The Wishing Tree

Meika Hashimoto

Book - 2021

"A powerful wish and a magical tree. December 25 is around the corner but Theo hasn't seen any signs of Christmas in his town. No twinkling lights. No merry carolers. Theo wants to know : Don't people love Christmas anymore? With a little help from a magical tree, Theo makes a wish -- and soon he has his answer. Write down your Christmas wishes on the on the twelve punch-out cards included -- and you can make your own Wishing Tree, just like Theo!" --

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Subjects
Genres
Christmas fiction
Fiction
Picture books
Published
New York, NY : Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers [2021]
Language
English
Main Author
Meika Hashimoto (author)
Other Authors
Xindi Yan (illustrator)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 29 cm + 12 punch-out cards
Audience
Ages 4-8.
ISBN
9780062747167
Contents unavailable.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

After realizing his town is devoid of Christmas spirit three days before the holiday, Theo, a Black child with dark curls, writes down "just one wish" to Santa. As he sleeps, the letter journeys "across frozen seas/ and stormy deserts" before reaching the North Pole. The next morning, a mysterious great pine labeled "Property of the North Pole" drops a response letter into Theo's hands saying "bring joy," setting off a chain of cheer-bringing events with Theo at the center as he partakes in traditional Christmas activities, such as hanging string lights and caroling with his neighbors. Yan's sweeping digital brushstrokes, depicting a township of varying ages, abilities, body types, and skin tones, add an animation-like layer of depth and texture to Hashimoto's lightly magical, community-centered tale. Back matter punch-out cards encourage readers to write their own wishes. Ages 4--8. (Sept.)

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

Theo's wish for a more-joyful Christmas is fulfilled in unexpected ways. With Christmas only three days away, the street outside Theo's window is quiet and dark. Theo decides that instead of asking Santa for toys, he has just one wish for Christmas. Crumpling up his original list, he writes a new letter, and while he sleeps, the wind pulls his letter out the window and through the air all the way to the North Pole. The next day, Theo is out playing in the snow when he finds a huge pine tree with the words Property of the North Pole carved into its trunk. From the tree falls a letter: "Bring joy." Later that day, Theo decides to decorate the town. The next day, another message from the tree says, "Find harmony." That night, he decides to go caroling and is joined by neighbor after neighbor. On Christmas, his parents have to work, and Theo is sad. His grandma decides that maybe the neighbors will want to brighten his Christmas as he brightened theirs. They do, and by night's end, Theo introduces them all to the wishing tree. Theo, who, like his whole family, presents Black, is a sweet, sympathetic protagonist readers will feel for as he seeks to make Christmas special. The example of individual joy being tied to community joy is timely and heartfelt. The blue-and-gold--themed illustrations bring the season to life. A dozen punch-out cards are included for the book's purchasers to make their own wishing trees. (This book was reviewed digitally.) This magic feels true. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.