All four Willow the Wonderer picture books are tales of high adventure set in the natural world. The epic tales as well as stunning illustrations help children learn about nature and even look forward to having a few adventures of their own! I would particularly recommend the second book in the series, Honey Time , as it teaches kids to slow down and pay attention to the natural world around them -- and experience the beauty and wonder of nature for themselves. Willow the Wo

Don't just read out loud - Perform! One of the most wonderful things about picture books is that, more often than not, these books are read out loud by adults to their little ones, be it grandkids, kids or students. So, I wanted to share some insights on the creative choices I have made when writing these books that will touch upon a topic that we often forget to discuss: Poetry is meant to be performed. Hopefully it inspires our adult readers to perhaps become a bit more the

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

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

"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

Remember Pam? She's worked in libraries for most of her life - 26 years in fact! There she was back in 2021, enjoying a quiet retirement in the country working on her art practice with her best mate, when she came across two creative souls publising their first picture children's picture book - Willow the Wonderer . It was about the search for happiness and had just the right philosophical pull and ethereal quality to get Pam to sacrifice her prized anonymity and agree to fro

Willow the Wonderer: Space Odyssey Space Odyssey has officially launched - and with that our Willow the Wonderer picture book series is now three books strong. As I pen this blog, many books are already on their way to little wonderers all around Australia. A brand new addition to their Willow the Wonderer collection and hopefully, repertoire of life's wisdom. It's all the stuff that celebrations are made of but getting into a celebratory mood this past week was not possible

An early childhood educator, Reshmi Gosai, recently came across our Willow the Wonderer picture book series. Excited by the possibilities that the book presented in engaging the little ones in her childcare centre (one of whom is aptly named Willow) in learning, she immediately snapped up one of our premium giftsets featuring the two picture books and a gorgeous plush toy of little Willow. They were the perfect early years learning books! Reshmi shared her report on how she

Willow the Wonderer, a story about a child's innocent search for happiness, had been incubating in my head for well over two decades. I would think about it mostly when I was looking up at clouds, forms would appear in them and then disappear as the wind reformed the shapes. I wanted to create a picture book that would not only look good and engage children but would incorporate this idea. What was most important to me, however, was that the book plant a seed of wisdom in a