Wish Box: A Grumpy Iguana and Green Parrot Adventure - Book Review

Susan Marie Chapman is the author of “The Wish Box,” the fifth book in her delightful “A Grumpy the Iguana and Green Parrot Adventure” series. This charming book, colorfully illustrated by Natalia Loseva, is perfectly designed to be read to and discussed with preschoolers. It also serves as an excellent resource for early readers who may need assistance with new vocabulary.

The story follows Little Mouse, who is searching for a family and finds new friends in Grumpy the Iguana and Green Parrot, familiar characters from Chapman's previous storybooks. Along the way, other characters like Mr. Squirrel and Big Black Cat join Little Mouse’s earnest search for a family to call his own.

The turning point comes when Mr. Squirrel shares a cherished family treasure with the mouse: a special box that holds wishes. Together, the group of new friends explores a variety of wishes, and through this magical journey, they learn important lessons about compassion, kindness, and celebrating diversity. With an abundance of love and hope, the friends ultimately discover that they have become the very family they were searching for.

This story also gently introduces children to new vocabulary, such as “vegetarian” and the names of fruits like mango and papaya. When reading this story aloud to young children, numerous opportunities arise for meaningful discussion and for explaining concepts that might be new to the youngest listeners, fostering both learning and connection.

Readers who have not previously been introduced to “A Grumpy Iguana and Green Parrot Adventures” will likely find themselves hurrying to the library or bookstore to find the other books in the series. Similarly, books in the “Sugar and Cookie” series, also by Susan Marie Chapman, will surely entice young children to further explore the wonderful world found within the pages of books.