I Wish You More

If you like books that grab at your heartstrings, then this one is for you. I initially bought one for my son, and then I bought one for my grandma (his great grandma). For my toddler son, it brings hope to his long life ahead. For my 93 year old grandma, it is my message to her that I wish she had 50 more years to live because she had such a beautiful life. She is the one person I look up to most, and it pains me to see her life slowly decline. This isn't meant to be a sad review, but more as a tribute to the wonderful people in our lives, and this book reminds me of them.

Sent as part of a Christmas 'care' package to the children of a little mission church in West Virginia for a child in the congregation. Priest in Charge decided to use the text as the basis for his homily one Sunday. A lovely and heartwarming book for little ones.

I purchased this for guest's to write wishes for my daughter's first birthday. This will always be special for us! I wad searching for a book specifically for this use and this book came out just in time. Simple well written children's book with adorable illustrations. Best compliment I can give this book, it holds my daughter's attention.

Cute story, but very short. My 3 year old is looking to be read more than one short sentence per page so that was a little disappointing. The words touch your heart, but kids don't really understand them. I wish you more umbrella than rain, more bubbles than bath, etc.

Love this book and the message in it. Got this for my daughters teacher who was retiring. We wrote our message in the book, added a picture of us and gave it to her. She ofcourse loved it.
Great gift for loved ones- young and old!

One of the most precious books ever written. So many ways you can gift this. Graduation, birthday, going away, well wishes, etc. A lot of people use Dr Seuss’s Oh the places You’ll go but I believe his one is the new classic. It’s simple yet so heartwarming. Going to buy it for many occasions.

I cried...really, when I read this book. I have given all 7 of my now grown children a book called "I will love you for always and forever". I ordered 7 books for 7 kids and this is going to be their Christmas gift (from the heart) this year. A gift from the heart is a family tradition.

I found this book at the Book Fair at the elementary school where my husband teaches. They only had one copy left. So of course I went to the store. The books arrived promptly. I could not be more pleased with the product as well as the service. Everyone deserves their own copy of this beautiful book.

A beautiful book with a beautiful message. Actually, it's a beautiful book with a BUNCH of beautiful messages! I Wish You More is a collection of simple wishes that a parent or guardian might wish upon a child. I love Amy's way of blending child-like experiences (catching snowflakes on a tongue, for example) while weaving in meaningful messages that will tug at the heartstrings of adults page after page. Tom's illustrations are also very well thought-out and pair perfectly with Amy's text. This is a great book to read to a young child, as it is a good choice for beginning readers (text is simple and manageable).

Long-story-short: I recommend this one.

This makes me cry every time. It's super cute. Though I don't understand the concept of book cover for a kids book, you know it's not going to stay covered, it's just wasted material and time and money.

A sweet motivational book to read to children.....makes a lovely gift to include in a newborn's welcoming package. I've even used it in presentations with grownups.....it always speaks to the "child within"! One of my favorites!

Still waiting for this book to arrive, but I already know I will love it as much as I love all of Amy's books. A tribute to her, her first word and her legacy which will live on in her readers. Thank you, Amy.

I bought this book for my grandson. I knew he would like it but my son says he loves it. He said my grandson this is how much my mamaw loves me with excitement. I'm so glad he enjoys it so much that I'm going to get my other grandson this book too.

We gave this book to our daughter who was graduating from college. Wrote a personal note on inside of book, and not only did it make her cry, but it was the gift she will treasure forever (her words).

While this lovely book is intended for youngsters, I would assert that like Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss, it will touch the hearts of all who read it. (I gave a copy to my daughter who will marry in just a few days.) I Wish You More by Amy Krause Rosenthal and Tim Lichtenfeld delights visually and embodies an important concept: life is complocated. It includes joys and sorrows, ups and downs, twists and turns and surprises that delight as well as some that disappoint. Like a well-balanced meal, the life is richer and more nuanced when it includes both the sweet and the sour, the difficult and the simple.
Kids tend to see life in terms of black and white. I Wish You More uses this duality in a way that helps readers understand that along with challenges, joy follows. Like a beautiful garden which depends on a blend of sun and shade, moist and dry spells, a full life blooms with lovely moments that counterbalance the storms, sadness and tears. In the contrast we more deeply appreciate each.
The wonderful illustrations by Lichtenfeld breathe life into the words . The spare text helps readers to understand that hard things do occur and that they are balanced out by the happy, the thrilling and the tender moments. Instead of falling into the trap of seeing things as all/nothing, sad/happy readers can appreciate that life is filled with a spectrum of experiences. They get to choose on which they will focus and who/what will define them.

