When I visit with the grandchildren, a beloved ritual is reading a story before bedtime. The musicality of words floating into the ear and going into the mind becomes an arrow that pierces the heart. It always happens that way.
Thanksgiving some years ago I brought along plenty of books to read aloud. I also brought a new book to read. Not a read-aloud for the children, but a book for me. I never expected what would happen next.
The children were camping out and snuggled in sleeping bags in the bedroom. It was fun, but didn’t lend itself to seeing the pictures in a picture book. I thought I would read to them a little of my book, Wishtree by Katherine Applegate (the author of the award-winning book The One and Only Ivan). I hadn’t read the book, so we were all jumping into something new.
What started as one night of bedtime reading became the focus of our holiday together. The book is outstanding. It plucks at every scintilla. There is no stopping, as the storyline keeps going. So, we had to keep going. We read the next day, and the next night, and so on, until we finished the book. 211 pages. Just like chapter reading in my classroom at school, I was reading aloud with no pictures. The big difference was reading the book in only a few days. Somehow, that made reading more exciting. Breathless. Heart pounding.
Red is an oak tree with two hundred and sixteen rings. He’s been around a long time, and he tells the story. He’s a Wishtree, with a long and honorable history. On the first day of May it’s been a tradition for people to put wishes on his tree, written on paper or cloth and tied to his branches. Sometimes those wishes are also whispered to Red. He talks about his neighborhood:
Different languages, different food, different customs. That’s our neighborhood: wild and tangled and colorful. Like the best kind of garden.
Red talks about himself and people:
For a tree, communication is just as complicated and miraculous as it is for humans. In a mysterious dance of sunlight and sugar, water and wind and soil, we build invisible bridges to connect with the world.
Can you imagine reading those sentences to children? I had to stop. My grandchildren said not a word. Words were not necessary because Red had said them all. We were humbled. Spellbound.
The story is centered on two children in the neighborhood, Samar and Stephen, the host of animal families who live in Red’s tree, and Francesca, whose family has owned Red for centuries. It is history and uncovering the past, diversity and acceptance both then and now, friendship, nature, understanding, and great adventure. Oh yes, adventure. My grandchildren and I fell in love with Bongo the bird, Red’s best friend. Lewis and Clark are cats, FreshBakedBread is the mama skunk, and on and on, with animals who are the supporting characters in this book.
When someone carves LEAVE on Red, the plot thickens. This becomes sleuth work. The stories of the children, and Francesca’s past, and also Red’s past come together. It is captivating. The message it sends is a beacon of hope and promise.
Flash forward to TODAY.
I read this book to my library Book Bears. We finished it today. What I had forgotten was Stephen and Samar’s school came together on wishing day to hang the wish STAY on Red. Every student and teacher did this. What a counter to the cruel LEAVE carved into Red. I cried in front of my Book Bears. We all hugged.
Here is what we read today. Remember, Red the tree tells the story, and Francesca is the owner with much family history. She was ready to take down Red:
Finally Francesca spoke. “Look. I don’t do speeches. That’s not my way.” She patted my trunk. “But here’ s the thing. Until today, I’d almost forgotten how important this old tree is to my family story. And from the look of it” — she pointed to my animal residents –“it’s important to a few other families as well.”
Many people smiled. A few laughed.
“I hate this word,” Francesca continued, running her hand over my carved bark. “Hate it. My great-great-grandmother Maeve would have hated it just as much. Here in this neighborhood, we’re better than this.” She looked over at Samar’s parents. “We don’t threaten people. We welcome them.”
Francesca reached for Samar’s hand. “This tree is staying put. And I hope your family will, too.”
Is this book just for children? Absolutely no! It’s a must read. Samar was different, like Gloria, and Red tells the story. Hey, he’s been around for 216 years. He knows.
My Book Bears loved this, and one girl never missed a chapter!
We’re planning on writing wishes and hanging them on the tree by the library entrance.
Like Red, I’ve been around a long time. I know the best. And, this is one of the best.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
Wonderful Jennie, your grandchildren and all your other book bears are so lucky to have you.
Thanks, FR. That’s so nice.
I love this book SO much! I read it to my two boys when they were younger, and while I adored it, they seemed kind of indifferent at the time. BUT, years later I was putting laundry away in my teen son’s room and I saw Wishtree on his nightstand. I asked him about it later and he said, “That’s one of my favorite books ever. I like to read it before I fall asleep.” Your post made me so happy, and now I want to read Wishtree again. Thank you!
What a wonderful story! You must have been SO happy to see him with the book. I hope you read it again, you’ll probably discover parts you’d forgotten, like I did.
This is a wonderful story, Jennie. The book sounds delightful and the message is welcome and necessary. I’m glad you shared this experience with us.
The book and message is all you say it is. Thanks, Dan. I’m glad you enjoyed this.
i love this book and love that you read it io the book bears as well as your own grandies, the ripple effect is wonderful!
It’s one of the best, Beth, as you know. I’m so glad I got to read this book aloud, many times. You are spot on about the ripple effect.
It sounds wonderful. I can imagine your voice reading the words, adding the personality. Nice, Jennie.
Thank you for your kind words, Jacqui. It is a wonderful book, and I do add a lot with voice and personality. 😀
Thank you for a delightful, uplifting story of reading a good book aloud to receptive children!
You are welcome, Liz! It’s my pleasure.
You continue to inspire your own family, and the children you teach. It sounds like a wonderful, and important book, and I’m sure that hanging wishes on the tree near the library will start a trend that lasts forever.
Best wishes, Pete.
