Barnaby Bright and the Wishing Wobble

Theo shows up with a shiny new scooter — flashing wheels, a singing bell, the works. Suddenly Barnaby Bright's own bike looks boring, and something sour and itchy starts prickling behind his eyes...

The Wobble is back — yellow-green again, the same "I want that too" feeling that showed up in earlier books, now stirred up by a friend's flashy new toy instead of a new sibling or being left out. Theo hasn't done anything wrong — he's just happily showing off something new, and that's exactly what makes this feeling so relatable.

With Dad by his side, Barnaby learns that wanting what someone else has is completely normal — and that a second look at his own bike (his own color, his own grandpa's bell, his own downhill speed) can turn envy into pride.

Why families will love this book

Barnaby Bright and the Wishing Wobble tackles everyday social comparison — the "why does my friend get the cool thing" moment — with warmth instead of a lecture. Nobody is the villain: Theo stays completely sympathetic throughout, and the resolution isn't "stop wanting things," it's a genuine gratitude reframe that gives kids (and grown-ups) a real tool to use.

Perfect for children who are:

• Comparing their things, skills, or experiences to a friend's
• Learning that wanting what someone else has is normal, not shameful
• Comforted by consistent characters and a familiar emotional story arc
• Ready to practice noticing what's good about what they already have

Book Seventeen of the Barnaby Bright series. Ages 3–6. 32-page full-color softcover picture book, 8.5×8.5".