Common Sense Media Review
By Jan Carr
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Feel the love in this cascade of whimsical wishes for kids.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
I WISH YOU MORE is more of a list book than a story. Each spread features a parent's wish for a kid -- for instance, "I wish you more ups than downs" for a kid flying a kite and "I wish you more give than take" on a spread showing kids sharing. The charming illustrations feature a multicultural cast of cutie-pie kids who stick their tongues out to catch snow, lie on a sidewalk to befriend a caterpillar, and peek out from a bathtub of bubbles. Similar to the kids pictured pulling together in a tug-of-war, everyone in this book pulls together. It ends with the parent saying the child is "everything I could wish for … and more."
Is It Any Good?
This is a charming "I love you" book with a twist: The love spills out in the form of a parent's wishes regarding his or her offspring. The wishes are whimsical and fun, and there's lots of wordplay: In "I wish you more WOO-HOO! than WHOA!" a little dog walker is ecstatically pulled along by her exuberant dog. Some of the wishes are more successfully communicated than others; "I wish you more umbrella and rain" and "I wish you more bubbles than bath" are clear and kid-friendly. But some are more of a reach -- for instance, puns that require a knowledge of spelling ("I wish you more can than knot" and "I wish you more hugs than ughs").
The kids are happily multiethnic, and they're focused and determined, such as the girl tying her shoe with her tongue out. And the ending sentiment, "I wish all of this for you, because you are everything I could wish for… and more," underscores the love.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about wishes. What do you wish for? Which wishes do you have for other people?
Why do you think the kids in these pictures look happy? What makes you happy?
What are some of the ways parents show their love for kids? How do you know your parent or caregiver loves you?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Tom Lichtenheld
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Chronicle Books
- Publication date : March 31, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 5 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate