Willie & the World Wide Web

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully executed
Review: A beautifully executed book for elementary children, one that artfully uses words and illustrations to tell a charming story.

Rating:
Summary: A Remarkable Picture Book
Review: As a librarian at a large library in NYC whose been fortunate enough to have the resources to acquire a wide and comprehensive collection of wonderful children's picture books, I and my colleagues whom I most respect tend to be reserved in our praise of new picture books. Today, many of the best visual artists are producing striking and inventive books. They now grace the coffee tables of fashionable homes and corporate offices. All this, in my opinion, is wonderful. For all their artistry and polish, though, even the large publisher's top-list picture books often fall short when it comes to combining artistry with an intelligent and meaningful narrative on important current events.

Willie & the World Wide Web is gaining a cult status among children's librarians, especially among librarians who embrace the responsible use of the Internet, for a good reason. The author uses lucid prose to explore the key issues that are the subject of much debate as the Internet becomes such a powerful force in society. Don't turn to this book for the sort of stunning fine-art illustrations that are on the level of picture books illustrated by the well-known visual artists who work in the picture book field. The images here are fine, though, and complement the text as they should. I read a feature article in which the publisher said future editions will include more sophisticated illustrations. The total effect of the first edition of this book is what makes it special.

First, I and a group of elementary children found ourselves enjoying the whimsy and subtle humor of this book. On a closer reading, I saw the author had carefully woven a thread through this story that explored issues ranging from the complexities of reality verses virtual reality, the seemingly infinite possibilities the Internet provides for innovation, the addictive power of interactive technologies, the convergence of new media and traditional media, the Net's great potential as an educational resource, privacy in the information age, the pros and cons of electronic commerce and new forms of global communication, the fact that the Internet can and is being used for good as well as bad, and that our society is being challenged to confront a number of new and difficult choices as this technology becomes more powerful and pervasive by the day.

In my view, Mr. Geissen wrote this book to say we are in store for a great adventure. He poses many of the large questions. And he poses them well and in an engaging way that intrigues his young audience. How will we respond? How will our kids respond? I couldn't agree more that these issues need to be discussed among elementary children. The author challenges children to consider these issues and ask questions. And with a little good guidance, the children who read this book do. Their insightful questions and answers about Internet issues are ones adults should pause to consider.

The book's use of the motifs such as outer space images and Amelia Earhart's airplane are creative and wise. The story ends right where it should, with a relevant inversion of the "was-it-all-a-dream?" technique of traditional fables. That all this is done within the context of 32 pages of fiction, which doesn't waste words, and that appeals to computer-savvy kids and stimulates their imagination is what makes this book stand out from the crowd. Every library should have a copy of this remarkable picture book for children.

Rating:
Summary: A Jewel of a Picture Book about the WWW
Review: As a parent of two and a founder of a Silicon Valley-based startup Internet business, this unique book caught my eye. It's the only picture book for elementary children I've seen that features a Web theme.

The story captured the imagination of my children. And I was surpised to find myself reading a picture book on the Internet that was entertaining for young kids, yet did not condescend to them (or me). This book cleverly provides a window into current and future information age themes -- the very issues we in Silicon Valley confront each day and that are profoundly changing our society.

I highly recommend this book, particularly to people interested in prompting their children to think about the pros and cons of technology, the choices technology requires us to make, and how we can best use it in our lives.

Rating:
Summary: We want a sequel!
Review: I am a third grader in Houston. I'm not a computer geek but I'm realinterested in technology and know a lot about computers for a kid myage. I love to read as much as I like to play sports. I think theInternet is one of the greatest inventions of all time. It's sort of the Michael Jordan of inventions.

Willie & the WWW is an incredible book. I usually read chapter books. This picture book is extremely cool and kids in all the grades here read it. Mr. Geissen was invited to our school and spoke about his book. I'll always remember meeting him. Some famous authors come to our school. But a lot of their presentations are boring. And these authors are usually sort of stuck up. The digital presentation Mr. Geissen did was awesome. Our librarian told me he is younger than most of the authors who write kid's books. I think this is probably why he is more with it when it comes to knowing a lot about the Net, and he knows how to talk to kids. He's just a nice guy. He told us all that the attention he's gotten because he came up with idea for Willie & the WWW, the ideas for illustrations, and wrote it doesn't make him special or better than anyone else.

