Oh, Wishing Star

Description

The Hook: Written entirely in witty, fast-paced Irish limerick verse, this high-stakes tale proves that even a gift from a shooting star can come with a dangerous hidden cost.

The Story: When young Joe-Joe is dropped off at school by his father, his mind is anywhere but the classroom. Spotting a shooting star, he makes a desperate wish: to be incredibly rich and completely done with school. Tempted to skip class, Joe-Joe wanders slightly off track, only to trip over a stray briefcase. When he pops the latches, he is stunned to find it crammed to the brim with cold, hard cash. His wish has come true!

But sudden wealth brings immediate danger. Before Joe-Joe can even process his new stash, four neighborhood hoods close in, aggressively demanding the goods. A high-stakes footrace erupts as Joe-Joe flees for his safety. Luckily, the police intercept the chaos, arresting the gangsters while keeping a shaken Joe-Joe safe from handcuffs. Following a tense trip to the booking station and a very angry phone call to his father, Joe-Joe finds himself in a quiet courtroom. With no police in sight—just his mom, his dad, and a wise judge—Joe-Joe realizes the briefcase has been safely returned, and he has just been handed the most powerful lesson of his life about the true value of staying in school.

Crafted as an impactful early literacy book, Oh, Wishing Star combines a thrilling narrative with the lyrical rhythm of poetic verse, designed to keep at-risk youth engaged, motivated, and firmly on the path of education.