Rebecca Stead’s Anything is a beautifully tender picture book about change, wishes, and the love between a father and daughter. Moving to a new home can be overwhelming, and Stead captures that uncertainty with warmth and honesty. The story follows a young girl whose dad gives her “three Anythings” to wish for on her birthday—yet the wish she holds closest to her heart is one she struggles to say out loud.

Gracey Zhang’s expressive illustrations perfectly complement Stead’s gentle storytelling, bringing emotion and whimsy to the journey. This book is a wonderful choice for children navigating big transitions, offering reassurance that home isn’t just a place—it’s the love and connection we carry with us. A heartfelt, magical read that belongs on every library shelf.

Recommended for: Kids facing change, families looking for a meaningful read-aloud, and anyone who believes in the power of a wish.

Ok, not me being emotional about this one. I was raised by a single father, so the book put me right back there, especially the breakfast and how silly dads can be when they try to find comfort for their children. Perfect book for a kid getting used to a new home.

Being thrust into change is hard for most people but most especially a child. Even when you attempt to make their new space cozy with all of their creature comforts, new wall color, or favorite meal, they’ll still grieve and miss their previous home, friends and family, and things that couldn’t be brought to the new place. Anything was a sweet exchange between a sad child and her hopeful father. He attempts to make everything right but no matter who cheery he made things, there was gloomy and doom. As he transported her to her home, a long ride through the new apartment, all of the fears and sounds and smells start to become acceptable and comforting. The imagery was lovely and welcoming, like we were part of the neighborhood looking through the window past the street and into Apartment 3B.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the opportunity to read this picture book in exchange for an honest review.

A sweet and simple book about a loving father and daughter. These books always get me in the feels because I'm a daddy's girl. Perfect for Father's Day, or any time of year.

This is a wonderful story about a little girl who is having trouble adjusting to a move and how her father helps. My favorite part was when he was granting wishes. The use of color was amazing, with splashes of color in different places.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

This book tells the story of a little girl and her dad moving into a new apartment. We don’t know why they are moving or if there’s a mom in the picture… there is no backstory at all. It’s simply about a little girl trying to cope with her new situation while wishing she could stay in the home she grew up in.

The dad in this book is phenomenal, and his actions made me tear up more than once. He clearly recognizes his daughter’s pain so he offers her three wishes, telling her she can wish for anything (thus the title of the book). Her wishes range from easy tasks to impossible ones, but he handles her wishes in a way that absolutely touched my heart.

The illustrations are childlike, very pure and simple, and they made me feel like I was seeing the story through the girl’s eyes. The images were primarily black and white, but with bursts of color throughout, which appeared to be dependent on the girl’s current thoughts. The colors and illustrations absolutely enhanced the reading experience.

I love picture books about dads and daughters. I wish more books celebrated great dads, because they absolutely do exist.

This is a simple yet powerful book. Don’t be surprised if a tear appears in the corner of your eye as you read it.

Thank you @netgalley and Chronicle Books for an eARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This is a great story that will come in handy for kids who might be nervous about a move. I loved the father and child relationship and appreciate that the child is wishing for things they can't have, but understands that those things aren't possible. The father is able to provide fun things that fulfill even imaginative wishes. The illustrations are attractive and fun. Color is used really well, splashing across the page when the parent and child are having fun, and disappearing when things are scary or sad.

This is a sweet kids book about a father and his daughter moving into a new apartment. The daughter doesn't like the change, and to help her cope with it, her father makes a birthday cake for the apartment and asks his daughter what wishes she wants. I like the interaction between the father and daughter. The book shows children that change is okay.

The story is touching. The father celebrating a new life in a new apartment with the birthday cake. It shows the mixed feelings the girl has with the new changes. It is a good book to show children that change can be hard and you can still miss the old but the new can be exciting and positive as well.

Anything by Rebecca Stead is a truly heartwarming, tender picture book that beautifully captures the complexities of change, family love, and the power of wishes. Illustrated by Gracey Zhang, the book is a delightful visual treat, with illustrations that bring the story’s emotions to life. The combination of Stead’s thoughtful, lyrical writing and Zhang’s vibrant artwork makes this book a perfect read for young readers, as well as a wonderful tool for parents or caregivers navigating the sometimes difficult conversations around moving and new beginnings.

The story centers on a father and daughter who are settling into a new apartment. In an effort to help his daughter adjust to the change, the father tells her she can wish for anything—three wishes, to be exact. What follows is a series of sweet, whimsical wishes, like a rainbow and the world’s biggest slice of pizza, but as the day unfolds, we see that the daughter’s heart longs for a return to their old home. The emotional depth of her unspoken wish, and her eventual ability to voice it, underscores the book’s powerful message about the vulnerability it takes to express what we truly need.