#AQParenting Perspective: Adoptive families can feel the message of this book deeply because our lives have been shaped profoundly by the losses and gains inherent in adoption. I Wish You More lends itself to conversations about how positives can replace negatives, happiness trumping sadness and gains bridging losses. One does not erase the other; each is real, touches us deeply and sculpts our lives. I enjoy the fundamentally optimistic tone of the book and rate it 5 stars. --Gayle H. Swift, ABC, Adoption & Me: A Multicultural Picture Book

I bought this book as a gift for my childhood best friend who always says " I love you more". I Ordered it without ever reading it and I never dreamed it would be this cute. I ended up buying another one for my son who turns 2 on New Years Eve, and then 5 minutes later, I bought another for my niece who just got her drivers license. This really is a book for all ages. The illustrations are just as beautiful and clever as is the sentiment.

I think this book is ideal for stimulating the imagination of young children. As a child, I would have loved to have this read to me. This book expresses in beautiful ways love that may never be shared as deeply otherwise. Each page gives opportunities to express depth of emotion.

I love this book, however, when the one that I received was sadly defective. It is still readable after I cut the pages, but as you can see in the photos there was some sort of malfunction in the cutting of the pages. Two of the pages were connected and not cut apart. This is a beautiful book with a lovely meaning. It would be a great gift for new parents or teachers!

I am a big fan of both this author and illustrator, and was eager to see their latest collaboration. Unfortunately, I felt this effort failed to capture the same charm and whimsy that is present in their previous efforts. While the sentiments portrayed here are full of love, the overall effect is more reminiscent of a greeting card than a children's book.

The illustrations are truly the star in this effort and the only reason I would rate this with four stars. The kids in each two page spread are all endearing, and perfectly capture the sentiments expressed on the page. The pictures are simple and direct , effectively using white space, and conveying a surprising amount of emotion in each simply drawn face.

Each two page spread conveys a wish in the format "I wish you more___than_____." All sentiments tug at the heart strings, making this a book parents will love even though it might leave young readers a bit bored and confused. A wish for give and take is pretty straightforward, but a wish for more "we than me" might leave them confused. I liked the wish for more "hugs than ughs", but felt that some others ended up feeling forced. The text doesn't flow all that well, which limits it's use as a group read aloud.

This book will find it's best home being shared on a parent's lap. As an expression of parental hopes, dreams and love for a child, this is a great success. As a dynamic book to engage young story listeners, it leaves a lot to be desired. Perfect illustrations carry this to a grudging four star rating and only a cautious recommend.

*This book provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

SUMMARY: This is a book of wishes such as: "I wish you more pause than fast-forward" and "I wish you more treasure than pockets."

ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations were created in ink, watercolor, pastel and colored pencil. The illustrations steal the show in this book with vibrant colors and plenty of humor throughout.

THE GOOD: This book is a sweet gift book that one friend could give to another full of good wishes.
THE NOT AS GOOD: As a children's picture book, this book did not come through for me. I felt many of the wishes to be too abstract for children to fully understand such as "I wish you more can than knot" (I still don't understand this one myself). And why would you wish more treasure than pockets for a friend? I felt sorry for the little boy looking down on what he had to leave behind. This book had good potential, but fell short of the mark for the younger crowd.

AGE RECOMMENDATION: Advertised for ages 5-8. I think that can be bumped a little higher to 6-9 due to the abstract nature of some of the wishes

My youngest daughter pulled this off the shelf to read before bed. I do not even recall where we got this book from. But I am so glad she picked it for us to read. It was a wonderful little book. It is a series of wishes, and to be honest they resonate with prayers I pray for my children.

This book contains 14 wishes and some of our favorites are:

I wish you more hugs than ughs.
I wish you more stories than stars.
I wish you more pause than fast-forward.

Amy has written a book that captures the essence of being a good parent, teacher, or caregiver. We always whish the best for those in our care. We want what is best for those in our life. Sometimes it is hard to explain that to children, but this book does an excellent job of capturing that sentiment and portraying it in a way that the children understand and can latch onto.

The illustrations are wonderful. Tom Lichtenheld does an amazing job of capturing the sentiment of the wishes and childhood dreams. The illustrations are bright, cheerful and fun. My daughter loves the pictures and it became an instant favorite.

We have read this a few nights in a row now and I am sure it will be a favorite for a long time to come. It is an excellent little read and with the 41 years of age difference both my daughter and I highly recommend it.

I purchased this book for my best friend's baby shower as a "card". When I read the book, I knew it was perfect. It is sweet and a great gift! I felt like it wasn't just about "mommy's and daddy's" thoughts, it can be from anyone who loves and cares for the sweet baby. It really was the perfect "card"!

Amazing, uplifting book. We read this during our Kindergarten graduation to our students. It is a great book for children and parents alive. As a matter of fact, we had to order 8 more copies in order to fulfill everyone's wish list for graduation presents, wedding presents, and student teacher presents.

