Hey, can you attend to this lady next?", the ER nurse called out to a passing doctor. "Her elbow is dislocated; her arm's hanging like a deadweight!" I looked at Darren and chuckled; the nurse's graphic yet apt description had momentarily distracted me from my sorry predicament.     About three weeks ago, I came off my bicycle ... In the space of a few moments, I was thrown onto the tarmac, dislocated my left elbow, landed hard on my jaw, chipped my teeth and skinned my chin,

Everything seems to only be getting more and more expensive that families are having to cut back on essentials, even storybooks ... We can't do much about the price of petrol, electricity or groceries but we can help with books: Introducing our new Budget Bundles for Willow the Wonderer . Budget Book Bundles - New! Our Budget Book Bundles are 2-3 Willow the Wonderer book collections, developed around critical EQ or emotional intelligence skills such as emotional regulation,

Quick reminder that today is the final day for our paperback sale (ends midnight). Paperback Sale : Willow the Wonderer All paperbacks discounted to $9.99 per book. Make the most of this limited time offer to complete your little ones' Willow the Wonderer collection or indeed stock up on presents for the little ones in your life. 🤓 The Book Set with the complete series is now only $49.95 That's five books bestselling books for less than $50! Make the most of these deals :)  

The 'Aha!' Moment: Discovering Curriculum Alignment We knew Willow the Wonderer  were good books, but what we had not realised (until last week) was that it was aligned to the Australian education curriculum ( ACARA Version 9.0 ), including the early years learning framework ( EYLF V2.0 )! Willow the Wonderer: Enchanting tales that support education and emotional growth The books beautifully bridge the gap between storytelling and measurable educational outcomes. Maybe that's

Few amongst us would disagree that resilience is one of life's most critical skills. The operative word is skill — resilience is something that can be learnt. Willow the Wonderer uses a story-first approach to teach children resilience So how do we teach this important skill to children without getting too technical or indeed, imposing any undue hardship onto the little tackers! This is where Willow the Wonderer enters the scene. It leaves children with a few important clues

What is your earliest memory of hearing the term emotional intelligence? Or mental health? Or indeed, phrases like wellbeing, self-regulation, resilience, cognitive reframing or even meditation? Mindful gifts to support education and develop emotional intelligence I consider myself fairly modern and well educated. Yet, I had never come across these concepts until I was well into my twenties. By then I had experienced my fair share of ups and downs, and somehow managed to stum

Blast from the past: Unboxing first printing of Willow the Wonderer (2021) I don't think I have felt as excited about the start of another year. Admittedly, I had a little cry on my first day back at the desk, when it finally sunk in that it was time to say goodbye to my little Willow; that sweet, stubborn, little wise ass has been more real to me these past six years than most other things in the 'real' world. It was an apt time to recall Fox's counsel to Willow in The Gift.

"What should my resolution for 2026 be?", I mulled as I cooked dinner last week. *Relentless Positivity* were the words that flashed in my mind. Not being an optimist by nature, I was somewhat excited by the prospect of experimenting with a different mental mode for the ensuring 12 months but then, I read the news ... It's not going to be easy, I realised. The world events inspired me to get clinical about positive thinking; what it means in practice and how to deal with a mi

Well folks, all that is left to say and do now is to bid adieu to 2025 and welcome 2026. Thank you for your support through the year. We hope you enjoy sharing our little wise ass's adventures with your little wise asses ;-) The stories that we grow up with really do matter so thank you for broadening your grandchildren's, children's, students' and readers' horizons. Given the way the future is panning out, they will no doubt need it. The way we live and work today would have

A gentle reminder folks that Christmas shipping deadlines are approaching fast. For those living in regional and rural areas of Australia or New Zealand please opt for Express Shipping from this point onwards. We have updated our express shipping option, passing on the 20-35% discounts we are currently getting for this service so make the most of it. This is a breakdown of the shipping deadlines when using standard shipping service . These timeframes are for parcels shipped f

It's happened again folks... We are down to our last 100 gift sets. It's not surprising really — Our Willow the Wonderer Book and Toy Gift Sets are literally the best "book & plush toy set" you will find in the market! We designed it that way. Here's what makes our Willow the Wonderer book and plush toy set stand out:   A Bespoke Character Plush Toy of Willow Our Willow the Wonderer plush toy is a bespoke design by Darren to bring our endearing little hero to life! Even the o

We are excited to share that we have received the full shipment of the fifth and final book in our Willow the Wonderer series — Inner Worlds. This is the culmination of six years of heart based work for us, creating stories we wish we'd grown up with. Thank you for your support these past few years. We hope you enjoy this final installment. "A wonderful image for children to grow up with" - Illustration from Willow the Wonderer - Inner Worlds Get a taste of surrealism & lea

If you had to pick one word to describe 2025, what would you say? I'd hasten a guess that no one opted for steady, calm or indeed normal ... Perhaps it was fitting then, that for the final Willow the Wonderer book I left the external world behind and delved instead into the worlds that lie within —  our inner worlds after all are places we can condition and control. Even as the writer, it can sometimes take a while to articulate the essence of the work you have produced. The

Looking for a book to teach resilience to children?  We recommend The Gift  from the Willow the Wonderer series. It introduces the profound concept of 'Impermanence' (the wisdom that 'this too shall pass') through a gentle, rhythmic narrative. It teaches kids that resilience isn't just about 'toughing it out' through bad times, but maintaining grace and balance through life's inevitable ups and downs. Willow the Wonderer - The Gift: Willow learns how to navigate the ebbs and

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