A poignant, poetic reflection on a bright and fleeting season, told in the voice of a parent but seen through the eyes and imagination of a child. Lyrical text and magical paintings recount the story of a little girl and her father and mother as they journey by foot and boat through the storybook wonders of the world they share--a world where field and forest and fairy tale blend in a quiet celebration of wonder and love for generations to read aloud, share and delight in together! Written by author, poet & lyricist Douglas Kaine McKelvey (The Angel Knew Papa and the Dog) and illustrated by Jamin Still (Ellen and the Winter Wolves), The Wishes of the Fish King is all about making us "remember, for one wild moment," the wonders of this brief, shared life.

A king who loves to fish catches a bottle with a magical note inside. That starts a series of WISHES, none of which prove to be helpful to the king. Follow the king's antics as he learns to: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH!

Wishes can be made in the woods! Chippy the Chipmunk has a wonderful life, bounding from tree to tree in the shady woods. When an angry bear crashes into the friends' campsite, Chippy's bossy habits keep Squeak, Hopper, and Breeze from listening to his warning. A frustrated Chippy doesn't realize nobody knows everything all of the time. Then he meets the Wish Fish... Be careful what you wish for!

Two fish tales in one! The Fish King is lonely and wishes he has a wife to keep him company. So when his chance of happiness is dashed by Princess Chipolata, after she is caught by the two wise ghosts stealing the crown jewels and is sent to prison, the king is still left feeling miserable. The Fish King has many suiters but it is Princess Alice's sister, Lilly, who finally wins his heart! However, there's only one problem...he must introduce her to the two ghosts that reside in his palace and who like to play jokes on people! A grand wedding takes place at the palace and soon after the king and queen produce a royal heir - Prince Erik. The young prince grows to love the two wise ghosts as much as his father does and, as soon as he is old enough, he leaves the palace to embark on a magical adventure with his ghost friends; until at last it is time to go home and share his many stories with his parents and Aunt Alice.

In a lotus-filled lake lives a king of fishes, devoted to the happiness and well-being of all the fish in his realm. But one year the lake and all its inhabitants are endangered by a drought. Desperate, the Fish king appeals to the gods and the forces of nature to send a healthy rain. Through the power of his goodness, the lake is restored and all its creatures are saved.

Named the "Best First Book of the Year" by Coldfront Magazine, and short-listed for the Yale Younger Poets Award, the National Poetry Series, and the Academy of American Poets' Walt Whitman Award, this debut collection of poetry by Joe Pan marks the beginning of a promising career, "with language that is striking," one reviewer puts it, "nearly perfect."