It begins on a most unusual day, when a blue sun rises in a green sky and dozens of balloons fly from every tree. And when a magician in a long black coat and a starry hat turns up, the sights become even stranger. The magician grants a lucky child nine wishes, each more marvelous than the last - an orange pony with a purple tail, a garden with candy flowers, a pocket-sized zoo, and other whimsical wonders.Master storyteller Shirley Jackson, author of the short-story classic The Lottery, collaborated with artist Lorraine Fox to create this winsome picture book. Illustrated with brilliantly coloured two-page spreads, this vivid fantasy will transport young readers to a world of enchantment. AGES: 8 to 12 AUTHOR: Author of novels, memoirs, and tales for children, Shirley Jackson (1916 65) was a master of the short story ? as her classic of the genre, The Lottery, attests. A recipient of the Edgar Allan Poe and O. Henry awards for short stories, she is the namesake of the Shirley Jackson Awards, presented in recognition for outstanding achievement in the literature of psychological suspense.