I Wish Tonight

by Lois Rock, Anne Wilson (Illustrator)

A little boy pulls the covers up under his chin--and at that, trees grow up at the foot of his bed, his quilt becomes a sail, and a soaring dream of a book sweeps forward. In lilting rhythmic language, that moves in step with buoyant, swaying images, the dream furnishes the child--and all readers of this book--with hope for mending and healing and cooperating. The bed boat arrives at a picnic where a blazing tree offers its gifts to all the children attending. And there the story makes its surprising turn. Perhaps inspired by the tree, which generously offered its amazing toys and fruits within arms' reach, the children hunt down adults and share their bounty with them. Free of do-good words and pictures, I Wish Tonight opens minds and hearts. A wistful child dares to imagine cooperative gardening, restored friendships, revived cities--always enveloped in fun and adventure. The book's language is that of a child. Its collages are of sun-powered colors. The dream it stirs is both mystical and temptingly near.

28 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 1969

About the author

Lois Rock is the Commissioning Editor for Lion Children’s Books, as well as a highly respected and trusted author in her own right, acclaimed in many different countries for her books of prayers, Bible stories, and non-fiction books about the Christian faith.

Lois lives in Oxfordshire, is married and has 3 children, all of whom are now grown up. She enjoys cycling and walking and has helped to lead church children’s groups for many years, an experience that she draws on when writing books for children.

Reviews

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: A little boy pulls the covers up under his chin--and at that, trees grow up at the foot of his bed, his quilt becomes a sail, and a soaring dream of a book sweeps forward.
In lilting rhythmic language, that moves in step with buoyant, swaying images, the dream furnishes the child--and all readers of this book--with hope for mending and healing and cooperating.
The bed boat arrives at a picnic where a blazing tree offers its gifts to all the children attending.
And there the story makes its surprising turn. Perhaps inspired by the tree, which generously offered its amazing toys and fruits within arms' reach, the children hunt down adults and share their bounty with them.
Free of do-good words and pictures, I Wish Tonight opens minds and hearts. A wistful child dares to imagine cooperative gardening, restored friendships, revived cities--always enveloped in fun and adventure.
The book's language is that of a child. Its collages are of sun-powered colors. The dream it stirs is both mystical and temptingly near.

Potential Audience (reading level): ages 4-8; transitional

Genre: Fictional picture book

Topic: Dream/imagination, hope for a better world, peace, harmony in relationships

Specific curricular uses: Use this book as a read aloud in 2nd or 3rd grade and see what the children's opinions are. What do they think a perfect world would look like? How would everyone treat each other? What can each child do today to help make the world a better place to live in?

Social issues the book addresses: World hunger, poverty, harmony in relationships, caring for the earth, restoring wastelands

Specific literary elements: I love the author's use of metaphor and imagery in this book because it paints such vivid pictures in the reader's mind. (ex: "shape-shifting oceans of clouds" and "a bed with a sail and an oar") An example of a simile within the book is "We'll pick what we want just like fruit from a tree." In addition to this imagery, the author also incorporates rhyme into the story. For instance, she writes, "We'll tell them that nothing can be bought or sold: In the land that I wish for no one will need gold. We'll pick lovely present for young and for old so no one goes hungry, and no one is cold."

Interactions and counter actions of text and images: The collages in the story contain bright, sun-powered colors that make the dream mystical, yet alive, and temptingly near. Without the pictures, the young boy's dream of a perfect world would not carry such a powerful message.

[Deepa Ranganathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a sweet and poignant book. There's innocence at the heart of it but what the boy wishes is so much more deep and meaningful. It makes the adult wonder.

[Savanna Kandiko · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to get students to think about what they wish for and what dreams they may have. This could lead into a great writing prompt. Did I mention the pictures are fantastic and the ideas are so sweet.