Willow & The Wishing Tree

By Philip Stengel

In the heart of the Glimmergrove stands the Wishing Tree, a golden tree born from starlight, laughter, and old magic. For centuries it has filled the grove with song, color, and wonder. But hidden beneath its roots sleeps something older and colder, a shadow called the Gloom, waiting for the right fear to wake it.

That fear belongs to Willow Pebblebrook, a quiet little girl who dreams of being brave but struggles to speak when it matters most. When Willow finds the Wishing Tree and touches its leaves, the grove bonds to her heart. The tree begins to fade, golden leaves turn to ash, and the Gloom starts to rise.

Now Willow must step into a quest she never expected, joined by a most unusual crew: Pipkin, a sharp-tongued hedgehog in a straw hat, Lulu Twinkletoes, a boot-wearing frog with dramatic flair, Branwyn Featherflit, a brilliant and fluttery owl, and Tumble Puff, a dandelion puff powered almost entirely by luck and delight. Together they must travel deeper into the grove, face the old darkness at its roots, and learn whether courage is something found, or something made one small yes at a time.

Willow & The Wishing Tree is a heartfelt middle-grade fantasy about fear, friendship, belonging, and the quiet kind of bravery that changes everything.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FGFLV9N8
• ISBN13: 9798290506807
• Release Date: July 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 302 Pages
• Weight: 0.89 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"