I read this book ages ago and loved it. It is a great story. I did order it for my library at the time.

Reading Wishtree, I felt Red whisper the story to me. It is a quiet book with such an important lesson. So many lines to highlight and remember. One in particular: "It is a great indeed to love who you are." This is one book that needs to be on your TBR list.

Another fantastic title by Katherine Applegate. Having the main character as a tree witnessing prejudice and racism gives a sense of someone on the outside, looking in. It is the epitome of a window book that can turn into a mirror book because of all the ways someone may be a bystander to this kind of treatment of others. My school would like to use this book as a One School, One Book title for grades K-6 because of the simplistic language, yet deep content.

Muslim family in neighborhood- Islamaphobia is addressed in this middle grade pick in an age appropriate way that lets kids know prejudice is not okay and they are not alone.

This book is a nice length for kids who are struggling to find the right book. I love that the tree tells the story. You start to forget that the tree isn’t human. The illustrations add a lot to the book.

A powerful tale of love and resilience told from the perspective of the "wish tree." Timely - a must purchase for all libraries.

I must confess: I am not a huge fan of "The One and Only Ivan", so I hadn't read other books by Applegate. And at first, I wasn't sure about this one. A book written from the viewpoint of a tree? I was skeptical. I'm so glad I did read "Wishtree". Prejudice against a new Muslim family in the neighborhood could have led to an issue-driven book, but the unique voices of Red, the old oak tree, Bongo the crow and all of the small animals living in Red's branches kept the focus on their antics in this delightful story. Recommended for 8-12 year-olds.

A tree that shares its experiences with you. Experiences like the joy of someone who writes a wish and ties it to a cloth on its branches.

Red is a wishtree that has been around for ages and for the most part things are well. But when a new family moves in and a slur is written on their door, a shift occurs and Red must speak out.

A delightful story of hope, compassion, kindness, and inclusion. Readers of all ages will be entranced from the first page. Not only will students love this title, classroom teachers will find many "teachable moments". This title deserves a place on every classroom and library bookshelf!

WIshtree was part of our school's Mock Newberry club this year. It was also one of my read alouds. It is a timely and necessary read for students. This story is told from the perspective of Red the tree. Red has lived a long life, which may be about to come to an end. He has seen many things, both the good and the bad. Unfortunately, Red's observations are concerning, but he's spent his life observing. But now might be the time for Red to speak up. A new family has moved to Red's neighborhood and people are not welcoming. As a wish tree, Red hears the wishes for acceptance and belonging. My students enjoyed Applegate's writing style as well as the message to readers.

Five enthusiastic stars for this sweet, beautiful, heartwarming story. It’s charming, and funny, and big-hearted, and touching, and imparts a lovely (and timely) message without it being saccharine or manipulative. I loved every page.

A story told from the vantage point of a tree, with lessons of tolerance, respect, and countering bullying...It's a hefty task and this book takes it in stride. I finished this book and immediately made a list of the children and teachers I needed to recommend it to.

Applegate is a master of personification and emotional stories. She did it with a gorilla, and now she has done it with a tree. As the story moves, the reader takes turns at the base of the tree, in the branches, and inside the trunk, listening to the observations of the tree and the animals about people, letting them tie wishes to the branches and cry against its trunk.

A heartbreaking and heartwarming story at the same time, this book a new favorite of mine.

Wishtree is a sweet book about nature, friends, and family. It is a good introduction to multicultural literature as well as the gden rule!

such a cute middle graders read. Will be getting a copy for my class library.

"Wishtree" conveys the story of Red, an elderly oak tree who each year provides a place where people can write down their wishes and hopes. They accomplish this by attaching pieces of cloth and tying it to Red's branches.
Beyond the simplicity of the story lies so much more. When a new family moves into town and is not welcomed by all, Red, and her friends, including, Bongo, the crow, rise to the occasion and promote well-being and acceptance upon their neighbors. In addition to providing solace to the community, Red also provides a haven for other animals who seek a spot in the tree. Yet, even Red's existence is threatened.
"Wishtree" touches on so many subjects so sensitively and, in these tumultuous times, it is a necessary book for young readers.

Wishtree is such a sweet story. It shows kids that they can make a difference in the world. Also, it captures what the spirit of a neighborhood should be and how we should treat other people. It’s full of good lessons, and I think that even reluctant readers will enjoy it.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher.

it starts out slow. I wanted it to just get to the story already for many pages. once it did though, I was completely hooked on red, all the animals living in red and the families sharing space with the tree. very powerful and very relevant story of immigration, discrimination, community, and friendship. highly recommended for 4th to 8th grades but also for reading aloud to younger audiences, probably down to 1st. you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll cry some more.

This book is an excellent example of Katherine Applegate working in several topics using animals and humans to tell the story. In this book, a tree gets to be the center of it all. The lessons kids ( and adults) can take away from this story are inspirational.

Absolute perfection in a book. Wishtree is everything I wanted in a one sitting book.