Billy Miller Makes a Wish
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The Children’s Book Review
Billy Miller Makes a Wish
Written and Illustrated by Kevin Henkes
Ages 8-12 | 192 Pages
Publisher: Greenwillow Books | ISBN-13: 978-0063042797
What to Expect: Family Life, Siblings, and Humor
Billy Miller Makes a Wish is the stand-alone chapter book companion to Kevin Henkes’ Newbery Honor book The Year of Billy Miller. This tender tale shows kids what a safe, secure, and loving family can look like even with the ups and downs that can come with every new day.
It’s summertime! Billy Miller makes a birthday wish, but after a series of particular events, he begins to regret that he’d ever made this wish. With his dad away at an art camp for adults and his best friend Ned on a family road trip, Billy is stuck spending time with his bothersome little sister—and even more so since his mom has been extra tired lately. Every day his dad is away, an unwanted and unexpected event takes place. Could these events be related to the wish? Can you take a wish back once it’s been made?
In true Kevin Henkes style, this story captures believable and relatable moments in a knowing, wise, and humorous way. Henkes knows his characters as well as he knows his audience. Each chapter reads like its own little story while building perfectly upon the previous chapter to create wonder and suspense surrounding Billy’s wish. The large type and scattering of little black-and-white sketches make this an excellent choice for newly independent readers—especially those who love a happy ending. The theme of ‘family’ also makes it a wonderful book for parent and child to read together. Highly Recommended!
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About the Author
Kevin Henkes is an award-winning author and illustrator of many books for children of all ages. He received the Caldecott Medal for Kitten’s First Full Moon; Caldecott Honors for Waiting and Owen; two Newbery Honors—one for Olive’s Ocean and one for The Year of Billy Miller—and Geisel Honors for Waiting and Penny and Her Marble. His other books include Egg, Old Bear, A Good Day, Chrysanthemum, and the beloved Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse. Kevin Henkes lives with his family in Madison, Wisconsin.
For more information, visit www.kevinhenkes.com
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This non-biased review of Billy Miller Makes a Wish, by Kevin Henkes was sponsored* by HarperCollins Children’s Books. Learn more about getting a book review …
