I Wish Tonight

A little boy pulls the covers up under his chin--and at that, trees grow up at the foot of his bed, his quilt becomes a sail, and a soaring dream of a book sweeps forward. In lilting rhythmic language, that moves in step with buoyant, swaying images, the dream furnishes the child--and all readers of this book--with hope for mending and healing and cooperating. The bed boat arrives at a picnic where a blazing tree offers its gifts to all the children attending. And there the story makes its surprising turn. Perhaps inspired by the tree, which generously offered its amazing toys and fruits within arms' reach, the children hunt down adults and share their bounty with them. Free of do-good words and pictures, I Wish Tonight opens minds and hearts. A wistful child dares to imagine cooperative gardening, restored friendships, revived cities--always enveloped in fun and adventure. The book's language is that of a child. Its collages are of sun-powered colors. The dream it stirs is both mystical and temptingly near.