Are you in the mood for a wintry book as opposed to a summery one? Do you love huskies? Are you looking for a cuteness overload? Read The Puppy’s Wish, a board book written by Lori Evert, complete with the gorgeous photographs of Per Breiehagen. If those names sound familiar, that’s because Evert and Breiehagen are the creators of the “Wish” books, where a little girl named Anja has adventures with her animal friends.
Anja is in this book, too, but the main character is Birki, the husky puppy. He’s so fuzzy, it makes me want to cuddle him. The book opens with “Birki is sad today. He wishes he had a special talent like his friends.” Those words, paired with the photograph of him with his head on his paws, make me go “Aww, the poor thing.” The story continues with photos of his friends, including a massive moose who stands in front of Birki, making Birki look itty-bitty. Another friend is a strong, towering horse who gives Anja rides. A reindeer pulls Anja’s sleigh, and its snowy white hair adds to the wintry atmosphere.
Infants and preschoolers who love pictures of animals will get a kick out of this book. Additionally, they’ll learn what some farm animals do for us. The brown, hairy cows let Anja get their milk. The goats also produce milk for the girl, and the sheep give wool. The pictures don’t only show the variety of Nordic creatures. The winter scenery, along with Anja’s pointed red hat and curled-toe fur boots, makes the story seem like a fairy tale.
Birki’s mom, who pulls Anja’s sled, comforts the pup. She tells him he already has special abilities. He’s helpful, as he pulls a sled that holds a tiny evergreen, which makes me think of a tabletop Christmas tree. He makes Anja laugh (and from the photo of Anja holding a happy Birki, I’d be overjoyed to hold him, too). Overall, he’s a faithful companion. Birki’s mom adds, “A good friend is the most wonderful thing anyone could wish for.” I agree that loyal friends, be they friends at school, your neighborhood, or even in your own family, are awesome gifts, and they’re reflections of the best friend of all: Jesus.
Have fun with this book, and don’t forget to enjoy the sunshine, too.
Here is the newest Nordic adventure by the creators of the New York Times bestseller The Christmas Wish—this one as a board book for the littlest listeners. The star of The Christmas Wish, Anja, has an adorable husky puppy named Birki. Birki wishes he were good at something . . . anything! After all, sheep give Anja wool for her clothes, goats and cows give her milk, and the reindeer pull her family’s sleigh. But what can Birki do? He has the most important job of all—he’s Anja’s best friend!
Husband-and-wife duo Lori Evert and Per Breiehagen give us another breathtaking photographic adventure set in Per’s homeland, Norway. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly said of The Christmas Wish, “Rosy-cheeked Anja looks like she’s stepped out of a fairy tale, and Breiehagen’s delicious photographs create the sense that magic is very real.”
