A lovely read.
"What book would be a good one for reading to my students?"
A story hour I had been considering for a long while, one that would connect my students all together for enjoying this thing called "reading" that we are learning about.
Perhaps for an hour or an hour and a half. I can imagine them all sitting in their comfy clothes on a weekend eve, snacks in hand, perhaps a cozy blanket...coloring whilst they listened. An engaging discussion possibly at the end of the high points of this elusive book I was searching for.
I needed a book that was not TOO lengthy, but one that had some good interest for kids of all ages. My dear friend, a retired school teacher (and an amazing one at that!) suggested a few of her favorites, one being Wishtree.
After reading Wishtree myself...I am sold. Being an avid nature girl, gardener and designer of gardens, I of course love any story about trees.
This one is a gem. Staged in an older neighborhood, between two little cottages, the main characters are Red, the ancient old oak, Bongo the resident crow, and all of the neighborhood wildlife who are named in correspondence to what they are scared of (one racoon is referred to as Flashlight).
Red has the history of being the wishtree in the landscape, where people come and tie little ribbons of cloth to his branches, where wishes are written and bequeathed to the Universe.
A new family moves into one of the cottages, and this family is not welcomed by the neighbors in the other cottage, for no good reason. It becomes the plight of Red, Bongo and the local wildlife to create connection between residences where there is none.
A very very sweet book with a timeless and meaningful message about dreams, wishes ....and belonging.
Katherine Applegate has also written other children's books, including "The One and Only Ivan."
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