Excerpt from the book:
One day, Lucy hears a new voice. It is louder than the voices she is used to. Before she knows it, her best friend is no longer standing by her side. Where has he gone? Then she hears the voices again and looks up. A hand holds around her friend and many of the others who lived down at the bumblebees. Lucy will be there too! She proudly unfolds her hat and smiles as beautifully as she can.
-Don't pick it, little friend, it's a weed, she hears another voice say. And thus both the voices, the hand - and her best friend disappear. Weed, what is it? Lucy thinks.
Under the expert care of bees, Lucy has grown from an expectant little seed to a tall flower with a soft hat that looks like the sun. She loves her life in the flower meadow with all her beautiful, multicolored friends. Regardless of the weather, they always have fun and life is wonderful!
But one day, Lucy's best friend Florian is picked by a big hand. The next day a new friend disappears, and then another and another. Soon Lucy is alone again in the once beautiful meadow.
The weather is no longer as exciting as when her friends were with her. The sun warms less, and why sway in the wind when there is no one to sway with? But perhaps Lucy still has an important role to play.
With charming illustrations, Thousand Wishes is a sweet and warm story about growing up, seeing each other's real beauty and that everyone has their very special place.
"I was very charmed and also moved by this children's book. A thousand wishes and little Lucy can hopefully inspire both children and their parents to be more generous, more open and welcoming, and a new and positive view of being different. It is, after all, diversity and variety that make life and the world beautiful and exciting.
I really appreciate the themes Wilhelmsen takes up in his books. And I like the way she takes them up. It is heartwarming, insightful and charmingly written. I hope the book reaches many young and old readers." - Excerpt from review, read the full review here:
A Thousand Wishes: Insightful and Touching Children's Book About Difference
The theme of the book is difference and being outside. The story of Lucy Dandelion, is an inspiring story of resilience and dignity. As a dandelion who is overlooked and underestimated by most, Lucy lives a life filled with hardship and challenges. Each day, she stands firm and defies the elements, showing us the power of holding on to herself when the world seems uncaring. Lucy's short life is characterized by both loneliness and bullying, and throughout the summer she lives she develops an unwavering inner strength and an ability to find beauty in the small moments. She observes the wonders of nature and finds joy in her own existence.
The life of Lucy the dandelion that no one wants to pick is a reminder of the value of being true to yourself, even when you are excluded and alone. Lucy teaches us the value of perseverance, hope and finding one's own beauty, even in the moments where we feel overlooked or undervalued. She reminds us that we all have a unique role to play in the world, regardless of other people's opinions or perceptions. Lucy is a symbol of perseverance and strength, and her story is a reminder that it is in our own inner strength and acceptance of ourselves that we truly flourish.
