The Wishing Well
Illustrated by Emily Hughes
- Union Square Kids
At the bottom of a wishing well, a lonely monster counts every coin and records every wish, until he plans an escape to the riches up above: hugs, books, stars, and seasons.
- A September/October 2026 Kids’ Indie Next Pick
“Unhurried text and deliberately paced images that nod to classic fairy tales build to a satisfying story that speaks not only to the follies of getting and having but to the rewards of taking the long view.”
“Readers will empathize with the monster’s desire to experience the world above and come to understand that many things in life are more important than money.”
“Sterer’s story is quiet, resonant, and meditative; Hughes’s illustrations reinforce the tone with a timeless style that captures the land’s rural, fairy-tale–like setting.”