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Wait and See
It is Olivia’s birthday, and when she blows out the candles on her cake and makes a wish—she gets exactly what she wanted!
24 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1993
10 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Robert Munsch
289 books1,686 followersRobert Munsch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Fordham University in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and from Boston University in 1971 with a Master of Arts degree in anthropology.
He studied to become a Jesuit priest, but decided he would rather work with children after jobs at orphanages and daycare centers. In 1973, he received a Master of Education in Child Studies from Tufts University. In 1975 he moved to Canada to work at the preschool at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario. He also taught in the Department of Family Studies at the University of Guelph as a lecturer and as an assistant professor. In Guelph he was encouraged to publish the many stories he made up for the children he worked with.
Munsch's wife delivered two stillborn babies in 1979 and 1980. Out of the tragedy, he produced one of his best-known books, Love You Forever. This book was listed fourth on the 2001 Publishers Weekly All-Time Best selling Children's Books list for paperbacks at 6,970,000 copies (not including the 1,049,000 hardcover copies). The Munsches have since become adoptive parents of Julie, Andrew and Tyya (see them all in Something Good!)
Munsch has obsessive-compulsive disorder and has also suffered from manic depression. In August 2008, Munsch suffered a stroke that affected his ability to speak in normal sentences. He has recovered enough that he is able to perform live, but has put his writing career on hold until he is fully recovered.
He studied to become a Jesuit priest, but decided he would rather work with children after jobs at orphanages and daycare centers. In 1973, he received a Master of Education in Child Studies from Tufts University. In 1975 he moved to Canada to work at the preschool at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario. He also taught in the Department of Family Studies at the University of Guelph as a lecturer and as an assistant professor. In Guelph he was encouraged to publish the many stories he made up for the children he worked with.
Munsch's wife delivered two stillborn babies in 1979 and 1980. Out of the tragedy, he produced one of his best-known books, Love You Forever. This book was listed fourth on the 2001 Publishers Weekly All-Time Best selling Children's Books list for paperbacks at 6,970,000 copies (not including the 1,049,000 hardcover copies). The Munsches have since become adoptive parents of Julie, Andrew and Tyya (see them all in Something Good!)
Munsch has obsessive-compulsive disorder and has also suffered from manic depression. In August 2008, Munsch suffered a stroke that affected his ability to speak in normal sentences. He has recovered enough that he is able to perform live, but has put his writing career on hold until he is fully recovered.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 12, 2018
This is another "Classic Munsch" that I had yet to read. I don't know if I'd ever even heard of it.
While the story is kind of cute, I also found it a little unnerving. I mean, this kid has the power to make her birthday wishes come true for some reason. It doesn't seem to matter what her parents want, or what's good for other people, or even what's safe; her wishes are granted anyway, nearly drowning the neighbours at one point. I also didn't like the ending; so much for parents calling the shots.
Martchenko's illustrations are really cute (as usual) and it was nice to see a black family in the starring roles. But I'm afraid the story was a bit of a swing and a miss for me. I doubt I'd read this one again.
While the story is kind of cute, I also found it a little unnerving. I mean, this kid has the power to make her birthday wishes come true for some reason. It doesn't seem to matter what her parents want, or what's good for other people, or even what's safe; her wishes are granted anyway, nearly drowning the neighbours at one point. I also didn't like the ending; so much for parents calling the shots.
Martchenko's illustrations are really cute (as usual) and it was nice to see a black family in the starring roles. But I'm afraid the story was a bit of a swing and a miss for me. I doubt I'd read this one again.
December 26, 2024
This was a fun and silly picture book about Olivia who makes a birthday wish for "snow, snow and more snow" in the middle of the summer... and her wish came true! But there was too much snow, so her parents made her another cake so that she could make another wish to fix her previous wish.
I suppose this story teaches the classic lesson of "be careful what you wish for" but I'm not sure Olivia learned her lesson… I guess that's the magic of birthday wishes?
*** #24 of my 2024 Popsugar Reading Challenge - A book that takes place over the course of 24 hours ***
I suppose this story teaches the classic lesson of "be careful what you wish for" but I'm not sure Olivia learned her lesson… I guess that's the magic of birthday wishes?
