On the way to school one day with his mum, Sidney spies something off the road in the long grass. When he takes a closer look, Mum tells him it is an old wishing well. She used it when she was young.

It left his mind when he got to school. He saw his friend Billy running past with another boy called Austin. They looked like they were having so much fun together. Billy used to be Sidney’s best friend but lately it’s changed. He wished he could be part of the fun too, but Billy and Austin don’t seem to notice.

The very next chance he gets, Sidney wishes for something that will make Billy want to be friends again. Or will it? Maybe he should wish for something else, or maybe he’s wishing for the wrong thing in the first place?

This Little Gem, written with young dyslexic or reluctant readers in mind, is a story of friendship and school that is universal wherever you go. Friendships can be complicated things, but sometimes they can be really simple, wonderful and right in front of you.

This is a gorgeous story of a boy left out, wishing for his friend back and hoping for things how they used to be. When right in front of him, there is someone even better.

Little Gems are smaller than usual and perfect for little hands. A first chapter book, Sidney Makes a Wish begins with a maze inside the front cover, is illustrated with fun colour pictures throughout the story, and ends with a Spot the Difference Activity inside the back cover.

Loved it!

Author – Lisa Thomson

Illustrator – Jess Rose

Dyslexic / Reluctant Readers / First Chapter Book

(2022, Friendship, Empathy, Inclusion, Understanding, School, Wishes, Wishing Well, Making Friends, Little Gem, Walking to School)