Book Descriptions
for Anything by Rebecca Stead and Gracey Zhang
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
A thoughtful father eases a tough transition for his young daughter. On the day the narrator and her dad move into their new apartment, Daddy makes a cake with one candle (for the apartment’s birthday) and tells his daughter to make a wish—for anything. Three anythings, in fact. “I can wish for very hard things. But Daddy didn’t look scared.” As they go about their day unpacking and visiting the nearby playground, the girl wishes for many things in her heart: that the slide were not so tall, that the apartment didn’t smell like paint, and that they hadn’t had to move at all. To Daddy, she wishes for a rainbow in her room (he paints one), pizza for dinner (granted), and to skip her bath (done). Waking up homesick in the middle of the night, she asks Daddy for one more wish: to go home. “Daddy opened his arms. ‘All aboard the train to home!’” Around the apartment they walk, talking occasionally; Daddy’s repeated reassurances that the trip is a long one, and that he’ll be carrying her “for a long time still” are comforting. The trip ends with the narrator tucked safely into bed, and in the morning, Daddy has a new favorite breakfast ready for her. Scribbly black line drawings show Daddy and the narrator with paper-white skin; bright, rainbow colors fill in objects here and there. Touching without being too sweet, this gentle story depicts a dad who knows his daughter—and what she needs—well. Honor Book, 2026 Charlotte Zolotow Award
CCBC Choices 2026. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin – Madison, 2026. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
2026 ALSC Notable Children’s Book
6 STARRED REVIEWS • AMAZON BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH • KIDS' INDIE NEXT PICK • 2025 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING KIDS BOOK AWARD WINNER
“An unforgettable story about change with a loving father-daughter bond at its heart.”—Matt de la Peña, Newbery Medal–winning author of Last Stop on Market Street
Newbery Medalist Rebecca Stead’s first picture book is a transporting tale about the power of an honest wish, the courage to speak it out loud, and the imagination to bring it to life.
What’s more powerful than a secret wish? A wish you say out loud.
Anything paints a tender picture of a father and daughter moving into a new home. Dad brings a birthday cake for the new apartment to celebrate their new beginning and tells his daughter she can wish for anything (or, more precisely, “three Anythings”). Over the course of the day, she wishes for some of her favorite things, including a rainbow and “the biggest slice of pizza in the whole world."
But she keeps some of her wishes inside. Because what she really wants is to go back home to their old apartment, with its big blue bathtub and space in the closet for hide-and-seek. When she finally admits this last wish, her dad takes her on a journey, and by the book’s final pages, she is home . . . in every way that matters.
Pairing an enchanting story from Rebecca Stead (author of the Newbery Medal-winning When You Reach Me) with delightful artwork from Gracey Zhang (illustrator of the Caldecott Honor-winning Noodles on a Bicycle), Anything is pure magic. A story that will resonate with every young reader, it is a powerful reminder that sometimes making a wish is a way of telling ourselves we're ready for something new.
BIG FEELINGS: Change can feel hard or even scary. This book about moving is for anyone facing new beginnings or uncertainty and the emotions that come with navigating the unknown, from fear and anxiety to excitement and hope. It’s a reassuring and uplifting read that shows a child—and her dad—using their imaginations and emotional connection to make room for something new.
FATHER-DAUGHTER LOVE: This is a heartwarming portrait of a beautiful father-daughter relationship built on love and trust. By the end of the story, she follows his example of generosity and is able to grant his wish, however small. This pitch-perfect ending will stay with readers long after the last page turns.
Perfect for:
6 STARRED REVIEWS • AMAZON BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH • KIDS' INDIE NEXT PICK • 2025 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING KIDS BOOK AWARD WINNER
“An unforgettable story about change with a loving father-daughter bond at its heart.”—Matt de la Peña, Newbery Medal–winning author of Last Stop on Market Street
Newbery Medalist Rebecca Stead’s first picture book is a transporting tale about the power of an honest wish, the courage to speak it out loud, and the imagination to bring it to life.
What’s more powerful than a secret wish? A wish you say out loud.
Anything paints a tender picture of a father and daughter moving into a new home. Dad brings a birthday cake for the new apartment to celebrate their new beginning and tells his daughter she can wish for anything (or, more precisely, “three Anythings”). Over the course of the day, she wishes for some of her favorite things, including a rainbow and “the biggest slice of pizza in the whole world."
But she keeps some of her wishes inside. Because what she really wants is to go back home to their old apartment, with its big blue bathtub and space in the closet for hide-and-seek. When she finally admits this last wish, her dad takes her on a journey, and by the book’s final pages, she is home . . . in every way that matters.
Pairing an enchanting story from Rebecca Stead (author of the Newbery Medal-winning When You Reach Me) with delightful artwork from Gracey Zhang (illustrator of the Caldecott Honor-winning Noodles on a Bicycle), Anything is pure magic. A story that will resonate with every young reader, it is a powerful reminder that sometimes making a wish is a way of telling ourselves we're ready for something new.
BIG FEELINGS: Change can feel hard or even scary. This book about moving is for anyone facing new beginnings or uncertainty and the emotions that come with navigating the unknown, from fear and anxiety to excitement and hope. It’s a reassuring and uplifting read that shows a child—and her dad—using their imaginations and emotional connection to make room for something new.
FATHER-DAUGHTER LOVE: This is a heartwarming portrait of a beautiful father-daughter relationship built on love and trust. By the end of the story, she follows his example of generosity and is able to grant his wish, however small. This pitch-perfect ending will stay with readers long after the last page turns.
Perfect for:
- Kids facing change, new beginnings, or uncertainty
- Parents seeking a comforting, uplifting book to share with children
- Educators and therapists looking for resources to coach young readers through challenges and change
- Father’s Day or birthday gift for dad
- Fans of Rebecca Stead books, including When You Reach Me, The List of Things That Will Not Change, and The Lost Library
- Fans of Gracey Zhang books, including Noodles on a Bicycle, Lala’s Words, and The Upside Down Hat
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.
