The Christmas Wish by Lori Evert, photographs by Per Breiehagen Ages 3-7 48 pages Random House September 2013 Hardcover     The Christmas Wish is a remarkable children's book that far exceeds the typical works of the genre. Dramatic landscapes and incredible sights litter the forty-plus pages of Anja's adventure in the frozen wonderlands which she must traverse to find Santa Claus. There is a magical quality of incomparable humility in the naturally rich expanses captured on each leg of Anja's journey. She encounters beautiful and significant creatures along the way such as a cardinal, a reindeer, even a polar bear. In this particular Nordic folktale styling, it is important to recognize the messages of the animal guides. The cardinal represents many things, including a main life responsibility of bringing color to the world. The reindeer represents things such as how an individual will soon experience a situation with spirits or the fairy realm of a forest. The polar bear represents among other things that one's spirit is very pure and he or she knows who they are. On a journey sprung from an aspiration to become one of Santa's elves, the significance of these animals and Anja's mission of giving, spreading light and joy are beautifully interrelated. Anja is a delightful children's heroine who is absolutely picturesque in the varied scenes that will captivate readers of all ages. Author Lori Evert, photographer Per Breiehagen, and their daughter, Anna, all contributed to this breathtaking children's book.     web reviews   S.R. Polinsky/2013 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)