A Wish from San Francisco
Written and illustrated by Tomoko Maruyama
(Shenzhen, China: TMK Design LLC, 2015, 48 pp., $17.99, hard cover)

This cheerful picture book, illustrated in pastels and yellow poppies, celebrates the birthday of Maya the Bear. Set in San Francisco, Luke the Bear gathers Maya’s friends all around the city.

Leaving his home in Alamo Square, Luke picks up Bunny at the Palace of Fine Arts. Squirrel was on Lombard Street. Raccoon is at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. Crab was at

Fisherman’s Wharf (of course). They all take a cable car to Maya’s house in the Presidio.

When Maya blows out the candles on her cake she discovers a magic star that floats up to the top of the Transamerica Pyramid. The star directs her to the Golden Gate Bridge,  where Maya makes a wish upon the star. She wishes to continue sharing happy times with her friends.

This is a sweet story with cute animals and it’s fun to see familiar San Francisco landmarks.