Welcome to the Friday the 13th edition of Perfect Picture Book Friday on which I will share a book that has absolutely nothing to do with Friday the 13th 😊
But to celebrate Friday the 13th in a good way, we will have a giveaway! If you leave a comment on today’s post by Thursday October 19th at 3 PM Eastern, you could be the lucky randomly selected winner of a copy of this gorgeous, heartwarming book! (US resident please.)
Title: The Wishing Machine
Written By: Jonathan Hillman
Illustrated By: Nadia Alam
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, fiction, October 17, 2023
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: imagination, coping with change, home
text copyright Jonathan Hillman 2023, illustration copyright Nadia Alam 2023, Simon & Schuster
Opening: “Every Sunday after cereal, we walk to the laundry-mat, Mom and me.”
text copyright Jonathan Hillman 2023, illustration copyright Nadia Alam 2023, Simon & Schuster
Brief Synopsis: [from the publisher] “Every Sunday after cereal, Sam and Mom walk to the laundromat, wash their clothes, and see their friends. But this Sunday is different. Today, doing laundry means packing clean clothes in boxes to move away. Sam doesn’t want to leave their neighborhood and friends. Maybe if they hope with all their might, they can turn a washing machine into a wishing machine!”
Links To Resources: moving to a new place can be difficult, so try making a scrap book of pictures from your old house, neighborhood and school to help keep those memories close; draw a picture of what you hope your new room might look like, or a friend you hope you might make; read books about moving away including Neville, by Norton Juster (Schwartz & Wade, October 25, 2011); decorate your moving boxes; if you had a Wishing Machine, what would you wish for? Draw a picture or write a poem or a story about your wish(es)!
text copyright Jonathan Hillman 2023, illustration copyright Nadia Alam 2023, Simon & Schuster
Why I Like This Book: This lovely story is, on the surface, a story about having to move. Sam and his mom, who it is clear are struggling financially, have to leave their home and go live with grandpa in his trailer, and neither Sam nor his mom want to go. But there is so much more. Sam cherishes Sundays with his mom. Although he is a child, he is sensitive to her unhappiness, counting her smiles – not many, but adding up as they spend time together – and wanting to cheer her up. He loves their routine of going to the “laundry-mat” where they see their friends each week. The washing machine becomes a wishing machine to him, and he makes his own wish (“A room for Mom. A room for me. Flowerpots in the window and lots of places to play.”) and asks everyone else what they wish for, getting answers that range from a fluffy cat to a green card. When the washing machine and dryer have finished, there is no apartment for Sam and his mom waiting. The wishing machine has not managed to grant his wish. But there is enough change left over for cookies, and Sam shares with all his friends. And when he asks her what her wish is, his mom helps him to realize that as long as they are together, they are home. The relationship between Sam and his mom comes through so strongly, and there is warmth in the sense of community in the laundry-mat. The story is simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming, at once imaginative and very real. The colored pencil illustrations are whimsical and touching, a perfect match for the story.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊 And don’t forget to leave a comment by Thursday October 19th at 3PM Eastern if you’d like a chance to win a copy of this beautiful book!
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Like Sam, I’m a wisher. This looks like a lovely book.
It really is, Janet! And reading it, I wondered how I had never thought about how the swish-swish noise of the washing machine sounds like wish-wish! 😊
I keep hearing wonderful things about this book! Hope to get a peek at it soon.
It’s SUCH a good book, Heather! Maybe if you’re lucky you’ll be the winner 😊
This sounds like a really amazing book and I look forward to getting to read it. Thanks Susanna!
I was lucky, Maria! I got an advance copy from S&S. It’s really a wonderful book!
I appreciate how dialed in this is to a child’s imagination.
It really is. And also so dialed in to the emotions a child feels – reluctance to change, loss, seeing how sad his mom is and wanting to help, treasuring his friendships… Such a good book!
I absolutely love this concept and the play on words! What a beautiful, heartfelt story and the illustrations are a perfect match!
It is such a wonderful book, Laura! I highly recommend it!
This is such a multi layered book – there are more books coming out lately about financial struggles – this one is excellent. Thank you.
It is a wonderful, multi-layered book, Robin, and the relationship between Sam and his mom really shines.
This sounds like a wonderful, heartfelt book. I look forward to reading it!
I think you’re going to love it, Kim! 😊
As a serial-mover, I gravitate to picture books that deal with moving and highlight concepts of home. I definitely want to read this one! And since Friday the 13th is a lucky day for me (and all Colgate University alums), I know I’ll be able to soon!
A lot of kids can relate to the difficulties of moving, Patricia, and it’s so important to have great books to help them deal with the many different emotional aspects of it. In this book, they are moving out of financial necessity, and that is only one of the reasons kids might have to move. And since Friday the 13th is lucky for you, maybe you’ll win the giveaway – who knows? 😊
This looks like a heartfelt story with lovely illustations! Seems like a great way to celebrate Friday the 13th!
It is a beautifully written (and illustrated) story, Karan – a great way to celebrate any day 😊
Aww! I already love Sam and his mom. Funny coincidence, our washing machine broke this week and yesterday we found a “scratch and dent” new model on clearance 60% off. It’s getting lots of use today 🙂 I’ve been wishing for a new machine for a long time–wishes do come true, but at their own pace.
That is exactly what Sam’s mom says, Danielle, – “sometimes the good things take time.” I’m glad you got a new washing machine. It is a pain to be without one!
What a sweet story. Sam sounds adorable and his use of a washing machine for wishing makes complete sense, given the particulars. Thanks for sharing this one, Susanna!
My pleasure, Marty! It is truly a perfect picture book!
Susanna, I love your description of this book as “heartbreaking and heartwarming”. I can’t wait to read and share this PB! 🙂
It really is both, Susan. It is so beautifully done. On the one hand, you feel how much neither Sam nor his mom want to move, you feel Sam’s keen longing to stay where he is, and his worry about his mom. On the other hand, the relationship between Sam and his mom just shines, and the message of the story about home being where the people you love are is lovely and comforting. You’re going to enjoy it when you get to read it!
I hope to run ..or drive, to the bookstore this coming week! I can’t wait to read THE WISHING MACHINE!
What a wonderful idea: a Wishing Machine! Couldn’t we all use one of those at some point? I can’t wait to see this book in real life.
It’s beautiful, Sue, and it will be out on Tuesday! 😊
Late to the party – but in love with this book! Thank you for sharing it, Susanna…and thank you for providing this amazing platform for authors and illustrators. I’m not sure how you manage to respond to all of the comments on your posts and have the bandwidth to run contests, work on your own writing, and still have time to breathe. 🙂 But we all appreciate you!
Thank you for sharing, Susanna. I felt a pang as I looked at the short excerpt you shared. It sounds like one where the parent plays a big role in the resolution and I’m anxious to read it! (patience is not my strong suit)
Patience is not my strong suit either, Wendy – we may be in the wrong business from that standpoint 🤣
Wow, this sounds like a fun story to read. I like the main idea of moving away. The story setting and plot line is so different from the usual moving away stories! I hope to win!
Yes, Leana, it’s very original, and so well done!