Willow the Wonderer (Book 1) – The Perfect Gift for Early Readers
Willow the Wonderer is a bestselling children’s picture book about an adorable donkey on a quest to find happiness. Written in rhyme with interactive "seek and find" illustrations, it combines a heartwarming story with early learning goals like counting (1 to 15) and a meaningful message around happiness. A modern fable, it is the perfect gift for early readers, including kids who don't like to read. Our premium hardcover edition is durable with gold foil details - perfect for gifting, schools and libraries.
The Story: Where is Happiness?
In the first book of this bestselling series, we meet Willow, a curious baby donkey in a signature ’70s onesie. He 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 marvelous creatures, searching high and low. But the more he looks "out there," the more elusive happiness seems to be.
Through a beautiful epiphany, Willow discovers a profound life lesson that stays with children long after the book is closed: Happiness isn't something you find in things and places, but within ourselves.
Why Parents, Teachers & Educators Love Willow the Wonderer:
Literacy: Uses rhythm and rhyme to engage young readers, supporting language development and phonics (key to learning to read).
Interactive Early Learning: Features a "hide-and-seek" counting game where children find and count creatures from 1 to 15 hidden in the art.
- Stunning Artistry: Features immersive, high-contrast illustrations that captivate even the youngest toddlers.
Emotional Intelligence: Introduces complex emotional concepts like happiness through gentle, rhythmic verse.
Customer Reviews:
"Issy loves the books, she's been asking us to read it every night as part of bedtime routine! A huge compliment because it has been The Hungry Caterpillar for the last 18 months." — Paul H. (Parent) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Your books are incredible. As a previous prep teacher the message resonates very strongly." — Debra H. (School Principal) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"My three year old grandson Ariel loved the menagerie of hidden animals interspersed amongst the pages. "Read it again Poppa please" was the message repeated again and again." — Bill W. (Grandparent) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Love it and so do the kids !! The detail in the pictures adding another dimension to the story so each time we read it they are counting and searching and creating their own dream — Leanne W. (Mum) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Beautifully imagined book with a timeless message for all children to carry throughout life's journey." — Susan S. (Parent) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Order Willow the Wonderer today to make the most of our amazing offers:
1. Discounted shipping
2. FREE e-Book with every order
3. Hand finished and gift wrapped - Hope you like the artisan touch :)
Explore the Complete Willow the Wonderer Collection >
A note from the author and illustrator:
"Willow the Wonderer started as a shared dream to create stories that plant seeds of wisdom in young minds; seeds that we hope 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
Willow the Wonderer (Book 1) - Premium Hardcover
Feature
Details
Title
Willow the Wonderer (Book 1)
Format
Hardcover with elegant gold foil detailing
Age Range
3 – 7 years (Preschool to Early Primary)
Key Themes
Happiness, Inner-Contentment, Emotional Intelligence, Modern Fable, Wisdom Stories
Educational Focus
Literacy, Phonics, Vocabulary, Numbers, Learning to Count, Visual Literacy, Philosophy
Sustainability
Printed on FSC-certified paper (Forest Stewardship Council)
Dimensions
285mm x 215mm x 8mm (Portrait)
Weight
390 grams
ISBN
9780645083316
Creators
Reeta Dhar (Author) & Darren Pryce (Illustrator)
Origin
Proudly Australian
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Reviews
I am two years old and I loved it my Nanna brought it for me.
My name is Willow so it’s perfect
Definitely for the adventurous at heart! I love reading it to my kids. My 6yo girl raves about the mini-adventures and pops up the bed to find the not-so-obvious details in each page and my 3yo is engrossed with the counting. We all have our favourite page.
Thank you for the positive and calming experience the book brings before bedtime. We are all looking forward to the next adventure.
This is a beautifully written and illustrated story that has a philosophical message to add to its already clever whimsical story .
Perfect for teaching children to make the most of their life experiences and discover what brings them joy and peace . On top of that it teaches counting in a fun exploratory manner . Excellent !
Highly recommended Siân
Happiness lies with Wise As Stories!
A father of two young daughters and an older son I was extremely impressed with the story of Willow the Wanderer.
An authentic narration with a tangible outcome that leaves my kids with a simple learning… all with beautiful enchanted illustrations. Bravo!
The graphics were beautiful. But as a Christian I was just a bit uneasy with the philosophy. The people I'm giving the books to won't mind. I suppose I feel that it borders on the religion of "you are the god. (a bit new age). But then I'm very sensitive to that kind of thing.