By Kendall Bistretzan 
Wish Maker
by Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike
Masobe Books (2025)
Wish Maker by Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike is a charming juvenile fiction book full of magical realism, relatable characters, and gorgeous illustrations. Nine-year-old Ebele and his mother are experiencing poverty in their Nigerian village following the death of Ebele’s father. Ebele wants nothing more than a memorable Christmas with lots of gifts, but between his mother barely being able to afford food and the mockery of his friends, he knows his wishes are unlikely to come true. When a quirky stranger comes to town and seeks help from Ebele of all people, Ebele learns that there’s more to Christmas than gifts, and that fortune awaits those who practice kindness and generosity.
While “there’s more to Christmas than presents” is a trope that’s been overused in all sorts of storytelling formats, Umezurike’s book examines the bigger picture. Ebele comes to terms with his bleak situation (though not without some petulance – he is a nine-year-old, after all) and ends the story in a better position than he began, and not just because his heart grew three sizes, or anything like that. By feeding the stranger and helping him cross the river, Ebele is rewarded with more fish than he knows what to do with. He can feed himself and his mother, and sell the fish to afford much-needed medicine and much-desired presents. Yes, a bit of magic is involved, but it’s ultimately Ebele’s own actions and good nature that allow him to catch the fish and reap their rewards, driving home the message that kindness is a virtue worth rewarding.
“‘I’m only sent here to help people believe in themselves. Anyone with a kind heart,’” explains the stranger on page 88. Ebele responds, “‘You’ve taught me how to believe in myself. I won’t wait till I am grown up to help people. I will fight for anyone who needs help.”
Yes, the story can be a little heavy-handed, but at the end of the day, it’s a children’s book with a valuable message. Except for Ebele’s lack of stranger danger. Parents might want to impart that message onto their kids themselves.
Kendall Bistretzan was born and raised in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, before moving to Calgary in 2017. In 2021, she received her degree from Mount Royal University, majoring in journalism and minoring in creative writing. Her prose and book reviews have been published in FreeFall Magazine, Understorey Magazine, Blue Marble Review, and more.