited color palette and wordless pages, award-winning artist Christoph Niemann challenges readers to think, laugh, imagine, and embrace the possibilities. I wish is an elegant and unique gift for any occasion and invites sharing and repeated readings. A must-have for readers of all ages.
If you could have anything, what would you wish for?

Reviews

“This wordless tale begins with a child discovering a wrapped present. . . . Thrilled, they pause in anticipation . . . Then they tear off the paper only to find another wrapped box inside the first. . . . Perplexed, they try again, and this time the gift seems to take on a life of its own. . . . This book serves as a strong allegory for the immense satisfaction of daydreaming about possibilities.” — Kirkus Reviews“Coming upon a gift box . . . [a young girl] shakes it vigorously, gives a brief prayer of hope, and tears into the wrapping paper. But the . . . [gift] seems to become, itself, a character. . . . All this unfolds against a crisp white background on a largely single plane, with the vignettes rendered in the creator’s signature thick black lines, limited palette, and minimal detailing. What does it all mean? Niemann leaves that open to the reader—a gift itself to eager young imaginations.” — Publishers Weekly“[I Wish] conveys the hopes, wants, and excitement experienced by a young girl who receives a gift. At the outset, the girl’s gift is traditional in size and shape, but once her imagination ignites, the package’s metamorphosis begins.” — School Library Journal“[When a] girl sees a yellow gift box tied with a purple ribbon, she is sure something exciting is inside. But to her surprise, she opens it only to find a green box tied with a pink ribbon. That box contains a red box tied with a light blue ribbon. . . . The illustrations show the child's comical facial expressions and body language as she keeps crumpling the box and creating new ideas. . . . Cartoonist and animator Niemann uses wordless text and a limited palette as he challenges readers to explore the endless possibilities of their imaginations.” — Booklist