Summary

Red stands in the shared yard of a blue house and a green house. Red considers one human a “visitor” to its community: Samar, who recently moved in to the blue house with her parents. Samar sneaks into the yard at night, sometimes glancing at the green house where Stephen, a boy her age, lives. Samar is gentle and kind enough that the animals will go out to greet her. [A large illustration shows Bongo’s stash, including a ribbon, a safety clip, a bottle cap, and a toy car.] Bongo especially loves her, giving her gifts from a collection of special objects.

One night, Samar is crying when she comes out to the yard. She holds a slip of pink polka-dot cloth: a wish. She ties it to one of Red’s lowest branches and whispers that she wishes for a friend...