Piper is discouraged because her friends at school want her to be like them. The sports kids want her to only play sports, the musical kids want her to only play the piano, and the artistic kids want her to be interested only in art. When the willow tree takes her to the Philippines and introduces her to a Kagwang, a Binterong, a Pilantok and a Mawmag she learns that being herself is the best thing to be.