There’s a tree in Onaway third-grade student Juliet Wolken’s front yard with strips of fabric tied around some of the branches. On each strip of fabric, someone has written a heart-felt wish and tied it to the tree. One reads, “I wish to play with my friends soon.” Another says, “That we all could be together.” And yet another reads, “I wish that COVID-19 never happened.”
Juliet had the idea to start her own wishtree after reading Katherine Applegate’s book “Wishtree” with her grandmother via FaceTime during Ohio’s stay-at-home order.
Wishtree is a delightful, touching book told by a 216-year-old oak tree named Red, who serves as the neighborhood wishtree—like Juliet’s—where passers-by tie wishes around his branches. While the neighborhood is diverse, it’s not always accepting. And that’s where Red, who faces the threat of being cut down, steps in with the help of his nature friends.
Read more about Juliet and her wishtree:
Tell us a little bit about the book “Wishtree.”
It’s about a tree named Red and every year on May 1, people put a wish on the tree. It’s an old tree that people have been coming to for a long time.
So when and why did you start your own wishtree?
My grandma and I were about to finish the book and all along, we talked about creative ideas to do with the Wishtree. It was almost May 1, Wish Day, and my virtual class was meeting on May 1, so it worked out that I could tell my friends on that day to put a wish on my tree.
How many wishes do you have on the tree now?
Well, some of the teachers at Onaway put wishes on the tree and some of my friends and classmates did, too. We’ve had more wishes every day. I think we’re up to about 20 now.
What are some of your favorite wishes?
My grandma left a wish that said, “I wish to hug and kiss my grandchildren again.” My brother left one that he wants to go back to school. A teacher’s wish was, “I want to hug my babies again.” And I wrote a wish for my guinea pig—he wishes for a friend.
Would you recommend Wishtree to other readers? Why?
I would recommend it because it’s a fun book and the chapters aren’t too long, so you can get four chapters done each night. Plus, it’s not too complicated.
You were inspired by the book. Do you know if you’ve inspired anyone else?
I’ve heard from teachers that there are other people who are making their own wishtrees and five of my friends are, too. That’s been really nice.