Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Ninth Birthday Wish is a children’s picture book written by Bruce E Arrington and illustrated by Florence Jayne. Bril and Arisa were twins, but they could hardly be more different than each other if they tried. Bril was a dreamer who liked to read, while his sister, Arisa, craved action and adventure. They did find common ground when it came to the family sand box where their creativity had Bril designing skyscrapers and Arisa modeling action figurines. When their ninth birthday arrived, the family went on a tropical vacation where a magical pond was known for granting birthday wishes. Bril, being the older twin, was to go first with his wish, but Arisa was too excited to wait and blurted out her wish first. Would their wishes be reversed?

Bruce Arrington’s children’s picture book, The Ninth Birthday Wish, explores the stresses and strains that are a part of living with siblings -- especially if that sibling is a twin. In this exciting and action-packed tale, Bril and Arisa end up living each other’s wishes and learning more about themselves and each other in the process. Florence Jayne’s illustrations are inspired. Each panel is suitable for framing for a child’s room, especially the beach and pirate ship scenes. This book is especially suited for twins, who may feel isolated from and different than most of the kids in their neighborhoods, but its message is also perfect for families where siblings have markedly different interests and personalities. Arrington’s choice of language makes this a grand primer for young readers as well as a perfect storytime selection. The Ninth Birthday Wish is most highly recommended.