****The Wishing of Biddy Malone

by Joy Cowley

illustrated by Christopher Denise

Reviewed February 18, 2004.
Philomel Books, New York, 2004.  36 pages.
Available on Amazon.com for $11.19 in hardcover.
Available at Sembach Library (E COW).

What a beautiful book this is!  The Wishing of Biddy Malone is told with a lilt and a twinkle in the eye, and is accompanied by utterly delightful paintings.

Biddy Malone loves to sing and dance, but she’s not very good at it.  She also has a terrible temper.  One night she comes upon a faerie village and joins in a faerie dance.  The prince of the faeries asks her to name three wishes, and tells her that she will have them.  She wishes to sing as sweetly as a thrush, dance as lightly as a deer, and have a loving heart.  The prince promises her that she will have all these things.

However, when she leaves the faerie village, his promise seems to be for nothing.  Still, the faerie music echoes inside her, and she can’t help dancing and singing.  So she gets better with all the practice.

The ending of the tale is perfectly right.  I encourage everyone to read and relish this lovely book.

Copyright © 2004 Sondra Eklund.  All rights reserved.

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