The Wishing Tree is a work of fantasy which seems to owe much to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Whimsically, Dulcie's adventures result from her getting into bed left foot first and turning the pillow over before going to sleep.

(These are old Southern superstitions.)

The character of Dulcie is well rendered: she is a bold, fearless girl who is eager to experience adventure and to learn about the world of adults. The other characters in Dulcie's fantasy world mostly resemble the familiar members of her real-life household of family and servants. But the children's search for the wishing tree and their subsequent adventures are guided by an elflike being named Maurice.

Maurice delights the children with his magical powers, as when he inflates rubber ponies that unexpectedly become living animals. When they find the wishing tree, Maurice introduces them to its magic, as well...