Mary Le Duc O'Neill (1908–1990)

It all begins with a strange coin on a sun-warmed sidewalk.

Jane finds the coin, and becasue she and her sblings are having the worst, most dreadfully boring summer ever, she idly wishes something exciting would happen.

And something does: Her wish is granted.

Or not quite. Only half of her wish comes true.

It turns out the coin grants wishes--but only by half, so that you must wish for twice as much as you want.

Wishing for two times some things is a cinch, but other doubled wishes only cause show more twice as much trouble. What is half of twice a talking cat? Or to be half-again twice not-here? And how do you double your most heartfelt wish, the one you care about so much it has to be perfect? show less

“Black is a feeling / Hard to explain / Like suffering but / Without the pain.” I saw this line of poetry referenced on the Internet somewhere and knew I had to check out this book! O’Neill gives each color of the rainbow (plus a few extras) its own attention in poetry that is humorous and insightful. Color is of course a visual charactertistic, but it’s so much more. I loved exploring all the emotional and sensory experiences we associate with color, and this book gave me a desire show more to consider how I would personally describe each color.

Content consideration: includes a reference to Indians as “things that are red” with an illustration of a Native American statue. show less

“Black is a feeling / Hard to explain / Like suffering but / Without the pain.” I saw this line of poetry referenced on the Internet somewhere and knew I had to check out this book! O’Neill gives each color of the rainbow (plus a few extras) its own attention in poetry that is humorous and insightful. Color is of course a visual charactertistic, but it’s so much more. I loved exploring all the emotional and sensory experiences we associate with color, and this book gave me a desire show more to consider how I would personally describe each color.

Content consideration: includes a reference to Indians as “things that are red” with an illustration of a Native American statue. show less

I was given the Wallner edition.. The pictures are lovely. But I can't rate the book. It reminds me of [b:The Important Book|216330|The Important Book|Margaret Wise Brown|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388197290l/216330._SX50_.jpg|2216644] by [a:Margaret Wise Brown|18479|Margaret Wise Brown|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1208465845p2/18479.jpg]. I should love both of them, but I actually despise them. Why?

Because they *decree.* "Content is gray, show more and sleepiness, too." Says who!? *I* say sleepiness is a warm brown, tbh. ... So, ok, yes, both books could be used in a classroom to inspire creative writing. Fine. Teach thus: "In Brown's opinion... in O'Neill's opinion... How do you feel about these colors, these things?"

But still. If the full book is shared before the students start to write, I'm concerned that their own creativity would be stifled. I *know* mine is. Any attempt I would make now would certainly be only a reaction, a response, nothing fresh or creative.

And also, many children encountering it don't even have that guidance. They're definitely reading it as Established Wisdom. And I honestly don't think either Brown or O'Neill intended that. So, too bad, sorry, but: Fail. show less