Summary: When a farmer named Fred helps an old woman escape from some brambles, she grants him one wish. Fred decides his one wish will be that all his wishes be come true. Instead his wishes become burdens to him and he decides he doesn’t want his first wish anymore. The wish is taken away from him and everything becomes normal again. By the end of the story he has another opportunity to be granted one wish. After his previous experience, he learns that he is perfectly content and does not need to wish for anything.
Critique: This fantasy story involves spells over people and wishes that come true, although the moral of the story is very realistic. There is a definite plot that includes all elements of a good plot including conflict, action, and resolution. The plot is interesting and in engaging by relating to reader’s moral decisions.
Teacher Use: A teacher could use this book by teaching about being satisfied with what we have. The class could discuss as a group things that they are thankful for. They could talk about people in poorer countries and what it is like without all the things we have here in the U.S. They could then talk about things that they could do without in their lives and still be satisfied.
Media: Oil Paints ( )