The Wish Sisters: The Running Wish

The Wish Sisters: The Running Wish by Allison Rushby, illustrated by Karen Blair (UQP) PB RRP $12.99 ISBN: 9780702265945

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

Flick’s baby sister, Birdie, can make wishes come true – but they are usually twisted around in some way. Dad takes Birdie to the school sports day, and Flick is concerned about what will happen. And she is right to be worried! Birdie turns herself green to support the green team, then causes Dad’s legs to spin as fast as a bicycle’s wheels. Can Flick stop Birdie from tampering with the parent–teacher race and ensuring that Dad wins unfairly?

Allison Rushby’s enchanting chapter book is ideal for kids aged five to eight who are just beginning to stretch their reading legs. Humour and magic dash across the pages, drawing youngsters through the lively story, while familiar themes of family and friendship wave merrily like bunting in the breeze.

Karen Blair’s greyscale illustrations help the text across the finish line by adding another layer of fun to the tale. Using light and shade to great effect, Karen’s comical images bring the characters to life. They also give reluctant readers some breathing room by breaking up the paragraphs.

Bewitching from the first page until the last, The Wish Sisters: The Running Wish is sure to become a favourite with kids. They will be sprinting to the library to find the other books in the series in no time.

The Pet Wish (The Wish Sister series)

The Pet Wish (The Wish Sister series) by Allison Rushby & Karen Blair (UQP) Paperback, Junior Fiction, RRP $12.99 ISBN 9780702265952

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Allison Rushby is an award-winning children’s author with more than 20 books to her name. She is spectacular at writing middle grade books. Allison Rushby along with Megan Daley and Allison Tait run the popular parent Facebook group Your Next Kids Read.

The Pet Wish is the fourth book in this popular series. Flick and her little sister, Birdie, are helping a local senior’s group – The Busybodies, raise money for animals in need. Some special animals are hoping to find their fur-ever homes. Things go haywire when Birdie wishes and makes the animals even more special so that they can be adopted. How can Flick and Oli keep a rainbow cat, a dancing dog, and a puppy a secret when there’s an annoying photographer taking photos?

Allison Rushby has created a charming read. Her short well written sentences keep a young reader engaged and support those beginning to read independently.  The active verbs and vocabulary are perfect for younger readers. Rushby writes about child-relatable topics very well. Since Birdie had discovered she could wish, a lot of funny things had been happening. A unicorn party had appeared in their back garden, along with a real-life unicorn.

The dialogue is warm and friendly and suits each character and their unique personalities. Birdie is a baby and although she can make wishes, her dialogue matches her age. ‘Gah!’ Birdie nodded on Flick’s hip, ‘Gah, gah, gah!’ The text is easy to understand but it’s not predictable. Rushby allows the younger reader to anticipate, and page turn to find out more. I love that the imp remains hidden in the pages until it’s ready to unexpectedly appear. A snorty laugh came from somewhere behind them in the tent. ‘What was that?’ Mr Adams whipped around. ‘What was that snorty laugh?’

Karen Blair’s purple cover has a sparkly wish blurb and features Flick, Birdie, and a rainbow cat. Inside the book, Flick and Birdie are warm and friendly, and the imp is cheeky and full of mischief. Because the book is for children developing independent reading skills, the illustrations appear when needed. The full-page illustrations paint the scenes well and the little sprinkles of illustrations on some pages add just the right touches.

The Pet Wish (The Wish Sisters) is a great addition to any bookshelf. A child who is beginning to read independently is well supported by the text and the illustrations. The topics magic and wishes are ones children love. The Pet Wish is recommended for children aged six and older. I can see this book appealing to parents and teachers, too.

The Wish Sisters: The Big Wish

The Wish Sisters: The Big Wish written by Allison Rushby, Illustrated by Karen Blair (UQP) PB RRP $12.99 ISBN 9780702265938

Reviewed by Sarah Tegerdine

The Big Wish written by Allison Rushby and Illustrated by Karen Blair is book two from The Wish Sisters Series.

Flicks family has recently found out that Birdie, Flicks baby sister can make wishes that come true. A magical bottle was handed down from Flick and Birdies Granny Aggie. Residing in this bottle is an Imp and the Imp was meant to grant Flick and Birdie unlimited wishes. However, the Imp is notoriously tricky, and Granny Aggies original wish was twisted so that only Birdie has the wishes.

In book two, Flick briefly reflects on the loss of her wishes but after seeing how wishes can go terribly awry, she reconciles that she must help Birdie with her wishing instead.

In The Big Wish, we see Flick getting ready to leave home so she can give a book-talk at her local library group. However, this has thrown Birdies routine off kilter, and Birdie is tired and grumpy. Nervous thoughts run through the back of everyone’s minds.

Right on queue, the moment Birdie becomes upset and agitated or does not get what she wants, the wishing chaos erupts in style with froggy socks and apple snacks for all, not to mention a litter of puppies.

The Imp is at work causing mischief yet again, how will Flick and her family manage this episode?

The Big Wish speaks of courage, self-confidence, and sibling relationships with a fresh and positive outlook. Full of action and fun, readers will continue to enjoy the raucous entertainment that this series provides.

Recommended for newly independent readers.

 

 

 

 

  

The Wish Sisters: The Party Wish

The Wish Sisters: The Party Wish written by Allison Rushby, Illustrated by Karen Blair (UQP) PB RRP $12.99 ISBN 9780702265921

Reviewed by Sarah Tegerdine

The Wish Sisters: The Party Wish by Allison Rushby and Illustrated by Karen Blair is the first of a brand-new magical series, for children ready to leave early readers and leap into chapter books.

Visualise waking up one morning to discover that your little baby sister has been gifted the ability of making all ‘her’ wishes come true? Wild antics are surely to ensue and ensue they do.

Flick is big sister to thirteen-month-old Birdie and Flick wants to be the best big sister ever. Her Granny Aggie, recently passed, gifted Flick a T-Shirt that boldly emblazes these words (Best Big Sister Ever) and she takes them very seriously.

It just so happens it’s not the only gift Granny Aggie left for the sisters. A glass bottle collection one of which contains a very magical creature, called Imp. Granny Aggie bestowed a wish so that her grandbabies would have unlimited wishes. But Imps are tricky and mischievous, and the Imp has tweaked Granny Aggies wish. The Imp does not recognise Flick as a baby so therefore all the wishes fall to Birdie, as she is a baby and babies wishes are way more fun, right?

As the title of the book suggests, the first wish is for a party but no ordinary party. Birdies favourite story book is Petunia the Unicorns Super Fabulous First Birthday. As an amazing big sister, Flick has read this book to Birdie a lot and now it has become the living embodiment of the first wish. With the real Petunia the unicorn who poops cupcakes, a rainbow slide made of sour straps and a floating cloud cake.

How do they explain a flamboyant second birthday party to the neighbours? What could go wrong?

With infinite storyline possibilities The Wish Sisters Series is certainly going to provide endless enjoyment to readers.