Peter Vanderwall
Author, Screenwriter
Kirkus Review
October 15, 2022 A dog learns that each pup is special in their own way in Vanderwall’s debut picture book. Vanderwall builds the story well for newly independent readers, with simply structured sentences, repeated phrases, and fun sound words (squish-squash-squish, click-clack, squeak-squeak-squeaking). Illustrator Lillian’s two-page spread is joyful. The painterly cartoon style allows for humanlike expressions on otherwise realistically portrayed animals’ faces, and the diverse cast of humans of varying skin tones, shapes, and ages is a delight. A book for dog lovers featuring a strong lesson about the value of friendship.
Collin loves his book! With all of his books, every night Collin asks me to read Mac's Big Wish. I enjoy reading it to him each night, because I see another cute character and find another lesson for myself and my family. Great Book.
​-- Dr. Steven Yao, Orthopedic Surgeon, Salem, Oregon
Mr. Vanderwall: Congratulations on your book, Mac's Big Wish, having won the Patricia Gallagher Children's Choice Book Award for 2024. The purpose of the award is to promote a love of reading with high quality children's literature. Thank you for your wonderful contribution to children's literature.
​-- Cara Miller, Patricia Gallagher Book Award Committee Chair, Oregon State Literacy Association
Beautifully written and gorgeously illustrated, this book is a hidden treasure waiting to be found and passed down for generations. It's a story that will not only capture children's hearts but anyone's heart no matter how old you are. Mac's journey takes you through the emotions that we all experience. Loneliness, sadness, fear, hope, happiness, and pure joy. This story reminds us that dreams and wishes really can come true, and that no matter what, there is always hope.
​-- Sherry Meregillano, Retired Social Worker, Eden, Utah
It was fun to visit with the author at the Mac's Big Wish booth at Corgi Beach Day in Seaside, Oregon of June, 2024. Beautiful book, our Milo, Rico & Mowgli will love the book especially the star of the book: Mac, the Corgi. Your inscription and autograph make the book a true keepsake. True friends are never apart, you will always be in my heart.
​--Amanda & Family, Pocatello, Idaho
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Mac's Big Wish pulls at my heart strings in brilliant ways. I hold many adoption hearings in my courtroom and I now give a copy of Mac's Big Wish as a special gift at adoption. It is perfect. Thank you for such a wonderful book and for inscribing each with the quote from Helen Keller: All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.
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Thanks to Aunt Marianne and Uncle Don Schlies of Sweet Home, Oregon, for gifting me 24 copies of this beautiful book to share with adoptees in my courtroom. Under your inscription,
I write: I was adopted too!
​-- Judge Melody Garland Harmon, Juvenile Court, Phoenix, Arizona
Mac's Big Wish is such a beautiful book with many important lessons for my grandchildren. It is likely when their books are passed down to their children they may relate our meeting to them! I shall encourage that!
​-- Janine E. Arnold, Retired Horticulturist, Caboolture, Queensland, Australia​
