A Wish for Wings That Work

A Wish for Wings That Work is a 1991 children's picture book by Berkeley Breathed featuring Opus, a penguin character from his comic strips Bloom County and Outland. The book pairs Breathed's illustrations with a story about a penguin's quest to achieve his impossible dream. Opus faces a core conflict: he is a penguin who wants to fly. He tries various methods to accomplish his goal and makes a special Christmas wish to Santa Claus, leading to events that unfold on Christmas Eve. The story includes several supporting characters from Breathed's comic strips and incorporates both Christmas themes and winter settings. The book was adapted into a CBS animated television special the same year it was published. This tale explores themes of self-acceptance, determination, and finding unexpected ways to fulfill one's dreams. The narrative balances humor with deeper messages about personal limitations and natural abilities.

Readers appreciate the book's message about self-acceptance and perseverance. Parents note that their children request repeated readings and connect with Opus's struggle to overcome his limitations. The artwork receives frequent mentions for its detailed illustrations and expressive characters. Multiple reviewers highlight the emotional depth conveyed through Opus's facial expressions. Common criticisms include the story being too complex for very young children and too wordy for bedtime reading. Some fans of the Bloom County comic strip find the book's tone more sentimental than the original series. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (180+ ratings) Sample review quotes: "The illustrations are beautiful but my 4-year-old lost interest halfway through" - Amazon reviewer "Perfect balance of humor and heart. My kids identify with Opus's determination" - Goodreads reviewer "More serious than the comic strip but still captures Opus's charm" - Goodreads reviewer

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🐧 The character of Opus first appeared in Breathed's comic strip "Bloom County" in 1981 and became one of the series' most beloved characters ✏️ Berkeley Breathed won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 1987 for his work on "Bloom County" 🎬 The book was adapted into an animated TV special in 1991, featuring the voices of Robin Williams and Michael Bell 🎨 Breathed's artistic style was influenced by Walt Kelly's "Pogo" comics, which similarly combined whimsical animal characters with social commentary 🦆 Despite being flightless, penguins are actually excellent swimmers, capable of reaching speeds up to 22 mph underwater and diving as deep as 1,800 feet