Wish

Family

by Matthew Cordell

A parent's ode to "anticipatory joy," by Caldecott Award-winner Matthew Cordell. The sweet companion to Dream and Hope .

As an elephant couple embarks on their life together, thoughts of children are far away -- at first. But as the desire for a child grows, so do unexpected challenges. And it's only after thwarted plans and bitter disappointment that their deepest wish miraculously comes true. This "deceptively simple" story celebrates the profound joy of becoming a parent.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Adoption, Fiction, Animals, Parenting

36 pages, Board Book

First published March 3, 2015

About the author

Matthew Cordell is the acclaimed author and illustrator of the 2018 Caldecott winner Wolf in the Snow. He is also the author and illustrator of Trouble Gum and the illustrator of If the S in Moose Comes Loose, Toot Toot Zoom!, Mighty Casey, Righty and Lefty, and Toby and the Snowflakes, which was written by his wife. Matthew lives in the suburbs of Chicago with his wife, writer Julie Halpern, and their daughter, Romy.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captures not only the yearning, anticipation, and patient waiting to build a family, but also the joy of the dream being fulfilled.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few weeks back I was at my daughter's house, babysitting my granddaughter. Rue, who is now nine months was getting a little fractious so seeing this book on their bookshelf, I read it to her. What a wonderful book. It tells of two elephants who start a life together, not yet ready for children, just living their lives, getting used to each other, building for a future. Then they feel ready to bring a child into their lives, they get ready, prepare, but the child doesn't come. They wait, they wish, and finally.....

This is s beautiful book fully illustrating the angst of waiting for a child, the fear that it may not happen, and the joy when finally their wish comes true. I was teary eyed by books end, so this is a truly wonderful story or the marshmallow effect strikes again. Probably both.

Turns out my daughter is giving this to her friend at her baby shower, and I think this would be an amazing book for new of expectsnt mothers. It truly is special.

[Sara Grochowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful, heartfelt little book. I'm unabashedly in love with Matthew Cordell's Wish and can confidently say it will be landing on my Best of 2015 lists. Quiet, tender, and warm, this story about an elephant couple that patiently and purposely build their life, then long with hope for the 'you' that will complete their family. Warning: You might find yourself crying by the end of this one.

[Lindsay Nixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was choking up reading this. It would be the perfect book for an adopted child. The illustrations are beautiful and I loved that it was elephants 🐘

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't be fooled by the cover, this book is more emotional than the whimsy of two elephants tossing a baby elephant into the air might suggest.
As fellow librarian Shelly said, this is definitely more of " a baby shower gift book for parents." And nothing wrong with that. I can see adults who had difficult or nontraditional journey to building a family (such as multiple pregnancies, adoption, etc) wanting to read this as an origin story with their children.

[Kate Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why, yes, I cried in the store. 🥹😭🤍

[Carrie Gelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

We waited for 4 years to become parents before having our twins (who are now 12) Reading this book made that turmoil feel like yesterday and I am teary each time I read this title. However, despite the sad emotions there is so much hope and celebration here. What a special book.

[Liza Nahas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lovely book is for anyone who has ever had their plans to start a family not work out as you thought they would.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet children’s book about two elephants. They are a married couple and hope to have a child one day. They wish and wish for a baby elephant, but it takes longer than they hoped. Despite that, one day their wish comes true. It might be a nice story book for a family who has struggled with infertility.

[Kelly Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a heartfelt and sweet little book. It definitely sums of the story of our second son. The illustrations were so beautiful too.

[Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful message in a great story.

WISH is about an elephant couple who patiently wait for their wish, a baby. They have to wait a long time. Through out all their waiting, and wishing, they do things together. They wish, they build, they learn, and they travel. They keep going, and wishing. Through out all their waiting, and waiting, they never stop wishing. Then one day, their wish comes true, and a sweet little baby elephant arrives.

I loved the delicate way Matthew Cordell told the story. WISH is written and the illustrated in a way that gave the story a whimsical feel. Which was great. It kept the story simple. Making it easy for young children to enjoy and understand the story. WISH is a sweet story that all families will relate to.

At the heart of the story, is a message about not giving up on your wishes (dreams). In a few careful way Matthew hints at how long some couples have to wait for their wish, their baby to arrive. In the story, as in real life, at the heart of makes a family a family, is love. I think all parents who have wished for a child will enjoy this, as well as children who have become their parents's wish.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am gigantically torn about this book. Beautifully executed, heartfelt, and wonderful - but holy shit this is the most triggering picture book I have ever read.

Two elephant parents gradually decide that they wish for a child. They plan, they learn, they build. But the child does not come. "Everything stops." Until eventually, the child does come.

And you bawl. I literally cannot think of who I'd give this book to. My neighbors, who have been waiting to adopt for three years now? My sister-in-law, who had trouble conceiving? Even my co-workers who had no trouble getting pregnant could not read this book without welling up.

It's beautiful, but it's a three-hanky book for sure. Good for a big cathartic sob session when you need one.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I imagine this will be a wonderful gift, among others, for all those parents who've waited and waited, and finally have a child in the family. It's sweet illustrations show joy in living, but even more joy in making a family.

