A Fresh Start for an Imaginative Little Boy!
Book Review: ‘The Wishing Machine’ by Jonathan Hillman and illustrated by Nadia Alam (Ages 6–9)
In The Wishing Machine, a little boy and his mom have a tradition of Sunday laundry mat days. The book starts off on their last trip to the laundry mat before embarking on a new life. Sam is a bit nervous because he and his single mom are moving in with his Grandpa. The little boy thinks of the things he would wish for after seeing his mom drop coins into a washing machine.
Sam’s wish is for a new home, he’d like a room for his mom, his own room, flowers in the window, and places to explore and play. While he wishes for things, he visits with the other community members in the laundry mat asking them what they wish for.
Some wish for a new scooter, while others say a green card while an older man wishes for a white fluffy cat. Sam’s Mom saves her wish for last and that is for them to be happy and together no matter where their home is.
The Wishing Machine captures that unease of embarking on a new move and leaving a community behind. Sam enjoys their Sundays at the laundromat because he is able to draw, talk with neighbors, and use his vibrant imagination. I love that their new home with Grandpa represents a fresh start and a chance to grow. Sam and his mom gain strength from their bond and the heartwarming support of neighbors wishing them well.
The illustrations by Nadia Alam in The Wishing Machine are whimsical and drawn from Sam’s perspective, showing him in front of the washing machines. The pages burst with color and imagination as they depict a little boy’s experience in the local laundromat. Splashed with vibrant hues, the illustrations bring to life his wide-eyed wonder at the rumbling washers and swirling dryers. The charming illustrations capture his infectious joy and boundless creativity.
The Wishing Machine is a sweet little book about the unease but ultimate excitement of fresh starts as a little boy and his mom say goodbye to their Sunday tradition for the last time.
Published by Simon & Schuster
Genre — Children’s Fiction
Rating — ⭐⭐⭐⭐
