I Wish I Had. . .
*Starred Review* Books inviting children to imagine themselves as animals are ubiquitous and a playful way to encourage imagination, but most don’t have the scope of this beautiful Italian import. There is a dignified eloquence at work here, and the narrator’s wishes are not merely the desire of a child to be like an animal, but a longing for a tangible connection to an often intangible universe. Zoboli offers some rather everyday wishes, such as to become the wings of a wild goose or the tail of a lemur—who hasn’t wished to fly through the air or swing through trees? But longing for “the happy hunger of a bear in the orchard” or “the contentment of a dog in winter when the snow falls outside” transcends daydreaming to feel quite spiritual. The painterly illustrations in this oversize picture book (the works of Henri Rousseau come to mind) have a grandeur about them that matches the majestic ideas expressed throughout. Repeated motifs within the pictures—some of the animals are clutching a flower in their mouths, and the larger animals appear to be tattooed with images of other animals, plants, and flowers—create a sense of universality. This is a book of big ideas, sparingly told, and full of wonder. Preschool-Grade 3. --Kara Dean