Wishy Washy's Wish

About the Book

Wishy Washy’s Wish is for the children of the world. It is a wish for awareness of the wide range of human skills and possibilities, as well as, the freedom and responsibility included with that awareness. The story, set in the deep forests of the Pacific Northwest, is both environmentally educational and entertaining. Sue and Sam are 6 inch tall hand carved wood dolls who are magically brought to life by Wishy Washy Witch, the master craftswoman of the story. The mystery and suspense of Sue and Sam’s survival in the woods is enhanced by detailed descriptions of basic cabin living skills and simple stick construction techniques which children can imitate. Through illustrations, photos, words and pictographs, the story presents skill-building lessons in the basic use of sticks and knot-tying: the children learn to construct ladders and lean-to’s, tripods and tepees. In the process, they become familiar with Northwest plants and animals during Sue and Sam’s adventures. Wishy Washy’s Wish is for the children of the world. It is a wish for awareness of the wide range of human skills and possibilities, as well as, the freedom and responsibility included with that awareness. The story, set in the deep forests of the Pacific Northwest, is both environmentally educational and entertaining. Sue and Sam are 6 inch tall hand carved wood dolls who are magically brought to life by Wishy Washy Witch, the master craftswoman of the story. The mystery and suspense of Sue and Sam’s survival in the woods is enhanced by detailed descriptions of basic cabin living skills and simple stick construction techniques which children can imitate. Through illustrations, photos, words and pictographs, the story presents skill-building lessons in the basic use of sticks and knot-tying: the children learn to construct ladders and lean-to’s, tripods and tepees. In the process, they become familiar with Northwest plants and animals during Sue and Sam’s adventures.

About the Author

Walter Barkas and Rivkah Sweedler are two artists who lived in the forests of the Pacific Northwest in cabins they built of fir poles, logs and cedar shakes. They began their collaboration of life and art in 1978. Their stories, sculptures, paintings, photographs, living spaces, all evolved as egalitarian collaborations. They shared a basic desire to learn, experiment, have fun and do their best. The goal was to live by their own skills as much as possible using the windfalls of nature and the cast off windfalls of the consumer society. To live in the forest and harvest from the forest without destroying or “civilizing” the forest. Walter died in 1995. The collaboration continues as Rivkah puts together and completes the stories and adventures.