Late on Tuesday 12th of August, as the digital screens flickered and refreshed, the latest avatar of our online store came into being. A sprinkle of 'internet magic' later, all our book and gift sets appeared with an extra book - the fourth in the Willow the Wonderer series. We had quietly launched The Gift . New customers purchasing the books online were probably oblivious to the fact. Existing customers, some of whom had bought the first book in the series four years ago,

Book Week has arrived! This is a week long celebration of children's books and reading. One of the most cherished events of Book Week tends to be the Children's Book Character Parade. It can also be one that has parents reaching for the panic button, especially if the school note about the event has been languishing at the bottom of the backpack and only handed in the weekend before (true story). Last year, much to our delight, we heard from two parents who had to tackle Wil

The Aussie book world has been rocked by the collapse of Booktopia . Its demise has left many avid readers wondering where they go to discover and order a wide range of titles online. It's a valid concern as large online book retailers like Amazon and Booktopia are able to offer readers access to a wide range of books, often at crazy discounts. Unlike Amazon, Booktopia was also an Australian company known for supporting Australian authors and books. Their demise has left a v

Let me state it right at the start - The trope we refuse to repeat in children's storybooks is: Boy meets girl - they fall in love - and they live happily ever after…   Replace the genders as you please ... but you get the gist. This trope is not only common but also persistent and pervasive - in books and across every popular art form like movies, music/songs, etc. Prefer to watch a video of this blog? Click or scroll to end. What's behind its enduring appeal? Let's be hones

Reeta and Darren - Sketching out the first Willow the Wonderer storybook Autumn is the perfect season for reflection Summer has come and gone and autumn is taking hold of our not-so-small island paradise of Australia. The chapter on 2024 is not only underway but has almost reached the half way mark. Yes, it is scarely two months away! The cooler change forces us indoors, creating the space for instrospection and reflection - and that is where my mind has mostly been these pas

We've received over 450 reviews from genuine customers for our Willow the Wonderer children's books series and each time we read them, it fills our heart. We share some beautiful stories that customers have shared with us below. Reading these keeps us going. Willow the Wonderer storybooks have struck a chord with kids and grown-ups alike Since the release of the first book in the series, Willow the Wonderer has consistently garnered perfect five-star rating from readers and

Wondering what are the best ways to help young children who are learning to read? You need to take note of this article from the ABC on Structured Literacy - An evidence-based approach to teaching reading that involves a combination of phonics (sounding out words) and explicit teacher-led instruction. It is based on a " landmark international study that examined 10,000 pieces of research going back to 1966 to distill six big ideas behind the science of reading . Reading th

The Patch Primary School's production of Willow the Wonderer (Photo Credit: The Patch Primary School) A story too good not to share It's not everyday that a lifelong educator - and her entire school - gets behind your storybooks . So , I thought I'd share this wonderful story with our community.   Writing this reminded me, like I hope it does you, of 'that teacher': The one who went the extra mile and made all the difference to your life.   Enter Stage Left : Debra Herrmann

2024 has a nice futuristic ring to it, does it not? To my ear at least it sounds like the distant future we grew up hearing so many fantasies about has just now come around, and landed right at our doorstop. But does it feel futuristic? To those who have lived through several decades at least, it surely feels futuristic - what with the internet and the miniturisation and digitisation of all things in our lives, it's hard to deny that much in the way we live has changed.   Ind

Another year has flown by so we must be having fun! It truly is a wonderful time of the year, as things wind down and the space opens to stop, take stock and reflect on the year that has been.   Our pride and joy this year has been seeing the ' wise as ' community go from strength to strength, right across Australia and beyond. Our heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone who made this possible; our customers, booksellers, educators, agents, suppliers and affiliates.   It's only

Guess what the postie delivered a few days ago? We weren't quite sure ourselves when the tightly wrapped parcel arrived a few mornings ago, which added nicely to the excitement of unwrapping the mystery box. We weren't disappointed either; nestled within countless layers of cardboard and padding were the advance copies of the bilingual - Simplified Chinese and English - edition of Willow the Wonderer picture books! Bilingual Simplified Chinese and English Edition of Willow t

"There is no such thing as the unknown, only things temporarily hidden." Captain James T. Kirk Creativity is a messy business Enter Francis Bacon , not the sizzling breakfast kind but the icon in the artistic pantheon. He didn’t cover up the blemishes on his canvas; instead, he transformed the errant strokes into unsung heroes of the composition. He once said, "And sometimes when I've been working I've been so disgusted by it that I grab the brush and put brush marks all ove

Most of you are no doubt familiar with Counsellor Sian. Her original book review of Willow the Wonderer series is the stuff of legends, having reached over half a million folks across Australia! Sian is a registered therapeutic counsellor and has a private practice in QLD . She brings over a decade of experience in the field and a passion to help people find peace in their world. We were keen to hear what Sian made of our new Willow the Wonderer book - Space Odyssey - so

Christmas parcel lodgement deadline This is our usual public service announcement about the fast approaching shipping deadlines for Christmas, courtesy of the Australia Post. To ensure your parcels read their intended destinations in Australia by Christmas please ensure you have shopped and the parcels are shipped on: Standard Shipping by 19th December Express Post by 21st December This means that you have only four weeks left to get your Christmas shopping done and presents

Willow the Wonderer now comes with its own 'Early Childhood Learning Hub' The wonderful world of Willow the Wonderer just became even brighter today with the launch of our " Early Childhood Learning Hub ". First Reading of Willow the Wonderer at the Crescent Head Playgroup. Photo credit: Susan Snape The Early Childhood Learning Hub contains a wide array of learning guides and teaching resources to accompany our Willow the Wonderer picture books, which not only impart seeds o