I was looking for a children's book to use as a guest sign-in book for a small wedding. I saw this book, read the reviews, and ordered it keeping my fingers crossed. It is perfect! The text is sweet. The pictures are cute. Each page has space for several signatures or short notes. The book gives you such a feeling of love. The book itself is about 8"x8". When it is opened it is the perfect size to put on a small table with a few framed photos behind it. It is also a wonderful book just to sit down and read to my grandchildren.

Again, another wonderful children's book. Who hasn't wished for an unlimited amount of wishes.

This is a book about just that ....wishes. Endless wishes. Not wishes for things, but wishes about being. Wishes about laughter. Wishes about words of encouragement. Wishes for just about any good thing you can think of.

What a wonderful world this would be if we all wished for great things to happen to others. I know that when I am having a bad day, doing something for others always makes me feel better.

This is book just makes you happy. It makes you wish for the world to be a better place. Such a great book for kids :)!

Purchased for guest to sign with advice for my eight grader's graduation party. This will be his forever keepsake from the party.
Story is perfect for an eighth grader if you read in to it. I purchased Oh the Places You Go for my high schooler's graduation.

I didn't buy this book, but I was intrigued by its beautiful illustrations. Thus, when I went to the the store bookstore, I was very happy to see it was there.
I started by just flipping through, and in no time I'd found myself immersed in its Loving vibe.
So simple, honest, and true. Such a beautiful, touching and Smiles-generator kind of book. I just LOVED it.
Both as a mom and as a children's books' writer, I think it's a must-have. Wow!

Really enjoyed the idea behind this book and some of the wishes are fantastic. Some I didn't understand, and some children may have trouble what they mean.

However, it still is a wonderful book. It's a feel-good book best read WITH your child or class.

You could write a class story on what classmates wish for someone they love and then illustrate it.

Illustrations are compelling and fun - like the bathtub bubbles one, child reading under the sheets with a flashlight getting wished for more stories than stars. That wish was great!

I just read this sweet, moving and charming book and I just had to write a quick review.

This is very simple, for pre-schoolers, kindergarten students...or really, for anyone. I am purchasing one for my daughter, although she's almost 12, because it very simply says everything that I wish for her.

Amy Krouse Rosenthal has written a delightful, creative and simple book for everyone to enjoy. Such lovely sentiments are meant to be shared! I think this would make the ideal baby shower gift.

Bought this book for my son and I absolutely love it! I think right now I may love it a little more than he does. BUT I'm positive he will like it more as he gets older. The illustrations are adorable. The wording is simple and easy to read for young readers, or parents who like short books ;) But the message is awesome and I'm so glad I purchased this for my child. I think every child should receive this book from their parent or loved one!

I saw this book and thought you know what I think it would be so cute. Of course I was right. I Wish You More is an uplifting book I believe it to be. When you wish something for someone you want them to have more and of course A loved the book. She saw the line that I wish you more bubbles than bath and decided I needed to give her more bubbles when she takes a bath. Just a very cute book that I think children from ages 3 on up will enjoy. The illustrations are wonderful, the sentences are short which are great for the younger kids.

Believe it or not, this was a gift for a teenager (who was an editor with his school news paper) though the book is meant for 3-6 year olds...and he liked the book very much, because of the meaning/depth of these simple wishes. I considered this book because of the content, the message. The last one is really touching - 'because you are everything I could wish for...' A perfect gift for your child irrespective of his/her age.

The illustrations are wonderful and sadly I just purchased this without fully reading the content. It's abrasively emotional and really very hard for a young reader to understand why it is that way. Every page is a melodramatic greeting card saying things that may be loving, but so far of out of the park for a young reader it's just really not a book we can cozy up with and get lost in a story. I can't explain "I wish you more we than me" to a sleepy toddler. They like concrete things no matter how silly, toddlers are not philosophical, they like things and actions they can point to or relate to. Plus it's such an important time in language formation, I really want to keep my son's confidence up as he correlates words to concepts.

Wishing more living than things for the little ones in your family. Teaches that what you want for them is not accomplished by buying things. It is accomplished by living, especially living and learning together.

I am moving soon and won't live as close to my grandson as I do now. He had tears but I was sobbing,and was hard for me to get through it. Beautifully written with beautiful illustrations. Excellent!!

Great book. What I don’t get is how many reviewers can’t write correctly. One review I just read, which inspired this diatribe, said that she gave the book to a kid graduating from college. She said he was embarrassed “until he seen the inside”. Give kids all the books you can but, for Christ’s sake, teach them to speak and write correctly.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK!!! I think it is a very great read to help kids understand the positive emotions for someone who you love. The way that it gives the opposite of how feelings/things are is also a helpful educational tool for preschool reader/listeners.

Sweet gift book with memorable wishes ("more tippy toes than deep") and pleasing pastel illustrations. Got it for my kids at the end of the school year to wish them a happy summer. Without a storyline or characters it lacks in the re-readability department, but that's not it's purpose. A sweet, clever, thoughtful book from a dynamic author-illustrator duo (Exclamation Mark, Duck! Rabbit!)

