Elementary Book Club: Bringing Wishtree to Life

This spring, the inaugural Elementary Parent-Child Book Club brought together over 35 students in grades 1–4 from both campuses for a shared reading experience centered on Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. Led by Gale Adams-Davis, the program offered three engaging virtual sessions focused on reading, discussion, and connection.

Families participated together in thoughtful conversations inspired by the novel, exploring themes of kindness, belonging, hope, and community. Between sessions, students read assigned chapters at home, returning ready to share ideas and reflections in lively, guided discussions.

A special highlight of the program was its culminating activity, which brought the story into the real world. Each child created a personal wish on a piece of fabric, which was then attached to dedicated wish trees on both campuses. This collective installation symbolized the shared hopes of the students and the connectedness of the school community.

Inspired by the book’s central idea of a living “wishtree,” students also participated in hanging wishes in campus trees together with Ms. Adams-Davis—an experience that deepened their understanding of the story and made their reflections visible beyond the page.

This first book club demonstrated how literature can foster meaningful dialogue, creativity, and community building. We look forward to continuing this tradition and offering more shared reading experiences in the future.


Photos