Hello Willow

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book
Review: "Hello Willow" reminded me of when I was small, and could play for hours on a nearby stone wall with a tree stump near it. That corner of the yard was everything I ever needed, and served as train, spaceship, army base, and probably a lot of other things I can't remember.

Kimberly Poulton's story is short, almost a bit fragmented at points, but still works wonderfully. What really sells the story, though, are Jennifer O'Keefe's brilliant, colorful pictures. It's nice to see the little girl's imagination creeping (and sometimes marching) into the picture, in the form of monkeys, moving teddy bears, and the occasional elephant.... One of my favorite images has to be the tiny bear holding the umbrella in the rain.

After reading through this book, I searched Amazon to see if O'Keefe had illustrated anything else, and was disappointed to find this is her first book. I'm hoping to see more of her work in the future.

Rating:
Summary: Very highly recommended
Review: HELLO WILLOW by Kimberly Poulton is a gently enchanting story of a young girl and the lovely willow tree that grows just outside her bedroom window.

The child's imagination carries her through jungle safaris and picnics, leading to cheerful games of hide-and-seek. Through each of the pages, the willow tree offers shelter, play, and comfort. Further, the charming illustrations create graceful flights of fancy and delight.

This captivating tale will happily entertain young readers and the young at heart. The fluid movement of words and illustrations creates a mesmerizing, poetic tempo appropriate for bedtime reading. I very highly recommend it!

Rating:
Summary: Seen Better
Review: I found the idea of the book to be good, but the execution was poor. The writing was weak and unimaginative. This could have been the beginning of a magical adventure but instead it turned out to be a very predictable read. I wouldn't recommend it to others.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely charming
Review: Not only do I enjoy reading Hello Willow, but my daughter who will be 3 in March 2001 loves hearing it! She has quite the collection of stories and very often will choose to have Hello Willow read and reread to her many times. She also will sit and look through the pictures more times than I can mention. The watercolors are beautiful and the story captures and plays upon one's imagination. I recommend the book to anyone with little ones at home and for preschool/kindgergarten settings. A MUST!!

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely charming
Review: This picture book about a little girl and her beloved willow tree celebrates the power of imagination. The story is charming, and kids (and their parents) will love the way the illustrations complement the text. Perfect as a bedtime story, it's also great as an inspiration for creative play. Highly recommended!