Customer Reviews

Whistle for Willie Board Book

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
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but NOTHING came out! Whistle for Willie, oh what a JOY! This was one of the very first books that I read to my boys when they were in the high chair! What fun we had trying to whistle, just like Peter, blowing and blowing, but NOTHING CAME OUT! You see, my son's name is Peter, just like the little boy in the story, and so I started to collect books with little boys named Peter. Besides appealing to HIM, however, this book has inter-generational appeal. The rhythm and cadence appealed to my son, but the family's warmth and genuine love for each other appealed to me.

A little boy goes about his daily routine, all the while trying to learn how to whistle. "Oh, how Peter wished he could whistle!" We enjoy tracing a chalk line with him, trying on Daddy's hat, and walking to the store. And when he finally whistles, well, don't we ALL just feel proud? Yep!

Colorful collages illustrate this Ezra Jack Keats classic, and I am sure you will "Whistle for Willie" again and again, because this is a story that BEGS to be read over and over!

I grew up in the 60's and fondly remember the school librarian reading Ezra Jack Keats "The Snowy Day" to us as snow fell outside. We were glued to every page and every word. Keats' books stir the imagination. "Whistle for Willie" is another timeless classic from the award winning author. My 3-year-old son could not get enough of this book from the time he was old enough to pull it from the bookcase. The pictures are fun and imaginative, and the text puts you right in Peter's meandering, carefree world. Almost every boy wishes for a dog like Willie, and can relate to Peter's quest..."Oh, how Peter wished he could whistle..."!

Fans of Ezra Jack Keats's fabulous (and better known) 1962 book, "The Snowy Day" should be pleased to discover this other piece of Keatsian lore. Published originally in 1964, "Whistle for Willie" is a sequel of sorts. Starring Peter, that lovable kid whom we first saw tromping about in his red snowsuit, the focus shifts from cold snowed in city streets to warmer days in a kid-friendly metropolis.

Peter would like to whistle. He would like it very much, but try as he might he just cannot figure out how to do it. Though Peter sees other kids whistling for their dogs, when Peter whistles for his dauchund Willie he finds he hasn't the skill. We observe Peter as he goes about his day, trying to whistle between spinning, hiding in boxes, coloring with chalk, pretending to be his father, and walking the cracks in the sidewalk. At long last, after many failed attempts, Peter successfully whistles for Willie. Delighted, he shows his parents and after being sent to the grocery store he whistles all the way there and all the way back.

First of all, this is the book to present to those people that believe that children's short attention spans are a new occurrence. Observe, if you will, the multitude of activities and games Peter partakes in, usually leading back to his attempts to pucker up his lips and blow. This is one active (though not necessarily hyper) kid. You have to like Peter, just as you have to like the story in which he has been placed. It's a nice one, with realistic dialog and funny moments for kids to enjoy. When Peter puts on his dad's hat and pretends to be him, his mom plays right along. There's a real sense of trust to this book as well. Undoubtedly some kids living in big cities might read this and wonder why their own moms don't let them run in the streets alone or walk to the store to get some groceries. Prepare to unleash the dreaded phrase, "It was a simpler time" in such events. As for Keats's illustrations, they are as rambunctious and amusing as ever. I was particularly taken with a scene in which Peter spins himself around and around then suddenly stops. As we watch, the whole world tilts back and forth, the stoplight's lights floating out of their base and Peter swinging his arms to stay upright. As always, the textures, background prints, and clors in this book are fabulous. And in an improvement on "Snowy Day", Peter and his dog are allowed facial expressions where once Peter had none.

From the subtle endpapers to the beautiful and bizarre artistic graffiti on the walls, this book is a big city hit. Anyone who has ever wanted to experience the metropolitan districts with a small child as their guide would do well to snatch and grab the admirable, "Whistle for Willie". It's a sure-fire crowd pleaser and a hit.

I love Keats' beautiful collage-style illustrations. As an urban apartment dweller, I also appreciate a book that shows children living in cities and in apartments. The stereotypical "house" that appears in most children's books looks nothing like the home my daughter knows.

My one-year-old daughter loves finding the dog on different pages. I do the whistling for Peter and she does the barking for Willie. One day we read the book inside a cardboard box like the one Peter hides in in the book, and she thought that was great.

My 1-year old daughter really responds to this board book. She loves the dog, and I think she relates to the colorful simplicity of the illustrations. I appreciate the story, and that it takes place in a city, which will be nice for her as she grows old enough to understand that.

Nice book about a little (black) boy who wants to learn to whistle, and, predictably, eventually does.

It's always nice to have picture books that feature black kids that take place in the US and that don't make "being black" the focus of the story, or else talk all about some "issue". The truth is that there aren't enough books that fit that criteria, and sometimes I think it's nice for my biracial nieces to be able to see books about kids who act and look like them, y'know? So we've got a lot of books by Ezra Jack Keats.

It's also interesting to me to see how much freedom Willie has. Clearly, this book was written in a less paranoid (if not actually any safer) time.

It's true, I'm biased. Ezra Jack Keats is one of my all-time favorite children's authors. Yet, Whistle For Willie has been a favorite of both my boys. The simple story, the universal urge of children to whistle, the fantastic artwork - it all works together delightfully. In my opinion it's perfect.

This is a classic that I give as a gift often.

I know Ezra Jack Keats is best known for "Snowy day" which also stars the adorable Peter but for me "Whistle for Willie" is where its really at. I grew up with this book and I never forgot it while I was growing up. I always prided myself on my whistling skills and I remember how important it was for me to learn and how I would practice and practice and the glee I felt when I finally heard that little sound. It's just a wonderful story of a small boy living in the inner city and his desire to be able to whistle and his dog come running! I never get tired of this book when I read it, its for both of us! It's just so nostalgic!

Charming book. Keats is among the best. Two and three year-old grandchildren love it.

This is a great story and the illustrations are great too.
African-American boys and girls can see characters that look like them.