Miki and the Wishing Star by Stephen Mackey
| Miki and the Wishing Star by Stephen Mackey | |
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| Category: For Sharing | |
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Reviewer: Ruth Ng
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| Summary: A story infused with magic with beautiful softly-drawn illustrations. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 32 | Date: October 2012 |
| Publisher: Hodder Children's Books | |
| ISBN: 978-1444901368 | |
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Miki and penguin and polar bear all share the same birthday, and they're very excited about each getting a birthday wish when they blow out their candles. Penguin goes first, wishing that he were the biggest penguin of all! Just what will he get up to if his wish comes true?
The three characters in this story, living in their magical snowy world, are rather sweet. I haven't read their previous adventure, but it went down well here at The Bookbag. This story is rather exciting as penguin's wish is magically granted and all of a sudden he really is the biggest penguin in the world! This means, of course, that he is also the hungriest penguin in the world, and even though polar bear fills a wheelbarrow with fried eggs that he has cooked for penguin, penguin is still hungry. Going off to find himself some food he rescues some normal sized penguins along the way, then suddenly he finds himself in a battle with some sea monsters!
All is going swimmingly until back at home polar bear and Miki feel worried that penguin will never come home so polar bear uses his wish to wish that penguin were back to his normal size! Uh-oh, right in the middle of the sea monster battle! But don't worry, fortunately MIki and polar bear have an ice cannon, and they freeze those sea monsters up! Miki is now the only friend with a birthday wish left, and as they get ready to go to bed she makes her wish, that their friendship will always grow, whatever happens, and they'll always stay together.
The story is fun and magical and a little bit silly too, just the right combination for toddlers to enjoy. But it's the illustrations that really make this book special. They are gentle and fun, with the three friends having such soft, friendly faces. I love the picture of penguin after he grows big. He's so big you can only see the bottom half of him in the picture, and down at his feet - well, his flippers! - Miki stands waving up at him and polar bear is gazing up into the sky having spilt his cup of tea in surprise! The sea monsters manage on one page to look rather fun, and on another much more menacing, and I love all the snowy scenery. My favourite picture, however, is the one that has been used for the cover and shows the three friends zonked out together in a large hammock. Polar bear looks so soft and warm and cuddly, and penguin and Miki look happy and safe, snuggled onto his tummy.
This is a sweet book for bedtime reading, with a little bit of excitement but a nice gentle, relaxing ending ready for your little ones to close their eyes and perhaps dream of wishing they were the biggest child in the world the next time they blow out their birthday candles!
For more penguin fun you might enjoy Where Is Home, Little Pip? by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman or one of my favourite penguin stories is Penguin by Polly Dunbar. We also have a review of Pushka by Stephen Mackey.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Miki and the Wishing Star by Stephen Mackey at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Miki and the Wishing Star by Stephen Mackey at Amazon.com.
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