*** #24 of my 2024 Popsugar Reading Challenge - A book that takes place over the course of 24 hours ***
July 18, 2013
Wait and See is a book I read when I was younger and I recently found it while cleaning up a bookshelf in my sister's room. The main character of the story is a young girl named Olivia. The whole story takes place on Olivia's birthday and revolves around the wish she makes while blowing out her birthday candles. Hilarity ensues as her birthday wish comes true. I would recommend that you read this book to find out what other mischief Olivia gets into and why her mom keeps baking her more birthday cakes.
In regards to Fletcher, the two crafts I would like to talk about in conjunction with this book are the crafts of voice and unforgettable words. Voice is readily apparent when reading this book because the usage of quotations. Reading quotations as if someone is saying them helps me visualize that person in my head. The fact that you have a visual image of the person speaking already because of the pictures makes it even easier to see the person while you are reading what they are saying. As for unforgettable words, I mean this as in the words that are repeated within the book. There is a cycle of words and every couple of pages, the words repeat. Some words are also bolded to make it seem like there is a emphasis on the word. I feel like having the repeated words is good for children because it can be used to engage them by asking them to say the words. An example would be of Olivia wishing for snow (in the middle of summer). The book takes you through the process of her blowing out the candles "ahhhhhhh" and then "whhhhhhh" to signify her taking the breath and blowing her candles out. They are sounds not words, but children can have by mimicking her blowing candles. She also says her wish three times "Snow, snow, and more snow." You can see the repeated patterns similar to this throughout the whole book. I really liked that it repeated the words.
As for how I could incorporate this into class time and what I could teach with it. It would be reading practice because of the constant repetition of words. I could also use it to teach how to read with expression so as a class, we can all take that breath and release to blow out the candles. There are a lot of sound effects in the book, so we can have fun reading the book.
In regards to Fletcher, the two crafts I would like to talk about in conjunction with this book are the crafts of voice and unforgettable words. Voice is readily apparent when reading this book because the usage of quotations. Reading quotations as if someone is saying them helps me visualize that person in my head. The fact that you have a visual image of the person speaking already because of the pictures makes it even easier to see the person while you are reading what they are saying. As for unforgettable words, I mean this as in the words that are repeated within the book. There is a cycle of words and every couple of pages, the words repeat. Some words are also bolded to make it seem like there is a emphasis on the word. I feel like having the repeated words is good for children because it can be used to engage them by asking them to say the words. An example would be of Olivia wishing for snow (in the middle of summer). The book takes you through the process of her blowing out the candles "ahhhhhhh" and then "whhhhhhh" to signify her taking the breath and blowing her candles out. They are sounds not words, but children can have by mimicking her blowing candles. She also says her wish three times "Snow, snow, and more snow." You can see the repeated patterns similar to this throughout the whole book. I really liked that it repeated the words.
As for how I could incorporate this into class time and what I could teach with it. It would be reading practice because of the constant repetition of words. I could also use it to teach how to read with expression so as a class, we can all take that breath and release to blow out the candles. There are a lot of sound effects in the book, so we can have fun reading the book.
June 24, 2017
Robert assisted an Inuit legend by Michael Kusugak & Vladyana Krykorka. Recently I discovered that a French “The Paper Bag Princess” has been at my parent's house for 30 years. I clearly encountered the prolific Robert & Michael Martchenko in childhood. When I spotted “Wait And See”on our friends' coffee table last week-end, with youngsters loitering, I seized it up. After a meal, it was fun to entertain adults and all, reading aloud and showing most of the pictures too. We enjoyed laughing over this outing on the zany side.
Featuring a handsome black family with lively personalities, heard in the dialogue and seen with stylish, modern attire; we join daughter, Olivia for her birthday. We all savour a wish upon candles every year but my wishes are for aspects of the life I lead. Olivia requested an odd assortment and I think the crux of this tale is to test whether or not this is an arbitrary tradition, or if impossible demands might be granted. The title derives from the reasonable admonition to wait and see what comes true, rather than counting any possibility out! We have a summer girl ordering snow, which her Dad asserts is out-of-season. They scrambled to steer wishing potential the right way when snow rose too high, then water!
