Willow (Picture Books) [Hardcover]

Denise Brennan-Nelson (Author), Rosemarie Brennan (Author), Cyd Moore (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: October 31, 2011 | Age Range: 5 and up | Series: Picture Books | Lexile Measure: 620L (What's this?)

Miss Hawthorn’s room is neat and tidy, not a pencil or paintbrush is out of place. And that’s how she likes it. And she likes trees that are colored green and apples that are painted red. Miss Hawthorn does not like things to be different or out of the ordinary.

Into Miss Hawthorn’s classroom comes young Willow. She doesn’t color inside the lines, she breaks crayons, and she sees pink trees and blue apples. What will Miss Hawthorn think?

Magical things can happen when your imagination is allowed to run wild, and for Miss Hawthorn the notion of what is art and what is possible is forever changed.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Art Projects and Activities with Willow

Click on the images below for larger ones to print and color [PDF].

Willow likes to draw sea creatures in bright colors [PDF].

Something huge sits next to Willow [PDF].

Willow paints birds with fancy feathers [PDF].

Click here to download a Willow activity guide full of puzzles, questions, art, and more [PDF].

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3—All of the students in Miss Hawthorn's art class draw trees that are alike, except for Willow, a rosy-cheeked little girl who paints what she sees when she closes her eyes. When the rigid, unimaginative teacher tells her that blue apples do not exist, Willow brings her one the next day. "Horrid little girl," Miss Hawthorn says. Yet at Christmas the only gift Miss Hawthorn receives is from Willow. The child presents her with her beloved art book, which begins a transformation in the dour, unhappy woman. Miss Hawthorn begins to doodle and then to paint. Pictures are everywhere. When the children come back to school in January, they discover an inspired teacher in paint-smeared jeans and smock who invites them to help her change their room into a work of art. Soft-toned watercolors contrast colorful, autumn trees with the all-the-same green ones, show snow-covered trees that "broke when they could not bend," and finally present the willow tree in the art room, which is a tribute to Willow. Expressive faces show wonderment and joy as teacher and students discover—as Willow has—the intense power of imagination. This book can be read alone or read aloud and is a solid choice for elementary collections.—Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN
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Product Details

• Age Range: 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 30 pages
• Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press; 1st edition (October 31, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585363421
• ISBN-13: 978-1585363421
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 0.4 x 11.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,247 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best August 5, 2008

By W. Lanning

Format:Hardcover

I LOVED this book for many reasons. This book addresses a problem that is all too prevalent in education today; stiffling the natural creative impulse. It's about a little girl named Willow whom refuses to be stiffled. Willow remains undaunted by the continous pressure to conform throughout the book and in the process she enlightens her teacher, Ms. Hawthorn, who finally learns to "doodle." The whole class benefits from the contagious generosity and enthusium of one little girl proving the impact that one individual can make. The illustrations are colorful and exquisite making this book a treasure for all ages. We can all learn from Willow AND, as we learn from Ms. Hawthorn, it's never too late to reconnect with your creativity and truly express yourself. Great job! I highly recommend this book.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational Willow! June 8, 2009

By Living thru the Pages

Format:Hardcover

Delightful book and illustrations! Plan to use it for Summer Reading Club done by a public library. Any one interested please note that [...] has support material for the books they have published (Willow being one of them.) Every teacher would benefit from reading. We all could use a "Willow" in our lives.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great message. Great illustrations. April 16, 2009

By Dorrinnda Farmer

Format:Hardcover

WILLOW is an important book for children and adults to read. It reminds you that it's okay to be different; that there's more than one way to see things and people; that just because someone isn't nice to you, doesn't mean you can't be nice to them. It reminds you to use the creativity and imagination you were born with, for your own sake and for the sake of the people around you. The illustrations are awesome, too! I LOVE Willow! The world needs more people like her.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Embracing Individuality and Kindness July 18, 2009

By W. Shirey

Format:Hardcover

I got this book for a little girl named Willow and she loves it. The message is inspiring for every child to be true to yourself and always be kind.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Organic Mama Reads: Willow October 29, 2010

By Organic Mama Cafe

Format:Hardcover

Willow (Picture Books) - Author Denise Brennan Nelson and Rosemarie Brennan, Illustrator Cyd Moore
Willow is a lively, free spirited little girl who just doesn't fit the mold in her school's art class. Her teacher is forever annoyed with her for not drawing her pics the right way. While the other kids fear the teacher, Willow shows courage in making her art as she sees it in her heart. Most importantly, she treats her teacher with a kindness that transforms her teacher into a version of her best self. My kind of story. Cyd Moore's beautifully colored illustrations really capture the spirit of the characters and draw you into the story. For more great book reviews, visit [...]

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Picture Book with Important Lessons for All Ages January 23, 2011

By Gerard

Format:Hardcover

Willow teaches us (and her art teacher Miss Hawthorn) that in order to live life fully, we must be true to ourselves and stay creative.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Cute book, bought for my granddaughter named Willow December 3, 2011

By Ann

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a nice story. It promotes the idea of individualism which is always a good thing. This author has another Willow story and I have them both. Not too preachy or too full of propaganda - a common problem with the children's books written these days.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Willow February 4, 2011

By Melody

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This was a lovely book. I sent it to two little girls that are budding artists. Sometimes teachers lose their colors and forget the "art" of teaching. The little girl in the story shares the "love of art" with her art teacher who almost forgets her.
I actually read it to a sixth grade student and watched his face light up with joy! Great story!