"...Fagan believably captures the delicate balance of friendship in the very young and lets the story play out with welcome complexity. Côté's illustrations are simple without being cartoonish, demonstrating the same warm understanding of childhood. Thoughtful and Touching"
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Kirkus Reviews "...Cary Fagan... does a great job here with both the fun, engaging story, and the fine tricks of repetition and structure that make
Ella May and the Wishing Stone ideal for early reader. Geneviève Côté's watercolour illustrations are lively and simple, focusing on the kids themselves and hewing closely to the narrative.... The net result is an original and imaginative treatment of one of the hardest lessons of early childhood -sharing -in a colourful package that's likely to charm kids and adults alike."
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Quill & Quire "Côté's...illustrations drive the story along with light and expressive outlines and wash effects... children won't have any difficulty following the action, and they'll recognize Ella's conflicting impulses."
--Publishers Weekly
"...the little girl uses her imagination to reconnect with her friends, and realizes that they are far more important than wishes. Ultimately, she is able to grant everyone's wishes, including her own."
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The Waterloo Region Record "...The charming drawings by Geneviève Côté depict a late summer's day on the sidewalk. It's easy to forgive Ella May when she finally comes to her senses and realizes that friends are much more important than possessions...."
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Montreal Review of Books
When Ella May finds a smooth stone with a line going all-all-all the way around it, she is convinced it has magical powers. Surely such a stone will grant wishes, she thinks. But when her friends want to join in the fun, Ella May says that the stone is too special. Slowly she comes to realize that keeping the stone all to herself is a sure way to lose friends. By using her imagination, Ella May finds a way to make everyone's wishes come true-including her own.