Newbery Book #3-Wishtree

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate.  Go read and share this book with all the kids you know.  This book is recommended for students in grades 3-6, but could be easily read aloud to younger students.  I wasn't planning on reading this in an afternoon, but I did.  The story, told by a tree (that's right: it turns out trees have a lot of stories to tell), is about friendship, loyalty, wishes come true, all sprinkled with a bit of magic.  I'm not sure I'll look at trees the same way again.  In fact, two days after reading this story, a large old tree in my neighborhood was taken down.  I watched as branch by branch the tree was dismantled and turned to chips.  I couldn't help but think about Red, our trusty wishtree, and all of the stories this tree next door had to tell.