Bestselling Willow the Wonderer Picture Books
Willow is an endearing little donkey who is deeply curious about life. Join him on epic quests as he unravels life's mysteries and discovers its wonders and wisdom. This complete box set takes young readers on a progressive adventure of discovery — moving from the external wonders of nature to the internal mastery of thoughts, emotions, and resilience. Each book plants seeds of wisdom and knowledge that will blossom for a lifetime.
Every book is a premium hardcover featuring gold foil details, case binding, and immersive illustrations—perfect for home libraries, schools, and gifting.
Why Children Fall in Love with Willow
Relatable & Quirky: A baby donkey in a onesie? Yes, please. Willow’s curiosity mirrors a child's own sense of wonder.
Melodic Rhyme: Written with a rhythmic flow that makes reading aloud an interactive performance.
Interactive Art: Rich, detailed illustrations featuring seek-and-find elements that captivate even the most reluctant readers.
Why Adults Love Willow the Wonderer books
Story-First Philosophy: We weave meaningful life lessons into the folds of the narrative. There is no preaching —only discovery through storytelling.
Emotional Intelligence (EQ): The series tackles complex themes: inner happiness, slowing down, the interconnectedness of life, and overcoming negative thought spirals.
Educational Excellence: From phonics and numeracy to astronomy and cognitive reframing, our books align with the Australian Curriculum, supporting the Personal and Social Capability and Literacy General Capabilities.
Book-by-Book Overview
Book 1: Willow the Wonderer - Timeless insight into inner happiness
- The story: Willow wakes up one morning with a very big question: "Where is happiness?" and sets off on an epic quest through a world of wonder. He travels through vibrant landscapes and meets marvellous creatures, searching high and low. But the more he looks "out there," the more elusive happiness seems to be.
- The Wisdom: Through a beautiful epiphany, Willow discovers a profound life lesson: Happiness isn't something you find in things and places, but within ourselves.
- Educational Goal: Numeracy (Counting), Visual Literacy, and Rhyming.
Book 2: Honey Time - A sweet lesson in slowing down
- The Story: Willow wakes up bursting with infinite ideas for play. He decides to go 'hard and fast', creating an almighty ruckus. The Queen Bee intervenes, encasing Willow in a huge blob of honey!
- The Wisdom: The honey forces Willow to slow down. He lets go of the chaos of 'doing it all' for the quiet joy of being present — an important life lesson that leads to contentment.
- Educational Goal: Colours, Phonics, and Mindfulness.
Book 3: Space Odyssey - A tale about belonging set in the stars
- The Story: Willow feels alone one day and wonders why he is different from others. He sets off to search for other creatures like him but only sees differences everywhere. As he is about to give up, he gets beamed up into space by cosmic starlight! Willow travels through space, taking in the beauty, strength and fragility of the Earth. A profound wisdom soon dawns upon him—the wisdom of astronauts known as the Overview Effect.
- The Wisdom: Willow finally understands the common bond we all share - it even makes him feel at peace with being a little different. A perfect resource for STEM-based SEL, teaching children about the interconnectedness of life through the lens of astronomy.
- Educational Goal: STEM (Astronomy), Science-Literacy, and Vocabulary.
Book 4: The Gift - A moving story that teaches resilience
- The Story: Willow finds himself lost among the high mountain peaks. As the mist clears, a mysterious Fox appears to guide him through steep trails, windy passes, and frightening cliffs. As fear takes hold, Fox shares a profound gift: The wisdom that all things come to pass. But will this knowledge be enough to help Willow find his courage?
- The Wisdom: Willow learns to navigate the ebbs and flows of life—from overcoming challenges to the bittersweet moment of letting go of a friend. It is a story about grit, the transient nature of time, and finding the strength to keep going.
- Educational Goal: Figurative Language (Similes & Metaphors) and Grit.
Book 5: Inner Worlds - A surrealist tale about the power of positive thought
- The Story: Willow the Wonderer wakes up to find a menacing grey cloud hovering over his head (a metaphorical reference to repetitive negative thoughts). He tries to outrun it, ignore it, and hide from it, only to find it growing larger. By evening, Willow gathers his courage to peek inside the cloud. What follows is a surreal journey into the mechanics of the mind.
- The Wisdom: Willow discovers that while we cannot always control what happens to us in life, we can choose which thoughts and emotions we dwell upon. He learns the circuit breaker for negativity and find the antidote in loving-kindness.
- Educational Goal: Metacognition, Cognitive Reframing, and Mental Wellbeing.
Customer reviews:
"Your books are incredible. As a previous prep teacher the message resonates very strongly." — Debra H. (School Principal) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"These books are just beautiful, and we love the artwork in them. My kids just love them. Highly recommend." — Dean Rachel A. (Mum) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I have read these books with my Grandson, he is nearly 6yrs old. He is extremely bright young lad and loves your books, as I do too. Your Illustrations are superb your composition is written with such depth, creating such a wonderful way to be mindful." — Ninnie & Bug ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"The stories are beautiful and offer a curious view of the world while addressing the ever present emotional issue facing children and adults alike, such as what makes me happy." — Deborah C. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I purchased these as a Christmas gift for my Grandchildren. But they look amazing and I can't wait for the grandies to have them." — Jennifer B. (Grandparent) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A note from the author and illustrator:
"Willow the Wonderer started as a shared dream to write stories that plant seeds of wisdom in young minds; seeds that hopefully blossom with time and guide our young readers in their journey through life. We also wanted the books to make early childhood learning effortless. But mostly we wanted to create beautiful stories that the little ones (and big ones) simply fall in love with. These are stories we wish we'd grown up with."
- Reeta and Darren
Box Set : Willow the Wonderer - The Complete Series (Hardcover)
Feature
Details
Title
Willow the Wonderer: The Complete Series Box Set
Format
Hardcover Books with elegant gold foil detailing
Contents
5 x Hardcover Books
Age Range
3 – 8 years (Preschool to Early Primary)
Genre
Rhyming Picture Books, Contemporary Classic, Philosophical Fiction for Kids
Key Themes
Emotional Intelligence, Growth Mindset, Positive Psychology, Metacognition, Cognitive Reframing, Character Education, Self Regulation Strategies, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Mind Training, Meditation, Interconnectedness, Resilience, Secular Wisdom
Educational Focus
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), Early Literacy, Phonological Awareness, Visual Literacy, Advanced Vocabulary Development, Figurative Language, Introductory Astronomy, Colour Theory, Numeracy Foundation
Sustainability
Printed on FSC-certified paper (Forest Stewardship Council)
Dimensions
Hardcover Book: 285mm x 215mm x 8mm (Portrait)
Weight
Book Set: 2KG
ISBN
9781763584327
Creators
Reeta Dhar (Author) & Darren Pryce (Illustrator)
Origin
Proudly Australian
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