According to local tradition, the girls of Willow Hill are granted three wishes when they turn 13. Aware that previous wishes (magical or not) have caused pain, loss, and heartbreak within her family, Ava attempts to use hers to set things right. She emerges as a strong-minded character and a credible agent of change, completing the long-range story arc from the previous volumes in the Wishing Day trilogy. Layered in time, the narrative includes flashbacks revealing a girl's experiences during the previous generation, as well as a climactic time-travel sequence that is pivotal in bringing the series to its satisfying conclusion.

Five sturdy elephants are rendered in a pastel color with a thick brown outline: the blue elephant first, then yellow, violet, green, and, finally, a smaller pink one. Bold panel arrangements portray the group steadfastly marching until bedtime. Henkes addresses the concepts of counting, colors, and prepositions while once again displaying his understanding of preschoolers: hungry for new information but also needing a framework of solidity and comfort.