Sunshine and money worked out pleasantly. When Olivia requested three babies, I loved her Dad's exclamation: “It doesn't work that way”! This 1993 story partially echoes my childhood Nathaniel Benchley gem: “The Magic Sled”, 1972. Our reading was sparked to show our friends' Grandson, who had been listlessly surfing information about this title.... to ditch gadgets and just PICK-UP books that are in front of him! As for how the magic birthday cake worked, as usual, this was too short a story to find out.
Featuring a handsome black family with lively personalities, heard in the dialogue and seen with stylish, modern attire; we join daughter, Olivia for her birthday. We all savour a wish upon candles every year but my wishes are for aspects of the life I lead. Olivia requested an odd assortment and I think the crux of this tale is to test whether or not this is an arbitrary tradition, or if impossible demands might be granted. The title derives from the reasonable admonition to wait and see what comes true, rather than counting any possibility out! We have a summer girl ordering snow, which her Dad asserts is out-of-season. They scrambled to steer wishing potential the right way when snow rose too high, then water!
Sunshine and money worked out pleasantly. When Olivia requested three babies, I loved her Dad's exclamation: “It doesn't work that way”! This 1993 story partially echoes my childhood Nathaniel Benchley gem: “The Magic Sled”, 1972. Our reading was sparked to show our friends' Grandson, who had been listlessly surfing information about this title.... to ditch gadgets and just PICK-UP books that are in front of him! As for how the magic birthday cake worked, as usual, this was too short a story to find out.
December 27, 2020
In Wait and See , Robert Munsch tells the story of Olivia, a young girl who is celebrating her birthday. When Olivia blows out the candles on her birthday cake she makes a wish for "Snow, Snow and more Snow". Suddenly, lots and lots of snow starts falling out of her window. Then Olivia wishes for "rain, rain and more rain" and rain starts falling. The story follows this predictable repetitive pattern with Olivia next asking for sunshine, money and then a baby.
This book was fun and engaging. I enjoyed the story line and loved how little Olivia had the power to make all of her most wildest dreams and wishes come true. I didn't love how her parents started fighting over money nor did I like how Olivia was able to will her family in to having new babies without consent.
This book was fun and engaging. I enjoyed the story line and loved how little Olivia had the power to make all of her most wildest dreams and wishes come true. I didn't love how her parents started fighting over money nor did I like how Olivia was able to will her family in to having new babies without consent.
September 16, 2020
Loved this! It's listed in the Classic Munsch canon but I'd never seen or heard of it before. But it's funny and silly and keeps you wondering what's going to happen until the very end. It truly is classic Munsch, and nice to have (possibly the first) Munsch book with a protagonist of colour. My three year old LOVED this one and we read it again and again and again while we had it out of the library. I'll admit that the ending is a bit weak and random, but that said, the image of 3 babies definitely got my kid laughing. And the way they just keep whipping up cakes in a few seconds to keep the wishing going stays funny upon re-reading. Would definitely recommend!
December 29, 2018
An adorable little story of a girl who makes wishes and her wishes come true.
I wonder what her secret is.
This is another hilarious book from Robert Munsch. Lately, I don't know what to expect from his books because some of them seem so different, but this one is like the ones I had read when I was a child. It was funny, it was clever, and I can't wait to read more!
I wonder what her secret is.
This is another hilarious book from Robert Munsch. Lately, I don't know what to expect from his books because some of them seem so different, but this one is like the ones I had read when I was a child. It was funny, it was clever, and I can't wait to read more!
March 12, 2019
The subtitle should be, Be Careful What You Wish For, A Primer. This is the story of birthday wishes that actually work, and the amusing consequences thereof. (You make more birthday cakes, of course!)
September 1, 2020
Ages 5 and up. A comical story illustrating why you should be careful what you wish for. Olivia wishes for snow on her birthday and gets more than anyone can handle. Set in a Black family living in Canada.
