MAKE A WISH. Author Jonathan Hillman (pictured) reads his new children’s book, The Wishing Machine, to a group of kiddos at Dotters Books in Eau Claire.

Jonathan Hillman released his first children’s book, Big Wig, in February of 2022 amid the pandemic and Wisconsin’s famous snowy season, preventing a proper book release. But now, he’s returned to the Chippewa Valley with his newest heartwarming children’s tale, The Wishing Machine.

The book came out on Oct. 17 and was first featured in the Valley at a local literature favorite, Dotter's Books in downtown Eau Claire. Now Hillman is heading back to his hometown for a reading and signing of his new book at Dragon’s Tale Books (216 Main St. E Menomonie) on Saturday, Nov. 4 from 5-6pm. Bring your kids and your questions (there will be time for those, too) to this special event!

The Wishing Machine, illustrated by Nadia Alam, follows Sam, an imaginative kid faced with an all-too-real dilemma: moving away from the only home he knows. “On its surface, The Wishing Machine is a story about moving away. But it’s also a celebration of community, embracing change, and the true meaning of home,” Hillman said, “This book is great for kids whose families are experiencing financial difficulty, or building empathy for those who are.

The idea for this book came when I misread ‘washing machine’ as ‘wishing machine’... Over several drafts, Sam’s particular story became clear – only upon reflection did I realize I was writing about my own experience with housing insecurity,” Hillman continued.

With Hillman’s personal connections to his story, it is only fitting that he return to his childhood home to celebrate its release.“It’s so special to be able to share this story with my hometown. The Wishing Machine centers on the idea of home, and Menomonie has always been that for me… It feels full circle to bring these stories back to the place that made me who I am,” Hillman said.

In his work, Hillman is inspired by the hope children bring. “As a writer, I get to go back and inhabit the optimistic view of a child and rediscover the world for the first time. I get to question the parts of it that don’t make sense, marvel at the parts that do, and hopefully, bring along some of my own experiences that might be useful to young people as they navigate their lives.”

While Hillman has a love of picture books, he soon hopes to write for all ages. Hillman currently has two projects in the works: a fantasy novel geared toward middle schoolers and a realistic novel for current teens. Keep an eye out for these future endeavors and join Hillman with The Wishing Machine Nov. 4 at Dragon’s Tale Books!

To stay in the literary loop, check out at jhillmanbooks.com and order your copy of The Wishing Machine today on Amazon.