Wish Stealer: A Dangerously Uncommon Tale

We all have to make choices in our lives—some are the right choices, and some are wrong. When we make a wrong choice, we have two options: choose to accept the consequences, or try to fix it. This is just one of the things that we learn from Algernon in Barbara Kolberg’s Wish Stealer: A Dangerously Uncommon Tale. Desperate to buy a red model car before his classmate, Algernon comes across a water fountain full of coins that carry others’ wishes. He is tempted to steal the coins, but with them comes consequences that even Algernon couldn’t foresee. As a result, Algernon is faced with a choice that only he can make.

Before even opening Wish Stealer, I was captivated by its beautifully illustrated slipcase and equally stunning book cover. The allure stayed with me through more than fifty full-color illustrations that are scattered throughout the story to help make the story come alive. Getting into the story was very easy. Algernon is a wonderfully written character that seems to grow before our eyes on the pages as he faces and deals with what unfolds from the choices that he made. His friends, Clovis and Ivy, are equally as enduring with their true bonds of friendship and fun dialogue. Although the character that won my heart wasn’t even human, but Algernon’s dog Rio. He portrays being a loyal pet perfectly. Deeper than just the characters, I loved the moral of this story and the true life values that were also taught through Algernon’s adventures. Not only do we see what it means to have to face your consequences, but we also discover the real differences between selfishness and selflessness.

Wish Stealer: A Dangerously Uncommon Tale is a favorable combination of page-turning suspense and spectacular artwork that translates into a journey of fantasy full of action, friendship, love, plot and purpose that any child (or adult) would love to venture into. This would make an incredible gift for a parent to give their child and read to them at night.