"Here in this neighborhood, we're better than this...We don't threaten people here. We welcome them."
Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 3 - 6
Lexile Measure: 590 (Grade 4.2)
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends; First Edition edition (September 26, 2017)'
Rating: 5 out of 4
Summary:
Red is an oak tree who is many rings old. Red is the neighborhood "wishtree." People write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red's branches. Along with her crow friend Bongo, this "wishtree" watches over the neighborhood.
This story is told by an oak tree who tells about the animals that live in his tree and the people he has known in the hundreds of years he has lived as a wishtree. The tree doesn't talk to people but one day the tree breaks this rule and speaks to children who he wants to help form a friendship. The story also weaves in a story about immigration and newcomers who live in this neighborhood that usually welcomes them.
The storytelling is wonderful, the illustrations are adorable, the conclusion is satisfying, and the message is important. I can see this book becoming a Newbery winner for 2018. It is also a great read aloud for elementary classrooms!
Watch this amazing book trailer by the book publisher:
No comments:
Post a Comment