WISHTREE

It's easy to suspend disbelief with Nancy Linari's animated reading of this story. She quickly engages listeners with the authoritative viewpoint of Red, an oak tree who knows the habits of the many animals she shelters. Linari is equally successful in voicing the tenderness Red has for the humans who hang wishes from her branches. Linari marks Red's concern when Muslims move into the neighborhood and someone carves "Leave" into her bark. She responds to human actions with acerbic puzzlement: "Two hundred and sixteen rings, and I still haven't figured them out." Conveying the author's wit and humor, Linari keeps the story from being heavy-handed. Especially memorable are her vivid portrayals of minor characters, especially Bongo, a sarcastic crow who is Red's best friend. This is a fabulous family listen! S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2017]