Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Mon May 08 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Wishes can help us to feel brave.Birdie, a light-skinned girl with curly red hair, is happy by herself, reading books, watching bugs, and blowing on delicate wishing flowers. But when she is around other children, Birdie feels out of place and shy. When a new girl arrives in her classroom, Birdie is entranced. Sunny, who is beige-skinned with long dark pigtails, has a "nature name" like Birdie's, and they like many of the same things-reading, rescuing bugs, drawing…and wishes. The more they play together, the braver Birdie feels, finding her way, little by little, out of her shell. Soon, Birdie feels confident enough to play with the other children at school, too. Birdie's wish has come true and helped her to grow inside and out. Loose lines and vibrant springtime hues of deep green, blue, and purple lend a playful aura to the girls' interactions, at times even seeming ethereal and otherworldly. Birdie's responses to Sunny's presence-her stomach does flips, she blushes, and her heart beats fast-suggest that this is more than a friendship; many young queer readers will feel seen. Smaller vignettes pair well with larger spreads that alternate close-up and distant perspectives, drawing readers into the drama of new friendships and Birdie's social-emotional development. Concise prose, at times nearly poetic, features expressive and carefully chosen phrases, such as "Her heart ballooned like a parachute." (This book was reviewed digitally.)An expertly drawn and composed introduction to self-discovery. (Picture book. 3-6)

School Library Journal Starred Review (Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

PreS-Gr 2— Nature-loving Birdie, a white girl with bobbed red hair, uses "wishing flowers" (dandelions) in hopes that her wish will come true. She finds company in books and bugs until the day a new girl arrives at school. Together Birdie and Sunny, who has a "nature name," long black hair, and tan skin, discover what it is like to move through the nerves of building a new friendship. The daily experiences of lunch, recess, and art class help show the realistic nature of making friends. The use of imagery (Birdie is "quiet as a starlight" and Sunny has "freckles like constellations") bring the girls to life. In addition, the alliteration creates a strong read-aloud flow to the story and emphasizes the focus on nature ("Birdie loved books and bugs and birds"). Full-spread watercolor images highlight the natural world and school environment in which the girls spend time. Floating across the pages are stars, butterflies, birds, and bright lights that add to the upbeat tone of the book. Surrounding school children present as a diverse group. VERDICT A strong purchase for all collections, especially as a social-emotional text.— Danielle Schwessinger

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Wishes can help us to feel brave.Birdie, a light-skinned girl with curly red hair, is happy by herself, reading books, watching bugs, and blowing on delicate wishing flowers. But when she is around other children, Birdie feels out of place and shy. When a new girl arrives in her classroom, Birdie is entranced. Sunny, who is beige-skinned with long dark pigtails, has a "nature name" like Birdie's, and they like many of the same things-reading, rescuing bugs, drawing…and wishes. The more they play together, the braver Birdie feels, finding her way, little by little, out of her shell. Soon, Birdie feels confident enough to play with the other children at school, too. Birdie's wish has come true and helped her to grow inside and out. Loose lines and vibrant springtime hues of deep green, blue, and purple lend a playful aura to the girls' interactions, at times even seeming ethereal and otherworldly. Birdie's responses to Sunny's presence-her stomach does flips, she blushes, and her heart beats fast-suggest that this is more than a friendship; many young queer readers will feel seen. Smaller vignettes pair well with larger spreads that alternate close-up and distant perspectives, drawing readers into the drama of new friendships and Birdie's social-emotional development. Concise prose, at times nearly poetic, features expressive and carefully chosen phrases, such as "Her heart ballooned like a parachute." (This book was reviewed digitally.)An expertly drawn and composed introduction to self-discovery. (Picture book. 3-6)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Red-haired, pale-skinned Birdie loves to direct her dreams at “wishing flowers”—seeded dandelion heads—but “feels inside out at home and at school” and keeps to herself on the playground. The arrival of new girl Sunny, portrayed with brown skin, leaves Birdie gobsmacked: “When Sunny smiled, two dragonflies played tag in Birdie’s tummy. When Sunny waved, Birdie’s heart fluttered as fast as a hummingbird’s wings.” Birdie longs for bravery, thinking it will take a very big wishing flower to gather it up. But when the two bond without magic, they become inseparable, holding hands, jumping in sync, and braiding each other’s hair. Finding a wishing flower, they blow on it together in an intimate moment of honesty and tenderness, and share that both of their dreams have already come true. Textured digital illustrations by Alizadeh (What Will You Be?) echo the unabashed exhilaration of text from Irving (Dance Like a Leaf). The vibe turns lyrical and impressionistic after the two girls connect, watching a sunset amid dusky whirls till “their toes kissed the clouds”—showing exactly how it feels to be seen and understood as never before. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Jordan Hamessley, New Leaf Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Mandy Suhr, Miles Stott Literary. (May)