My kids and I love reading this book. The illustrations are beautiful, and I especially appreciate that there are lots of children of color in it & equal amounts of boys and girls (if you count the kid in the bathtub as a boy).

A story that celebrates mine stones. Recommended reading at a time where there is moving on and change, or any transition at school. This is a sweet story that talks about wishes and moving on and change.

Maria Dismondy, author of Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage To Be Who You Are

This book was given to me by my dearest friend in a very difficult time. I'm 53. I now send this book or give it as a gift to others who just need a big book hug. It's absolutely precious and meaningful that only an illustrated book with simple but deeply profound words can do.

This book is well written with simple wishes that all can relate to, both child and adult. Would work for a birthday gift for a small child on up to a great graduation gift. Even though it is a simple book there is much wisdom given. After reading online I'd like to purchase it physically it's the type of book you can read over and over! I recommend this book to all!

Favorite book in a very long time. I've purchased 3 copies and shared with another mother who was searching for a good children's book.. This book 'I wish you more'.. She purchased it immediately. It makes me smile and I believe it to be a good book for anyone. Thank you! Anita

I adore this book. It brings out the squishy mom in me. The soppy mom. And I think it's likely that I won't be alone in having this reaction, so I'm going to suggest you consider it as a gift for new parents.

What I like about the book is that it slaps me up-side the head and reminds me that there are things I want for my children (and all children) beyond the cliche things like good friends, a good education, enough money....

It reminds me that I want them to also have MORE STORIES THAN STARS, MORE GIVE THAN TAKE, and MORE WE THAN ME.

~
You might need to chat with little ones about some of the nuances of these 'wishes' as some of the concepts might not be crystal clear to them; but there's nothing wrong with that. This is how they learn what your family values are.

I also want to say that I read this book to my teens. Sat on their beds at night and shared the book because I want them to know that their dad and I want all sorts of wonderful things for them--still.

.
~review copy

So very special. A darling little book. I bought it for my niece's college graduation. No matter how smart or full of knowledge you get, it's always the simple things that make our lives sweet and so special.

This is such a sweet story. I wish you more ... not just one wish, as when you blow out your candles or wish on a star, or maybe three wishes to be granted by a genie, but more and more wishes.
It's a story of tenderness and love. Beautifully illustrated, too.

Wonderful inspirational book. I used this book for elementary school students ranging in age form 8 and 11 years old. All of the students enjoyed this book and found inspiration from the story found in "I Wish You More!"

A great book to teach kids to appreciate life and maybe even remind us as parents; when we are having those long days as parents. I think its good for all ages from baby to young adult.I am going to purchase this book in hard copy to keep in my babies library

I have adult children and gifted it to each of them. This book is ageless and a wonderful way to remind the people in your life how much you love them. I bought a bunch of them to have on hand and to honor Amy.

I wish for you everything and more, more than you could ever imagine. Children race like the wind under puffy clouds that say it’s a good day to fly a kite. “I wish you more ups than downs.” It’s great sitting on top of a boulder with a special friend. Perhaps it’s time to share that yummy snack. “I wish you more give than take.” Have a bit of my snack, a bit more than I have! If wishes were fishes, all the children in this book would have plenty to give to their friends.

“I Wish You more is one of those beautiful, lyrical books that gets better with each turn of the page. Each wish gives way to yet another one, seemingly better than the last. “I wish you more stories than stars,” perhaps my favorite in the book, captures the magic of the book itself. The light of a flashlight illuminates the smiling face of a little girl sneaking just one more line of a story as she snuggles under the covers. It just can’t get any better than that!

Tom Litchtenheld’s wish upon a star, eye-catching artwork brings out the best of Amy Krouse’s wishful imagination. Perhaps it’s the other way around, but the teamwork is inimitable. Childhood dreams are captured on every page, the small things that all of us experience as children. That extra little step in the pool before the water goes up the nose and that little tingly cold of a snowflake on the tongue. Mmmmmm!

This is a perfect cuddle up tale or one that can be read aloud during circle or storytime. “I Wish You More,” is destined to be one of those timeless classics that will be read time and time again from one generation to the next. “I wish all for this for you, because you are everything I could wish for ...and more.” It’s full of love, hugs, hope, dreams, and treasures for everyone.

This book courtesy of the publisher.

As a Kindergarten teacher, I read this book often and frequently in my classroom. Such a wonderful, make your heart melt, kind of book. I highly recommend buying the hardcover too - its definitely a keeper and should be treasured :)

This book has such a sweet sentiment. I ordered for a friend and her daughter. My friend has always loved "wish flowers" and knew after reading a few pages that this would touch her heart! I hope someone gives me this book when I become a mama!