Name: Frankie's Wish: A Wander in the Wonder
Item: Frankie's Wish: A Wander in the Wonder
Rating: 5
Author: Joey Madia

Must read 🏆

A perfect book for creative drama and movement classes that celebrates imagination!

Synopsis

Travel to a mysterious island alongside Frankie to make a wish on a magic feather. The path to the hidden feather will only be revealed through patience, wits, and joy. But time is running out, and wishes are only granted on one special day.

Dance along with the creatures of the forest and a professional ballerina in this interactive story exploring movement and dance fundamentals with a powerful message about what’s important in life.

As a longtime creative dramatist and youth theatre specialist, I am always on the lookout for books like this—a celebration of imagination, interesting places to explore, adventures to physicalize, and new friends to meet. Best of all, it includes a ballerina called Konora offering suggestions for how to physically interact with the story.

The illustrations are by Emilia Rumińska, and the story is based on one by Eva Stone. This book—the latest of 19 in the series—is perfect not only for creative dramatists, but for dance teachers in schools, studios, and after-school or summer programs.

Frankie is a young person who lives on an island with their Auntie Duke.

Frankie is celebrating their birthday, and sets out on an adventure to find a magical feather that will grant a single wish on one’s special day. After receiving invaluable advice from Auntie Duke, Frankie sets out. Entering a forest, Frankie encounters puzzles, animals, and decision points that encompass the mind, the body, and using your imagination. All along the way, Konora guides the reader into the position of Participant rather than Passive Reader.

Once Upon a Dance incorporates different versions of theatre games. The book could be used for “A Day in the Life,” as it involves a full day of adventure and has opportunities for pantomime, such as going through a backpack and interacting with all of the items it contains. The writers do a great job of engaging all of the senses (one of my favorite instances being imagining the sensations of chewing “ooey-gooey” caramel).

A core message is to Wander in the Wonder! In an age where many children are sitting inside in the dark, lit only by the blue light of their phone, tablet, and other digital screens, Frankie’s Wish is an opportunity to reintroduce young people to nature.

Frankie's empowered to make their own decisions, including one concerning their original wish. What an excellent lesson in how experience and imagination work together to change perceptions, goals, and desires. Frankie returns home after their adventures with an expanded heart and mind after encountering the magical blue feather.

As they blow out their birthday candle on a delicious-looking cake, we can’t help but cheer for Frankie’s special day, which has now become our own.

As if all of this imagination and movement goodness isn’t incentive enough, Once Upon a Dance donates all of the royalties from the book.

Reviewed by

I am a screenwriter, playwright, Escape Room and immersive experience designer, and story analyst. I have 11 published novels, and 8 nonfiction books, most available on Amazon (Joey Madia). I review books for publicists, publishers, and review sites. 390 published reviews.

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Frankie's Wish: A Wander in the Wonder

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