Wishtree Reading Comprehension Questions
by Katherine Applegate
Book Summary
Red, a wise old oak tree, has been a "wishtree" for over 200 years, collecting wishes from the community on its branches. When a new Muslim family moves into the neighborhood, they face prejudice, and someone carves "LEAVE" into Red's trunk. Samar, the daughter of the new family, wishes for a friend. Red, breaking its long silence, decides to help Samar, enlisting the help of its animal friends to bring the community together and show kindness and acceptance.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Use these 14 questions to check understanding and spark deeper thinking about Wishtree.
1.What kind of tree is Red?
2.What did Samar wish for when she tied her wish to Red's branches?
3.Who is Francesca to Red?
4.Why do you think Red decided to break its rule and help Samar?
5.How did the animals help Samar and Stephen become friends?
6.What does the carving 'LEAVE' on Red's trunk tell us about how some people felt about the new family?
7.What important lesson does the story of Red and Samar teach us about new neighbors?
8.How does the story show that kindness is important?
9.How can you tell that the neighborhood changed from the beginning of the story to the end?
10.What does the word 'wishtree' mean in the story?
11.In the story, Red was worried about 'prejudice' in the neighborhood. What does 'prejudice' mean?
12.When the community 'rallies' to save Red, what does it mean they did?
13.If you could tie a wish to Red's branches, what would you wish for and why?
14.What is one way you could show kindness to someone new in your school or neighborhood?
Key Vocabulary
Important words from Wishtree to discuss with your child.
Discussion Prompts
Great conversation starters for parents and teachers reading Wishtree with children.
What was your favorite part of Wishtree? Why did it stand out to you?
If you could talk to any character from Wishtree, who would you choose and what would you ask them?
How did Wishtree make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?
Would you recommend Wishtree to a friend? What would you tell them about it?
What lesson or message do you think Katherine Applegate wanted young readers to learn from this story?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What reading level is Wishtree?
Wishtree by Katherine Applegate is recommended for grades 1-3 readers with an AR level of 3.8. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.
What are good comprehension questions for Wishtree?
ReadBuddy provides 14 carefully crafted comprehension questions for Wishtree, covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.
How can I use Wishtree for reading practice?
Read the book together or independently, then use ReadBuddy's comprehension questions to check understanding. Focus on vocabulary words, discuss character motivations, and encourage your child to make connections to their own experiences.
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