February 8, 2018
A birthday wish goes crazy. Snow in summer, too much rain. She finally wishes for a baby...that's good. But then admits she asked for three...and her mother has triplets.
November 22, 2018
More Silly Fun from Robert Munsch!
We can always count on this author's books for happy snuggle time and warm laughter. Books, books and more books please, Mr. Munsch!
We can always count on this author's books for happy snuggle time and warm laughter. Books, books and more books please, Mr. Munsch!
April 13, 2018
Every time Olivia made a wish and blew out the candles on her birthday cake her wish came true. That became a problem until she wished for something very special.
October 31, 2020
A fun one time read.
April 7, 2022
Another giggle-fest from Robert Munsch!
November 6, 2022
Another Munsch book to love! I wish these had been around for my childhood!
May 29, 2023
Somewhat amusing for children.
October 14, 2024
Perfect in every way
May 13, 2025
Clever and unique take on the wish making trope. One that commented on the absurdity of adults relationship to money and child raising
September 24, 2025
A silly story about a girl who can make her wishes come true when she blows out the candles on a birthday cake.
December 6, 2025
This is a super fun book! It made me laugh when I read through it the first time.
December 22, 2025
If I had her superpower I would tap on that and monetise myself as a genie.
July 9, 2015
Category: TumbleBooks (Picture Book)
Genre: Fiction
Interest Level: Grade Preschool – Grade 3
Reading Level: Lexile 430; Guided Reading K
Brief description: It’s Olivia’s birthday and she makes a wish for snow, snow, and snow when she blows out her candles, and then it snows (in the summer). Her parents ask her to wish for something else so that the snow will go away. Every time they ask her to make a wish, they have to bake another cake and have her blow out the candles on it. It rained too much, so they asked her to wish for sunshine. This continues throughout the story.
Identify at least 2 characteristics of this genre(s) and subgenre and discuss how they appear in your book: One characteristic of TumbleBooks is expanding the reading experience. TumbleBooks’ Wait and See does this in numerous ways: the narrator reads with inflection and enthusiasm; the sentences are highlighted as the narrator reads the story; the child can turn off the sound and read on his/her own; the reader can click on the help icon and a speaker will appear in front of each sentence which allows the reader to click on each one to let the narrator read that sentence. Two characteristics of pictures books are the illustrator's use of color and space. The picture book elements of bright colors and space with the feeling of realism and depth is used by illustrator Michael Martchenko.
In what ways and how well does the book as a whole serve its intended audience?: The TumbleBooks version of Wait and See is very appealing to preschool through grade three audiences. The author is actually reading the story and does an excellent job of reading with inflection. (Years of being a storyteller has given him much experience in this.) As the author is reading, phrases are highlighted to aid the reader with following along with him. There is a word help icon. If you click on it, it highlights (in a different color than the one that highlights phrases) more challenging words. The reader can click on the word for the pronunciation of the word. The illustrator’s drawings are very colorful and attractive. In this version, some illustrations have motion.
Links to published reviews from professional sources if any:
http://www.slj.com/2011/06/sljarchive...
Genre: Fiction
Interest Level: Grade Preschool – Grade 3
Reading Level: Lexile 430; Guided Reading K
Brief description: It’s Olivia’s birthday and she makes a wish for snow, snow, and snow when she blows out her candles, and then it snows (in the summer). Her parents ask her to wish for something else so that the snow will go away. Every time they ask her to make a wish, they have to bake another cake and have her blow out the candles on it. It rained too much, so they asked her to wish for sunshine. This continues throughout the story.
Identify at least 2 characteristics of this genre(s) and subgenre and discuss how they appear in your book: One characteristic of TumbleBooks is expanding the reading experience. TumbleBooks’ Wait and See does this in numerous ways: the narrator reads with inflection and enthusiasm; the sentences are highlighted as the narrator reads the story; the child can turn off the sound and read on his/her own; the reader can click on the help icon and a speaker will appear in front of each sentence which allows the reader to click on each one to let the narrator read that sentence. Two characteristics of pictures books are the illustrator's use of color and space. The picture book elements of bright colors and space with the feeling of realism and depth is used by illustrator Michael Martchenko.
