Honestly, some grown ups really do remember exactly how it feels to be a child and the voice of Rebecca Stead's little girl is the voice of a child and the illustrations by the brilliant Gracey Zhang vibrate with the feel of a small hand holding a crayon or a pencil. This book really "sees" our kids. That alone is a reason to read it. The second reason to read it is because it has the best dad ever. He, too, really gets children and what they need and he gives his daughter so much space to feel her feelings .... it's a how-to for parents anywhere on the planet. The third reason is to help any child who is going through that thing called "change." Put them all together and you have a newly minted classic.
It's her birthday which we all know is the most special day of the entire year ... except... for this little birthday girl it isn't. Not today... because today she is in Apartment 3B and Apartment 3B is not HOME.
Her brilliant and kind and understanding daddy asks her to make a wish. "What should I wish for?" "Anything," Daddy said." Pretty cool dad thing to do. They agree 3 Anythings will be the job. Here come the Anythings starting with the first one is to have a rainbow in her new room. Ta da!
They take a walk to the playground and she catches sight of the big slide. (This is where she starts making some secret wishes. Some of them don't come true.) The walk keeps going and father and daughter discover some fun and some not so fun things to do in their new place.
But things really go down hill when it's night time and a fire truck roars past her window. It's really awful when what you wish for most in the world is to go back HOME to the smells and the colors and the bathtub you are connected to. You belong there. Or do you?
What happens next is pretty daggone magical. It's the dream of so many children who have no one to pick them up when they are scared, to listen to them when they need listening, to show them big love when they are missing it the most.
Where is home? What does a place need to become home? What is really the most important thing - even more important than pizza and rainbows and a spider plant?
Sometimes connection is the best wish of all.
Reading this aloud to a child on your lap or sitting to you might take a little courage for some folks because this story might ask something of you that you have been afraid to give because no one ever gave it to you. But, you know, there comes a time when the cycle breaks. This book just might be the ANYTHING that changes a lot of little worlds.
P.S. I think many children will ask the question "Where is the mommy?" Maybe she will get her own book.
56 pages 978-1797215150 Ages 4-7
Keywords: moving, big feelings, sadness, birthday, new experiences, father/daughter, wishes, connection, love, relationship, understanding others, parenting, dealing with feelings, dealing with emotions, home, 4 year old, 5 year old, 6 year old, 7 year old, family life, reassurance, accepting others
Recommended by: Barb Langridge, abookandahug.com
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Newbery Medalist Rebecca Stead’s first picture book is a transporting tale about the power of an honest wish, the courage to speak it out loud, and the imagination to bring it to life.
What’s more powerful than a secret wish? A wish you say out loud.
Anything paints a tender picture of a father and daughter moving into a new home. Dad brings a birthday cake for the new apartment to celebrate their new beginning and tells his daughter she can wish for anything (or, more precisely, “three Anythings”). Over the course of the day, she wishes for some of her favorite things, including a rainbow and “the biggest slice of pizza in the whole world."
But she keeps some of her wishes inside. Because what she really wants is to go back home to their old apartment, with its big blue bathtub and space in the closet for hide-and-seek. When she finally admits this last wish, her dad takes her on a journey, and by the book’s final pages, she is home . . . in every way that matters.
Pairing an enchanting story from Rebecca Stead (author of the Newbery Medal-winning When You Reach Me) with delightful artwork from Gracey Zhang (illustrator of the Caldecott Honor-winning Noodles on a Bicycle), Anything is pure magic. A story that will resonate with every young reader, it is a powerful reminder that sometimes making a wish is a way of telling ourselves we're ready for something new.
BIG FEELINGS: Change can feel hard or even scary. This book about moving is for anyone facing new beginnings or uncertainty and the emotions that come with navigating the unknown, from fear and anxiety to excitement and hope. It’s a reassuring and uplifting read that shows a child—and her dad—using their imaginations and emotional connection to make room for something new.
FATHER-DAUGHTER LOVE: This is a heartwarming portrait of a beautiful father-daughter relationship built on love and trust. By the end of the story, she follows his example of generosity and is able to grant his wish, however small. This pitch-perfect ending will stay with readers long after the last page turns.
Perfect for:
- Kids facing change, new beginnings, or uncertainty
- Parents seeking a comforting, uplifting book to share with children
- Educators and therapists looking for resources to coach young readers through challenges and change
- Father’s Day or birthday gift for dad
- Fans of Rebecca Stead books, including When You Reach Me, The List of Things That Will Not Change, and The Lost Library
- Fans of Gracey Zhang books, including Noodles on a Bicycle, Lala’s Words, and The Upside Down Hat
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Other reviews:
“An unforgettable story about change with a loving father-daughter bond at its heart.”—Matt de la Peña, Newbery Medal–winning author of Last Stop on Market Street
