Wish upon a Tree

Roseanne Thong (author)
Connie McLennan (illustrator)
The Wishing Tree
Shen's Books, 2004

Ming and his grandmother share a ritual, making a wish at the village's wishing tree, which blooms with brightly colored wishes tied to orange weights. As Ming grows up, we see the arc of his wishes shift from focusing on himself (growing big and strong) to concern for loved ones (a speedy recovery from illness for Grandmother). When the wishing tree disappoints him, Ming feels resentment. But, as he matures, he sees differently and returns to express gratitude to the tree. Roseanne Thong's story is based on a real wishing tree in Hong Kong.