Reviews
Mary Schulte McClatchy Newspapers
“Teachers aren't the only ones teaching in this picture book about a precocious girl who has her own ideas about what makes good art. Fortunately, Willow doesn't bend to the strict art teacher's rules in this poignant story about celebrating individuality and being true to your heart.”
School Library Journal
K-Gr 3
All of the students in Miss Hawthorn's art class draw trees that are alike, except for Willow, a rosy-cheeked little girl who paints what she sees when she closes her eyes. When the rigid, unimaginative teacher tells her that blue apples do not exist, Willow brings her one the next day. "Horrid little girl," Miss Hawthorn says. Yet at Christmas the only gift Miss Hawthorn receives is from Willow. The child presents her with her beloved art book, which begins a transformation in the dour, unhappy woman. Miss Hawthorn begins to doodle and then to paint. Pictures are everywhere. When the children come back to school in January, they discover an inspired teacher in paint-smeared jeans and smock who invites them to help her change their room into a work of art. Soft-toned watercolors contrast colorful, autumn trees with the all-the-same green ones, show snow-covered trees that "broke when they could not bend," and finally present the willow tree in the art room, which is a tribute to Willow. Expressive faces show wonderment and joy as teacher and students discover-as Willow has-the intense power of imagination. This book can be read alone or read aloud and is a solid choice for elementary collections.-Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN
Kirkus Review
Uptight, bun-wearing Miss Hawthorn wants the kids in her class to conform to the way things "should" be painted, so she scolds Willow when she turns in a picture of a tree with blue apples instead of red, like the sample she's posted.
Willow remains undaunted by Miss Hawthorn's continuous scolding throughout the fall and even leaves a present for her when she leaves for Christmas break: the art book that inspired her open-minded artistic approach.
When the kids return in January, they find Miss Hawthorn has let her hair down and covered her classroom with imaginative murals. She joyously invites the students to grab their paintbrushes and help. "This time, everyone painted just the way they wanted."
thereadingtub.blogspot.com/www.justonemorebook.com
Contagious Creativity: Willow by Denise Brennan-Nelson and Rosemarie Brennan, illustrated by Cyd Moore. Seething stringency and constant condemnation prove no match for good-natured self worth in this uplifting story of creativity, individuality and respect. Maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks! (Sleeping Bear Press, 2008)
apatchworkofbooks.blogspot.com
Willow, written by Denise Brennan-Nelson and Rosemarie Brennan and illustrated (beautifully) by Cyd Moore, is a charming story about releasing one’s inner creativity. Willow loves art class, even though it is taught by the most “un-creative” teacher. Always using her imagination, Willow takes her art assignments and runs with them, creating lovely pink trees and blue apples, much to the dismay of her teacher, who believes green trees and red apples are the correct way. With a little help from Willow, her teacher learns that being creative and using one’s imagination is not a bad thing, but instead, lots of fun! Filled with bright and vibrant illustrations, this one was an instant winner with me! Great for read alouds too.
In dictatorial Miss Hawthorn's cheerless art room, students sit "in their rows, silent and still, like eggs in a carton" producing cookie-cutter busywork. "Everyone except Willow." Miss Hawthorn does not appreciate Willow's sweet nature or her inventive, colorful outlook on life. Willow is always in trouble with her wizened teacher, especially "for not painting things the way Miss Hawthorn wanted her to." When she tries to share her artistic excitement via a well-loved art book full of flamingo-pink trees, blue apples and other works of wonder, Miss Hawthorn rebuffs her. "Horrid little girl." But stony Miss Hawthorn is transformed by a holiday gift-the only one she receives-of that treasured art book, and when her students return after the holidays, they find a very different teacher, indeed. Motivational speaker Brennan-Nelson's message hits its mark, and Moore's energetic watercolors fairly vibrate-Willow would approve! Pair this with Peter Reynolds's The Dot (2003) and Paul Zelinsky's Doodler Doodling (2004) for an outside-the-lines art experience. (Picture book. 6-10)
San Francisco Chronicle
A student teaches her art teacher to loosen up in Willow, written by Denise Brennan-Nelson and Rosemarie Brennan and illustrated by Cyd Moore (Sleeping Bear Press; 30 pages; $16.95; ages 6-12).
Uptight, bun-wearing Miss Hawthorn wants the kids in her class to conform to the way things "should" be painted, so she scolds Willow when she turns in a picture of a tree with blue apples instead of red, like the sample she's posted.
Willow remains undaunted by Miss Hawthorn's continuous scolding throughout the fall and even leaves a present for her when she leaves for Christmas break: the art book that inspired her open-minded artistic approach.
When the kids return in January, they find Miss Hawthorn has let her hair down and covered her classroom with imaginative murals. She joyously invites the students to grab their paintbrushes and help. "This time, everyone painted just the way they wanted."
