YA book with some fantasy elements

Read the book as a tween 25 years ago, no idea on a pub date, though. It told the story of a young girl, maybe 9-12 years old or so. There was a magic tree in a city park that she would visit and that led to some fantasy elements being brought into the story. It had some illustrations, but not all over, I think perhaps the beginning of each chapter or section. The edition I read was paperback and seemed smaller, so it was possibly a children's book, not anything like a full novel or lengthy book. I believe it also took place in one of the U.S. big cities, such as New York or Chicago, possibly. Wish I could remember more, just came to me the other day when I thought of starting a library for my little one. Sorry the message is so long, trying to recall all I can.

What sort of fantasy elements? Does she meet fantastical creatures, or go somewhere, or see magic, or what? Don't worry about spoilers, or length - the more data, the more likely you'll trigger a memory for someone. Any idea of what the cover looked like?

Maybe this?

The Wishing Tree by Ruth Chew (1980). What is that CREEPY cat up to? Who is that WEIRD woman in the park? And that tree! Peggy and Brian are sure there is something SPOOKY about it. And they are right! A bird and cat that talk and a special tree in a nearby park involve a brother and sister in some magical adventures.

It reminded me a bit of Running with the demon by Terry Brooks, but that's not really aimed at children...

2> I don't think there was a crazy amount of fantasy, like being whisked away to another world or anything. More like they could hide in the tree and maybe they did meet some creature inside, but it was fairly low key on that I think.

3> Doesn't look like the cover if I remember it right. I think the cover was pretty dark colored overall, and focused on just a tree, don't believe there was really anything around it. I'm pretty sure there wasn't a castle or whisk-away to another world level of fantasy. But I'll see if I can find more on the book you've mentioned, maybe my memory's faulty, I'll check the book out if I can find it at my library. : )

Hope that helps you guys trying to help me. :)

It drives me nuts to not know the book! Wish I was better at putting up more points to base the search on.

I do think she possibly had a male friend her age with her sometimes, like 9-12 years old or so.

Magic in the park by Ruth Chew has a darker cover... http://www.librarything.com/work/678129

It does sound like a Ruth Chew book - they are short chapter books (illustrated by the author), usually set in New York, with two siblings or friends as the main protagonists, and some light fantasy element. Here's a summary of Magic in the Park, if that helps:

It is winter, and Jennifer Mace is new to Brooklyn. She visits Prospect Park and meets an old man who feeds the birds, a raven named Napoleon, and a boy named Michael Stewart. Jen and Michael explore a magic island in the lake that turns into an underground tunnel, and a magic tree that temporarily turns them into pigeons. In the spring, Jen gets a bike for her birthday, but a mean boy named Steve tries to steal it. Mike helps her get it back, but almost gets stuck as a pigeon. (from http://www.ruthchew.com/about-the-books/ - a few more summaries there if you want to look at her other books)

6 & 7> That's it! Thank you so much! My memory was not perfect on the plot & some details, that's for sure. Took one look at the cover and double checked the author's website, no doubt in my mind now.

This group has worked great in helping me find a book that my little one will enjoy when I get a copy ASAP. Thanks to you all.

That's good. :) Ruth Chew plots are difficult to remember as they're similar to each other.