In what ways and how well does the book as a whole serve its intended audience?: The TumbleBooks version of Wait and See is very appealing to preschool through grade three audiences. The author is actually reading the story and does an excellent job of reading with inflection. (Years of being a storyteller has given him much experience in this.) As the author is reading, phrases are highlighted to aid the reader with following along with him. There is a word help icon. If you click on it, it highlights (in a different color than the one that highlights phrases) more challenging words. The reader can click on the word for the pronunciation of the word. The illustrator’s drawings are very colorful and attractive. In this version, some illustrations have motion.
Links to published reviews from professional sources if any:
http://www.slj.com/2011/06/sljarchive...
December 4, 2013
Wait and See by Robert N. Munsch. This story is about a girl named Olivia she makes wishes when she blows out her candles on her birthday cake. First, she wishes for snow. Although it is the summer, it snows so much that it blocks the door. Next, her parents make her another cake and she wishes for rain. The same thing happens. When her parents make her a third cake, she wishes for sunshine and she got it. Then, she makes a fourth birthday cake and wishes for “money, money, and more money" once again it came true. This continued to happen. In the end, she ends up making a fifth cake and wished for three new babies. This book can teach students to be careful of what they wish for. That not all wishes are good wishes and that some things come with consequences. But is a good story to read to kids.
November 18, 2013
Olivia makes wishes when she blows out her candles on her birthday cake. First, she wishes for snow. Although it is the summer, it snows so much that it blocks the door. Next, her parents make her another cake and she wishes for rain. The same thing happens. When her parents make her a third cake, she wishes for sunshine. Then, she makes a fourth birthday cake and wishes for “money, money, and more money.” In the end, she ends up making a fifth cake and wished for three new babies.
I really like this book because there is so much imagination that goes along with it! Snow in the summer? How great. I can see how little kids would love this book. On the other hand though, since Olivia always gets what she wants, if children read this book, will they think the same thing?
I really like this book because there is so much imagination that goes along with it! Snow in the summer? How great. I can see how little kids would love this book. On the other hand though, since Olivia always gets what she wants, if children read this book, will they think the same thing?
March 23, 2014
This book was really cute and clever. It was Olivia's birthday, so her mother and father baked her a birthday cake covered in frosting and candles. They told her to make a wish and blow the candles out. Olivia did just that, and her wishes came true. She wanted it to snow in the summertime. But it snowed a little too much for everyone's liking. In order for the snow to stop, more birthday cakes had to be made so Olivia could make more wishes and blow the candles out. I thought this book might be kind of hard for a younger reader to follow along with all of the events because they were all bunched up on the pages. Other than that, the illustrations were great and the reader could really feel an emotional connection with Olivia, her parents, and her friends.
January 6, 2016
I really liked this one..
it's not one that I remember as a child so it
was my first time reading it! I loved the imagination it inspires! that birthday cake
wishes could really come true! I loved that each time they had to bake a new cake so she could wish again! loved it ! especially the money one! lol
it's not one that I remember as a child so it
was my first time reading it! I loved the imagination it inspires! that birthday cake
wishes could really come true! I loved that each time they had to bake a new cake so she could wish again! loved it ! especially the money one! lol
February 11, 2020
This is a funny story about being careful about what you wish for. It's silly, but entertaining, especially the ending. Our girls enjoyed watching the story on the Tumblebooks website. (http://www.tumblebooks.com)
February 4, 2015
Heard on Tumblebooks with terrific expressive narration as quite an adventure unfolds when all the birthday wishes come true--too much! My boys have listened to this one several times and keep it on their playlist.
December 28, 2016
This was one of my favorite picture books growing up so I decided to give it a reread for nostalgia. It was still as silly and cute as I remembered and I really enjoy the Munsch/Martchenko teamwork- the illustrations and story work so well together. Nostalgia didn't let me down this time!
October 30, 2011
29 months - Auntie bought this book about "Olivia" for us to read. Cute story surprising ending... hope our O doesn't get any ideas!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews