Publisher's Synopsis
From award-winning horse trainer Carl O'Callaghan comes a heartwarming, uplifting children's book about the power of believing in your dreams. Wish's Derby tells the story of Wish, a horse with an autism spectrum disorder, who is teased and taunted by the other horses at Irish Stables. They call him weird because he finds it hard to follow directions, doesn't always understand their jokes, and has trouble making eye contact when they're talking to him. His only friend is the barn goat, Ruben, who insists that Wish is not weird at all, just quirky. But when the star horse at Irish Stables is injured during training for the Woodward Derby, Wish must rise to the challenge and race in his place. Although he's worried about letting Carl down, he's determined to try and do his best. It will take hard work, determination, and a lot of courage but with the support and encouragement of Carl and Ruben, Wish knows that it's his time to fulfill the dreams he has always had in his heart. The nonprofit organization, Wish Upon a Teen, is lucky to have Carl bringing his compassion and dedication to their team as one of their celebrity ambassadors. As Carl explains, "For me, Wish Upon a Teen means giving kids a chance to fulfill their dreams; to see them smile or shed a tear for something they always wanted or dreamed about doing. I'm so grateful to be a part of this great team and will my do my best to bring a smile to each kid I meet." 100% of the proceed of this book will be donated to Wish Upon a Teen to help maintain programming for teens with life-threatening or chronic illness and teens on the autistic spectrum.
