Rose and the Wish Thing

A Bank Street College of Education 2017 "Best Children's Books of the Year"

Rose feels alone in a new town. Everything is different and strange. She wishes, she searches, but she’s not even sure what for. Then, from somewhere far away, someone—or something—begins a journey. And maybe, just maybe, Rose and the Wish Thing will find each other.
 
In an enchanting and poetic narrative with achingly beautiful illustrations, Rose and the Wish Thing celebrates the power of imagination and resilience, even when things seem too hard. It is a story that will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.

“the universal emotions of loneliness, longing, and ultimately joy at finding a new friend are conveyed through the beautifully combined line and wash illustrations and the lyrical prose. . . . A many-layered, imaginary friend story with themes of hope and resiliency.”—School Library Journal

“This quirky, sidelong look at a common childhood experience will be just the thing for readers and listeners who enjoy a touch of whimsy and mystery.”—Kirkus

“will resonate with readers who have wished for a friend, whether real or imaginary.”—Booklist  

“The magic of belonging and friendship is woven powerfully into a moving affirmation of the power of love. The language of the text is exquisite, the visual story commanding.”—The Children’s Book Council of Australia

CAROLINE MAGERL is an artist, illustrator, and printmaker who immigrated to Australia as a young girl and spent the majority of her childhood at sea on her parents’ yacht. It was a lifestyle that accommodated little in the way of possessions, so she especially treasured the picture books sent to her from East Germany by her great-grandmother. Caroline now lives on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia, with her husband and daughter. Rose and the Wish Thing is her first children’s book.