Friday Fiction: The Puppy's Wish by Lori Evert

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, make 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.

K.A. Ramstad lives at the foot of the Bitterroot Mountains in western Montana where wildlife—including moose—regularly pass by her house. She enjoys writing about young heroes, their travels, and their animal friends. She wants her readers to have fun in a fantastical world while encountering God-honoring themes.

Her short stories are featured in Chipper Press’ anthologies The Spelunkers and The Princess, and she’s featured in Beyond the Bookery’s Of Dangers and Dreams. Besides reading and writing stories, she loves coffee, her Corgi Maggie, and her cockapoo Benny.