Mr. Geissen talked to my dad and me about computer technology and writing and answered all the questions I had. Mr. Geissen isn't a computer geek either. He has written about computer technology for a long time and knows a lot about it. He said he included the basketball parts in the book because he loves this sport and has played basketball and tennis almost all his life. He's the only author who has come out to our school who can dunk a basketball.

I think he should write a sequel to Willie. He told me he didn't plan to write a sequel. That he just wrote Willie & the WWW for his son. He has gotten a lot of emails from parents and teachers asking for sequels. He said he would probably come out with two more Willie books after he publishes a chapter book called "The Blue Leaf Sled". This is going to be an awesome book. He read part of it at our school. My Mom and Dad encouraged me to write this review to tell other kids about the Willie book. They think other kids and parents will like this book as much as I do. And my Mom and Dad also want a sequel.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful way to introduce children to Web issues
Review: I'm a children's literature professor and our students use this book to introduce students at elementary schools in Los Angeles to Internet concepts. The children love it. The conversations it stimulates are wonderful! The author cleverly uses many metaphors to address issues the Net is raising in society. Often children pick up on more of the metaphors than the adults who read it. I recommend this book to parents and educators who are looking for a good way to start interesting discussions among children about the Web.

Rating:
Summary: Clever and Creative
Review: Kids will likely read this for the creative story it tells. As a parent, I think it stands out for the clever way it explores digital culture issues.

Rating:
Summary: A winner! Where's Disney with the movie!
Review: My 7-yr-old boy and 5-yr-old girl both were equally fascinated by the story and pictures. It moved to the top of the list overnight, beating out "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" and "Bear Hunt." Hey, Disney -- does anyone there read great children books like this? My kids want a movie!

Rating:
Summary: A Vivid and Memorable Children's Book
Review: This book is a big hit at my daughter's elementary school school, where the teachers, library staff, parents and the community have worked together to incorporate the Internet into the curriculum as a resource for teachers and children.

The author contrasts the themes of reality and virtual reality against a backdrop of the digital frontier of the Internet, and uses the techniques of traditional fables along the way. My only criticism is I think the publisher would have produced better art by using an artist who specializes in digital imaging techniques to produce illustrations that were less static. This is a story that could use more complex images, which better convey movement and better accompany the vivid imagery the writer uses.

I highly recommend the book, though. Particularly after seeing the teachers' and kids' reaction to it. The Web is a new frontier. And the space metaphors and the character of Evelyn, the astronaut who advances the plot (and seems to be based on Amelia Earhart), fit perfectly with the book's theme of moderation and the need for a healthy balance between things in the digital world and the "real" world. I think this is an important issue for parents raising kids today. Overall, this is an imaginative and memorable book for elementary kids of all ages.

Rating:
Summary: A Vivid and Memorable Children's Book
Review: This book is a big hit at my daughter's elementary school school, where the teachers, library staff, parents and the community have worked together to incorporate the Internet into the curriculum as a resource for teachers and children.

The author contrasts the themes of reality and virtual reality against a backdrop of the digital frontier of the Internet, and uses the techniques of traditional fables along the way. My only criticism is I think the publisher would have produced better art by using an artist who specializes in digital imaging techniques to produce illustrations that were less static. This is a story that could use more complex images, which better convey movement and better accompany the vivid imagery the writer uses.

I highly recommend the book, though. Particularly after seeing the teachers' and kids' reaction to it. The Web is a new frontier. And the space metaphors and the character of Evelyn, the astronaut who advances the plot (and seems to be based on Amelia Earhart), fit perfectly with the book's theme of moderation and the need for a healthy balance between things in the digital world and the "real" world. I think this is an important issue for parents raising kids today. Overall, this is an imaginative and memorable book for elementary kids of all ages.

Rating:
Summary: Charming, very informative for new web users.
Review: Written so that even our 3-year-old grandson could understand and the glossary is wonderful and just what the uninitiated need to break into the WWW age. When can we expect more from this author?