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Potter, Giselle

Sister Wish

40 pp. | Abrams | June, 2021 | Trade ISBN 978-1-4197-4671-0 $17.99
(2) K-3 Potter has written about sisters before (Chloë's Birthday...and Me, rev. 7/04; Tell Me What to Dream About), drawing inspiration from firsthand experience. Here she's focused on the common sibling situation of desiring qualities that the other person has: "I wish I was you!" says the younger sister (not very grammatically). Her older sister is taller, gets new clothes, has her "big teeth," and can swing higher. But as big sis points out, "everyone wants to be someone else sometimes," and sometimes she wishes she could make people laugh, wear costumes anytime, and do the "famous wiggle dance" like her little sis. If they were just alike, then they'd miss out on enjoying the special qualities the other sibling has to offer in the relationship. The sisters' congeniality and affection shine through in Potter's distinctive watercolor and ink illustrations, with occasional fanciful vignettes highlighting the girls' imaginations at work. The art also expands upon the text by adding context for these wishes (being taller comes in handy for apple picking, as does the confidence to wear costumes to school...or a fancy tea party). Potter almost always adds dotted lines from the dialogue-only text to help clarify who is speaking. The girls' honest discussion and the common day-to-day activities depicted serve as relatable reminders for all siblings that "it's best if there is one of you and one of me."
Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

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