FRANKIE'S wISH

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This charming and uplifting story is an excellent addition to the Once Upon a Dance canon, and it is a positive tale to share with all ages.  

It is Frankie’s birthday, so it is the perfect day to go in search of a famed magical blue feather that is said to be found on an island to the east of where Frankie lives. After packing up, Frankie sets off on an adventure with some helpful wisdom provided by Auntie Duke—a special loved one who has walked this path before. A series of clues is laid out before Frankie, providing guidance while Frankie navigates a magical forest full of helpful and unexpected creatures. And as Frankie nears the end of the journey, Frankie begins to think differently about the feather and the wish it can bestow. 

This newest entry in the Once Upon a Dance canon is particularly enjoyable, using a well-crafted plot to encourage readers to believe in themselves just as Frankie does. Presented as a gender neutral character, Frankie can be anyone and everyone as Frankie goes through each step of this adventure. Like the others in this series, this book is set up in three parts: the first is a full page illustration depicting a particular moment in the narrative, the second is the narrative itself, and the third is an invitation for movement that unites both photographs of Ballerina Konora in action and matching text to help augment readers’ understanding and ability to participate. Rich color is found in each of the digitally-rendered illustrations of the story, which offers readers the feeling of a magical forest filled with wonder. 

This book is best suited to older readers because of the length of the story and the depth of the message shared within the narrative. Fans of Konora’s other books will find this one to be charming and inspiring, especially as it is filled with opportunities to solve puzzles along with Frankie. This is a delightful book for readers who appreciate both an uplifting story and the invitation to interact with it using both their bodies and their minds.

-Mary on Reedsy

Another fabulous adventure in the Once Upon a Dance series 

Frankie’s Wish: A Wander in the Wonder, tells the story of Frankie, who lives on the magical island of Anorac. There is a legend on the island, that a magic blue feather would grant a birthday wish to the lucky person who finds it. On the day of Frankie’s special birthday, Frankie sets out on a quest to find the magic feather. Frankie’s wish is to become a famous dancer, and hopes to find the feather to make the wish come true. Frankie catches a ferry and arrives at a mysterious forest. With a little help from a number of forest friends, an eagle, a T-Rex, and a gorilla, Frankie must solve the clues hidden throughout the forest to find the magic blue feather. The final task is to ‘dance your journey’ and Frankie decides to dance the day from the beginning, from entering the forest, to meeting the forest creatures.  Frankie reflects on the forest journey and realises that what is most important in life is friendship, family, and adventure. Will Frankie find the magic blue feather? And what will he wish for? 

Frankie's Wish: A Wander in the Wonder is a children’s picture book in the Once Upon a Dance series. Once Upon a Dance, is a unique and creative concept with Ballerina Konora narrating the story through movement and dance. Frankie is a gender neutral and relatable character, who will appeal to young children who love adventure and fantasy stories. Frankie learns important life lessons throughout the journey, which will encourage self-belief and confidence in young children. The digital illustrations are bold, bright, and engaging. 

Konora provides prompts and ideas for readers to act out the story, and encourages readers to use their own imagination and experiment with new movements. With photographs to accompany each movement, the book encourages active participation in the story through movement and creativity. This book is a great resource for children, parents and careers, and teachers, and will encourage readers to experiment with movement and dance. 

Summary: A fabulous interactive picture book, which will inspire movement and creativity in young children.

—Readers' Choice (5-Stars/Book Award Finalist)

Frankie has a wish to be a famous dancer. They love to dance. Living on an island with an aunt, Frankie has heard of the nearby mysterious island and the magical blue feather that can grant one wish on a person’s birthday. Today is Frankie’s birthday and they are determined to find the blue feather and make a wish to become a famous dancer. But first, they must make the journey, and follow their aunt’s sage advice: “First, use your mind, body and imagination as she wander in the wonder. Second, ask for help along the way. And third, keep an open mind. Things are not always as they seem.” The journey is long, but Frankie perseveres with patience, holding tight to the advice. What they find is a series of lessons in faith, believing in yourself, friendship, and what’s really important in life, all through the powerful movements of dance.
 

Once Upon a Dance (Konora) has produced another picture book about the magic of dance. Frankie’s Wish is another book in her series: A Wander in the Wonder (A Dance-It-Out Creative Movement Story). The plot follows Frankie’s adventure as they dance through a mystical, magical forest. The story is endearing and engaging and the illustrations are bright, bold, colorful and soothing. Each page includes another part of the story accompanied by illustrations of Konora demonstrating some dance moves that could be used to reflect specific elements in the story creatively. This is a very creative story that complements the power and passion of dance. Beautifully told and presented.

— Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers’ Favorite