What I particularly loved about Anything was the way it painted such a beautiful, loving portrait of a father-daughter relationship. The dad is tender and patient, not just fulfilling his daughter’s wishes, but guiding her through the emotional process of embracing the new while holding onto cherished memories. By the end, there’s a lovely moment where the daughter is able to grant her father’s wish—something small but deeply meaningful—offering a sense of full-circle emotional connection that resonates with readers of all ages.

The idea that a wish—especially one spoken aloud—can hold great power is at the heart of the story. It’s not just about asking for things; it’s about expressing our desires and fears, our hopes and our doubts. And sometimes, simply voicing a wish is the first step toward finding a new sense of home, happiness, or comfort. The book gently reminds readers that embracing change, while scary, can lead to surprising moments of connection and growth.

Anything is a celebration of big feelings, and its soothing tone makes it an ideal read for children experiencing any form of transition—be it moving to a new house, starting a new school, or dealing with a life change. It offers reassurance that it’s okay to feel sad or uncertain, but that with love, patience, and a little imagination, new beginnings can be filled with wonder and hope.

This book is pure magic and will undoubtedly stay with readers long after they turn the last page. Whether it’s the enchanting story, the beautifully drawn illustrations, or the powerful emotional core, Anything is a must-have for any young reader’s collection.

The story is heartfelt and conveyed emotion, but I was left achy and dissatisfied at the end. The father is so patient and accommodating (almost to an unrealistic extent), but the concerns and sadness experienced by the child aren't actually addressed. He placates her feelings but doesn't give her the respect of an explanation or real reassurance. This isn't a book I'd read to my kids.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc
This is a wonderful book that teaches children that while change can be scary, it might be worth it if you go through the change with someone you love. This book also showcases a very special relationship between a father and daughter, and I think children will find this to be charming. The illustrations in this book are also sure to put a smile on your face.

A little girl and her dad move in to a new apartment. They have a birthday party for the apartment and her dad lets her make three wishes. They paint her room, bring in plants, and explore the new neighborhood but she secretly wishes they could just go back to their old home. This is a sweet, relatable story of missing home and the lengths a loving father will go to make his child feel safe.

Touching and sweet, I think this book will resonate with young readers and their caregivers. Great reminder for all of us that change is hard but it helps to have someone help you manage big feelings and feel safe. Beautifully detailed artwork.

A little girl and her dad move to a new apartment and the little girl struggles with the change. The dad does a great job caring for his grieving daughter. The book was entertaining enough for my 3yo, but it was mostly over her head about what was really going on. I think it would be sweet for any kids who have experienced similar changes.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I received a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Once I saw Rebecca Stead’s name, I couldn’t hit the request button quickly enough!

This one is adorable but bittersweet. A little girl and her father are celebrating their new apartment’s birthday. When her father suggests she wish for “anything” when she blows out the candles, the little girl wishes for “three anythings.” The first is a rainbow, which her father immediately paints on her wall. But the rest are harder, mostly because she wishes they didn’t have to move at all. It’s a picture book, so there’s no backstory on why they had to move, or what might have happened to mom, or how much had to change. The little girl is mature enough to know that what she wants isn’t possible, so she asks for tangible things, like the world’s biggest slice of pizza. Ultimately, her father helps her come to terms with their new living situation (when she asks to “go home,” he carries her on a ride around the new apartment until she falls asleep).

The illustrations are really striking - mostly black and white, but with pops of blue, yellow, red, and green. Another one I’m excited to see in print!

I love the impact of the illustrations, grayscale at the beginning with bright color slowly being introduced. I often see stories that show the sadness and heartbreak of the child moving away, this book is unique in how it shows the adjustment to the new home. I felt sadness along with the child and tenderness towards the Dad. What a special bond they have! Wonderful read, definitely a book to have in the home library.

Love makes tough times easier in this very sweet story of a father and daughter who have just moved to a new apartment. So often, books with a "new home" theme assume that children are moving to a new house—so the urban setting makes this one stand out. Charming illustrations by Gracey Zhang perfectly match the voice of Rebecca Stead's writing.

Beautifully, wonderfully simple. The words are simple, but powerful and full of emotion. The illustrator does a perfect job of illustrating color and drawings placed in the right way to empower the words of this wonderfully simple story.

A very sweet story about a dad/daughter moving into a new apartment. Dad gets the apartment a birthday cake and daughter can make three "anything wishes". The illustrations are cute and dad's desire to make them comfortable in their new apartment despite a little kids anxiety around being in a new place.

Very cute story!