[Erik This Kid Reviews Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an adorable book that really warms your heart. It touches on many different things. I love that the parents are elephants so they do not have an ethnicity and can reflect any one. The story’s text is simple with repeating words in the text making it easy for beginning readers to follow along. The book touches on preparing for a child and the excitement around it, infertility (or parents just not getting pregnant), and the healing process, and the joy when finally a child is brought into a family. As an adopted child myself, I appreciated that the book never specified if the child is biological or adopted, just that he was wished for and wanted for a long time. The soft whimsical illustrations pair beautifully with this book. This would be a great book for any newborn and his/her parents. *Please note I received a free review copy of this book

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this toddler/child book today. I find myself pregnant after going through 7 years of infertility and the grief that season wrought on my life. I've been now wondering, how does one explain this to a small child? I read this book in under a minute, and by the end I was quietly weeping in the corner where I found the book. It hits the feelings felt right on the head in a very child friendly way. It very sensitively explains the longings two adult (elephants) have for a baby (elephant) and that sometimes babies dont come when we would like them too and sometimes people have to wait a long time but the wishing never goes away. Illustrations are beautiful.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mother of a toddler, I have felt guilty for not reading more. And little did i realize how much I do read every night. So, i thought well I might as well review some of my favorite baby books :)

When i first read this, it did make me tear up thinking of these Elephants awaiting their baby and the yearning when things do not go as planned. On my 100th time reading it, I still tear up a bit but also realize how beautiful and sweet this book is. For a baby book, it is well written and great for rereads.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want a copy of this for our future kiddos. So sweet.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Makes me cry every time I read it to Isaac. Beautiful book about a couple waiting and waiting for their baby.

[gcuhazie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“ and with every feeling that was ever felt, everything happens. That everything is you. That everything is us. You are here.”

This book surprised me and was a tear-jerker. One of my new favorites. 🫶🏼

[Cara Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

There aren't many picture books that could apply to infertility and miscarriage, and this book does so with subtle grace.

[Regina L · Rating 5 out of 5]

It all begins with a wish. Long before a couple makes plans for a baby or gets things ready or waits and waits…long before all of that, in their hearts, they wish for a baby. That dream may be a small hope for one someday years from now, but it’s still a wish sent out into the universe. In the meantime, they live and learn, travel and grow, until one day it feels like something is missing, and they are ready. They make their wish for a baby to each other and loud enough for the universe to know they mean business. They try to make plans and try even harder to be patient, but sometimes the baby doesn’t come, and that puts a wrench in their plans for our wish to become a reality. This book is a heartwarming tribute to the heartbreak of the desire and struggle to become parents and welcome a baby into this world, and the beauty of this wish becoming a reality (yes, the book has a happy ending!). For any parents who loves their child to pieces and thinks often about how life is so much better with them in it… For any couple who has struggled, whether a few months or years with conception or fertility issues and have finally and gratefully had their prayers for a baby answered… For any couple who has adopted and found a baby to love as their own, this book is for you. For those of us who have had our wishes and dreams come true by becoming parents, I promise you, this will be one of the most poignant and tender, emotive children’s books you will ever read. I cannot read it without tearing up, it is so emotional, touching and true to life. It puts into simple words all of the feelings I could ever want to express to my child about how wonderful my life is now that she’s in my world. Read more at www.diapers-and-daydreams.com !

[Rhoda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book after I received it as a gift at my baby shower. Omg! I was crying my eyes out! It's a beautiful story of 2 people in love who wanted a baby and for so very long couldn't have one, and finally one day their wish came true! Beautiful! I rec

[Stephanie Croaning · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't a book that will appeal or be understood by all children. It has a pretty specific target audience -- families who struggled to have children.

Wish tells the story of an elephant couple who start their life together as a two-person "us." They plan, learn, build, and journey together, but they get to the point where they dream of having a child. So they plan, learn, build, journey, and wait for the child to join them. However, the wait becomes so long that they move on. In time, a child comes to them and they celebrate.

The illustrations are sweet, and clearly and beautifully depict the couple's wish for a child. The child arrives in a boat, so whether the child comes to the couple biologically or via adoption is left ambiguous. If a parent is sharing this experience with a child, the meaning can fit their personal experience.

This book is also a reminder to tell our children how much they were, and are, wanted!

[Nikki Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book in the library. I thought the cover was cute, so I just grabbed it.... and I am very glad that I did. I went from glancing through it hurriedly to suddenly sitting on the floor crying my heart out. Maybe it isn't best for children, because they probably won't really connect. But trust me when I say, that anyone you know who may have suffered a miscarriage, or especially has lost their beautiful stillborn child.... those parents need this book. It captures the longing for that baby, and the devastation when things don't turn out the way they had planned. But most importantly, it gives so much hope at the end. If you know anyone with fertility issues, or especially anyone who has suffered a loss... please pass this one along.

[Maddie Jaques · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't care who this book is MEANT for, it is wonderful. I cried while reading it, because I am one of those Momma's who endured hardships to have my babies, some babies I didn't even get to hold here on Earth. I love this book. I think it is beautiful and a wonderful way to explain to some little ones how much they were wanted. There are too many people in this world who do not feel wanted, and this book is a beautiful way to help them see how loved they are, even at a young age. I love it. I can't help it. I do.

[Rachel Rooney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this a little confusing. The elephants meet and fall in love. They live a little, then they wish for a baby, but a baby doesn't come. They are sad. They quit wishing, then there is a big storm, and a baby appears in a boat and washes ashore at their feet. I am not a fan of the stork, but this might be good for non-traditional families and as a way to talk about different kinds of families.

[Whitney Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is kind of heavy. Like...are we talking about a miscarriage? Are we talking about trying to get preggers and it not happening?

Either way, I really enjoyed it. I'm just not sure who the target audience is here...

[Amber Westbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful, emotionally packed little book! After so much time spent "wishing" for our little one, and "wishing" some more, I was near tears by the end and immediately had to order my own copy. Whether infertility has touched your life or not, I highly recommend this sweet story.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel this may be more of a baby shower gift book for parents. Or something a parent reads with a child, but not something a kid just picks up to read.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely a sappy read. BUT, it brought a little tear to my eye. Beware, if you have or are currently struggling to have a child - this one will lay you out!