The Wishing Flower

Red-haired, pale-skinned Birdie loves to direct her dreams at “wishing flowers”—seeded dandelion heads—but “feels inside out at home and at school” and keeps to herself on the playground. The arrival of new girl Sunny, portrayed with brown skin, leaves Birdie gobsmacked: “When Sunny smiled, two dragonflies played tag in Birdie’s tummy. When Sunny waved, Birdie’s heart fluttered as fast as a hummingbird’s wings.” Birdie longs for bravery, thinking it will take a very big wishing flower to gather it up. But when the two bond without magic, they become inseparable, holding hands, jumping in sync, and braiding each other’s hair. Finding a wishing flower, they blow on it together in an intimate moment of honesty and tenderness, and share that both of their dreams have already come true. Textured digital illustrations by Alizadeh (What Will You Be?) echo the unabashed exhilaration of text from Irving (Dance Like a Leaf). The vibe turns lyrical and impressionistic after the two girls connect, watching a sunset amid dusky whirls till “their toes kissed the clouds”—showing exactly how it feels to be seen and understood as never before. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Jordan Hamessley, New Leaf Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Mandy Suhr, Miles Stott Literary. (May)