That’s so nice, Pete. Thank you! Did you know that Wishtrees are still popular today? I think they started in Ireland. In the book, Maeve was the first to arrive from Ireland and put wishes on Red the tree. I hope I can get some pictures of our Wishtree event. The child in the photo already told me what her wish was. I choked back tears.
Wishtree sounds great, Jennie. Thanks for the recommendation. 😊
It really is, Melanie. I hope you read the book. Every library has it. Many thanks!
I could only find it in audible format on Libby, but I’ll investigate further! 😊
That’s a shame. I’m not a fan of audio, but it’s better than nothing. There are some illustrations in the book, too. If your library doesn’t have the book, they can get it for you from another library. Best to you, Melanie.
It is a wonderful uplifting story. Thank you for introducing it to us several years ago. My Grandsons loved it when I read it to them.
I’m so glad you read the book to your grandsons! Yes, it’s one of the best books. Best to you, Deborah.
A great story of tolerance, Jennie. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure, John. Many thanks.
😊
Jennie what a lovely post. …I love the thought of the tree Red being everyone together. This really sounds like a must read book.💜💜💜
It is definitely a must read, and Red telling the story is perfect. Thanks, Willow. 💕
thank you for the tip Jennie 💜💜
My pleasure, Willow. This book is right up your alley.
💜💜
I remembered reading this book and had to go back and see when it was—2023. It’s always fun to discover new books. I’m glad to hear that your group is still meeting, Jennie. Are any of your former students in your group?
I’m so glad I read this book again. I had one former student in my group. I love my library reading! Our final visit will be writing and hanging wishes on the tree outside the library door. Stay tuned!
Kathrine Applegate has written some great stories. I thought I had read this book, but I just checked and I had not. I will have to read it now. Maybe over the summer with my grandkids because they are here almost everyday in the summer. Thanks for reminding me about this one. How special it must have been for your book bears to have you read this and share your honest feelings with them.
I’m so glad you will be reading this wonderful book to your grandkids over the summer. It’s the best! You just might laugh, cry, stop to have deep discussions, too. It was wonderful to share with my library Book Bears.
I’m looking forward to it.
Please let me know how it goes. 😀
How beautiful, Jennie!!! And now, I MUST READ this book! You are the best teacher any child could ever hope for, my friend! Thank you for sharing this experience … and enough of this book to whet my appetite for it!
You will LOVE the book, Jill. So glad I could recommend it. Thanks for your kind words.
Wishtree roots are entangled in my (he)art…
😉
Perfectly and beautifully said, Laura. Thank you.
They’re entangled in mine, too, and they run deep. Love (he)art!
I’ll try to have this book on hand next time my grandchildren spend the night. When I tried to read Alice In Wonderland to them, no pictures, they wanted a book with pictures. Now they’re older … so it’s a maybe.
Alice in Wonderland is difficult. How old are your grandchildren? This book will work if they’re in grades 2 or 3 and above. Definitely above, as you will be drawn in, too.
They were 6 and 5 at the time. And kids nowadays seem to prefer such different entertainments than what we did when I was a kid.
That’s true.
Jennie, I got goosebumps reading your experience with the Wishtree book. What an experience!! It sounds like an amazing read!! 💙
It really is, Colleen. Thank you, and goosebumps are a good thing. 🥰
You’re so welcome, Jennie. 💙
🙂
Hi Jennie, this is a wonderful family anecdote about a lovely sounding book.
Thank you, Robbie. Do you know wish trees? This is right up your alley. I think they started in Ireland and are still popular today. When I was on Cape Cod with friends some years ago, we were walking along a deserted beach and stumbled upon a fallen tree decorated with hanging shells. I knew immediately it was a wish tree! The book is one of the best I’ve read!
I’ll see if I can find the book on Amazon. I’ve never seen a wish tree in South Africa.
Most wish trees in South Africa are in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Yoko Ono has a famous one there. Coming upon one is very humbling. You will love the book. Promise!
I am sure I will, Jennie. Thank you.
You’re welcome, Robbie.
💞
This is a wonderful uplifting post, Jennie! I really enjoyed reading it.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this. Thank you, Cathy. I’m sure you know that writing this was more than uplifting for me; it’s bells and whistles and fireworks. As you know, that’s how it is for writers. 🙂
Inspirational and motivational story about the Red Tree and it is still there. Lovely I enjoyed reading the story Jennie. Thanks a lot dear 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Many thanks, Kamal. I’m so glad you enjoyed this story.
Yes Jennie awesome. Always welcome dear ❣️❣️❣️❣️
Thank you, Kamal!
You sure do know the best. Wonder post. Thanks for sharing, Jennie.
Glad you enjoyed this, Steve. Thanks so much!
Fantastic book review Jennie! 🥰
Thank you, Debby!
Welcome Jennie
Thank you, Kamal!
What a wonderful reading aloud experience! I’ve had a handful of times when I started reading a book that sang off the page and straight into the heart of my young listeners – it’s always magical. Thank you for sharing this one:)).
Yes, when that happens it is always magical! You know firsthand. I’m so glad you enjoyed this. Thank you, Sarah.
Beautifully described ! enjoyed reading it.
Thank you!
Sounds a wonderful book. We have a tree near our holiday home where people leave wishes and mementoes. It’s known as the ‘fairy’ tree.
That’s good to know. I love the name.
Welcome Jennie ❤️🙏❤️
Thank you, Kamal!
I think I have this book on my wish list. She is such a wonderful writer.
She is!
Hi Jennie, Thank you for a wonderful post!
I’m glad you liked it, Charles!
Welcome Jennie ❤️
Thank you, Kamal!
❤️❤️❤️
Thank you, Kamal!