Little Mole's Wish by Sang-Keun Kim (review)

In this Korean import, Little Mole befriends a snowball ("I just moved here. I don't have any friends"), but several bus drivers won't let him bring the snowball on the bus, even after he sculpts his friend to look like a bear. As they wait for a more obliging bus, they witness a shooting star ("I hope my wish comes true!" says Little Mole), and finally Mr. Deer lets them on his nice, warm bus, where Little Mole falls asleep and wakes up alone to be told that his friend "already got off," leaving only his borrowed hat behind. Little Mole returns home and tells Grandma about his day and his lost friend; when Little Mole wakes up, Grandma announces that his snowball friend has returned. Littler listeners may need some help with some of the implied events, but it's a sweet story of imaginative friendship and a loving grandmother. Kim's soft colored-pencil art perfectly encapsulates the fuzziness and serenity of a snowy forest, and pages with predominantly white backgrounds give the feel of a scenic winter day in contrast with the snug bus and Grandma's cozy house. Viewers who have struggled to make friends will likely understand Little Mole's dilemma, and astute viewers may appreciate the twist on the melted-snowman narrative, but Little Mole's kindness in waiting all day for the buses he's only willing to take with his newfound friend is universally charming.