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 paperback edition is lightweight and great value — perfect for travel and everyday reading.
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) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I love the 'Where's Wally' vibe! — Gerard G. (Uncle) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Beautifully imagined book with a timeless message for all children to carry throughout life's journey." — Susan S. (Parent) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Order Willow the Wonderer paperbacks 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 :)
Continue the adventure with Book 2: Honey Time >
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) - Paperback Edition
Feature
Details
Title
Willow the Wonderer (Book 1)
Format
Paperback, lightweight and portable
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
279mm x 207mm x 4mm (Portrait)
Weight
190 grams
ISBN
9780645083392
Creators
Reeta Dhar (Author) & Darren Pryce (Illustrator)
Origin
Proudly Australian
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