Once upon a time, in a small village tucked away in the mountains, there stood a magical orange tree. This tree was unlike any other in the world, for it had the power to grant wishes. Legend had it that if you approached the tree and made a wish while plucking an orange from its branches, your wish would come true. The villagers guarded the orange tree with great care, ensuring that its powers remained a sacred secret. Only those who truly believed in the magic were allowed to approach the tree and make a wish. It was said that the tree had the ability to sense a person's true intentions and would only grant wishes to those who were pure of heart.
It was said that the tree had the ability to sense a person's true intentions and would only grant wishes to those who were pure of heart. As the years went by, the village prospered thanks to the magical orange tree. The villagers would make wishes for good health, bountiful harvests, and happiness.
The Magic Orange Tree
Cric? Crac! This week I told Diane Wolkstein’s story, “The Magic Orange Tree,” in our Page Presents class. It’s the story of a little girl whose stepmother abuses her. The girl often goes hungry, so one day, when her stepmother is out, she cannot resist eating three oranges that are sitting on the table. Oh, how she savors them! But when the stepmother returns and sees that the oranges are missing, she cries, “Whoever has eaten my oranges had better start saying her prayers now, because she will not be able to later!”
Badly frightened, the little girl runs to the place where her mother is buried and weeps until she is worn out. When she gets up with the sun, something falls from her skirt onto the grave. It is an orange pip! As soon as the tiny seed hits the ground, it begins to grow. Delighted, the child begins to sing:
Orange tree,
Grow and grow and grow,
Orange tree,
Grow and grow and grow!
Stepmother is not real mother,
Orange tree.
As the tree grows taller and taller, her song changes to “Branch and branch and branch,” “Flower and flower and flower,” and “Ripen and ripen and ripen.” When the plump oranges appear, she is so excited that she dances around the tree singing “Grow and grow and grow,” and the tree responds by growing up into the clouds! But the resourceful child just changes her song to “Lower and lower and lower,” and the tree obligingly returns to a normal size.
When her stepmother sees the oranges, she grabs the girl and insists that she show her the tree. Then she leaps into the tree and begins picking all the oranges, but the girl sings “Grow and grow and grow,” sending the tree and her stepmother up into the clouds. Then she cries, “Break, orange tree! And the tree (and the stepmother) break into little pieces. The little girl searches among the pieces until she finds an orange pip, and soon a new magic orange tree begins to grow and grow and grow.
I sing the song with a syncopated calypso feel, so Matt taught the kids a clave rhythm:
They practiced clapping the rhythm, and then they learned how to add shakers to the basic rhythm. Then we taught them the “grow and grow and grow” part of the song, and they all chimed in during the story.
After the story, everyone made a magical orange tree. I overheard one little girl lamenting to her mother that her tree did not have a handle. Her mother told her it was because their paper bag came without a handle. I told her, “I can make a handle for you,” and I got a hole punch and some ribbon and voila! her tree had a handle! She was so happy with the handle on her tree that she kept walking around holding it up and peeking out through the handle, which made me realize that the trees were actually bodi-puppets. Silly me, for not seeing her as she really was: a Magic Orange Tree!
"An unusual and arresting book . . . [Wolkstein's] prefatory notes are so eloquent and so filled with flashes of light thrown upon the customs, beliefs, and practices of the Haitian people that nothing else seems to be wanted."
—Katherine M. Briggs, author of The Anatomy of Puck and A Dictionary of British Folktales in the English Language
“Wolkstein is a handsome example of a Translator: a person who can bridge cultures in such a way as to bring understanding, wit, humor, and moral meaning along with the words.”
—Barre Toelken, Journal of Latin American Literature & Arts
“It is a joy to have this book, not only to read it, but to listen to it. The Magic Orange Tree is a gift.”
—P.L. Travers, author of Mary Poppins
And time and time again, their wishes were granted. One day, a greedy and selfish outsider stumbled upon the village. Hearing rumors of the magical orange tree, he devised a plan to seize its powers for himself. He approached the tree, but his intentions were not pure. He wished for riches and power, thinking only of himself. To his astonishment, the orange he plucked from the tree turned bitter in his hands. The magic of the tree could sense the darkness in his heart and refused to grant his wish. Enraged, the outsider tried again and again, but each time, the oranges he plucked would turn sour. Word spread throughout the village of the outsider's failed attempts to harness the power of the magical orange tree. The villagers realized that the tree was not meant to be used for personal gain but instead to bring hope and joy to the community. Realizing the error of his ways, the outsider begged for forgiveness and swore to change his selfish behavior. The villagers, always forgiving and understanding, welcomed him into their community. Gradually, he learned to appreciate the true power of the orange tree and the importance of selflessness. From that day forward, the outsider became a valued member of the village, contributing to its prosperity and happiness. Together, the villagers and the outsider continued to make wishes at the magical orange tree, ensuring that their desires were aligned with the greater good. The magical orange tree served as a reminder that true magic lies not in personal gain, but in the power of community, love, and selflessness. It taught the villagers and the outsider that wishes granted for the collective happiness of all would always be fulfilled. And so, the legend of the magical orange tree lived on, spreading joy and hope throughout the generations..
Reviews for "The Magical Essence of the Magic Orange Tree"
1. Sarah - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "The Magic Orange Tree". The story felt disjointed and confusing, with too many underdeveloped characters and plotlines. I found it difficult to connect with any of the characters or care about their outcomes. Additionally, the writing style felt amateurish and lacked depth. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and wouldn't recommend it.
2. John - 1/5 - I couldn't even finish reading "The Magic Orange Tree". The plot was incredibly dull and the pacing was too slow for my taste. The author seemed to get lost in unnecessary descriptions and details, making it difficult to stay engaged with the story. I also found the dialogue to be stilted and unrealistic. I was hoping for a gripping and magical adventure, but this book fell far short of my expectations.
3. Emily - 2/5 - "The Magic Orange Tree" had an interesting premise, but the execution was lacking. The characters were one-dimensional and their actions felt forced. The plot was predictable and the twists were obvious from early on in the story. I anticipated a magical and enchanting reading experience, but I was left feeling disappointed and bored. I would recommend skipping this book and finding something more captivating to read.
4. David - 3/5 - While "The Magic Orange Tree" had moments of brilliance, it ultimately fell short for me. The pacing was uneven, with slow sections that made it difficult to stay engaged. The writing style was also mediocre, lacking the finesse and artistry I was expecting from a magical tale. However, there were some interesting and imaginative elements that did keep me somewhat invested. Overall, while this book didn't live up to its potential, it may still appeal to readers who enjoy lighter magical stories.