Willow :: A childrens picture book about art and imagination

We have a fun new childrens picture book about art and creativity!

Willow, written by Denise Brennan-Nelson and Rosemarie Brennan, and illustrated by Cyd Moore.

While this book is new to us (I bought it for Maia’s birthday), it is not new to the world (It was published in 2008).

It’s about an imaginative and kind young artist named Willow and her influence upon her art teacher and her class.

It really is very lovely and inspiring.

Here’s a photo from the beginning of the book, showing the art teacher, Miss Hawthorn, as is pinch-faced and narrow-minded. She expects her students’ drawings and paintings to match the examples she hangs at the front of the class.

While most of the students comply by drawing regulation green trees and red apples that look alike, Willow drives her crazy with pink trees, blue apples, and snow-ladies.

But… Before winter vacation, Willow gives Miss Hawthorn a gift…

…her favorite art book.

And Miss Hawthorn is inspired to get out her art supplies and doodle. Her inhibitions fall away and her creativity is unleashed (Look at how she is depicted in the pages above compared with the pages below…).

When Willow and the other students return from winter vacation, they are dumbfounded by the transformation of their teacher and their classroom. Creativity was now encouraged and “This time, everyone painted just the way they wanted…”

Of course I love this book. How could I not? I love the messages about imagination and creativity in art, love the example that Willow provides to her classmates and teacher, and love the idea of Miss Hawthorn pulling a 180 and changing from a strict art-hating teacher to one who embraced her own creativity and that of her students.

Have you read Willow?

If not, I recommend it, especially for early school-aged kids (as well as their parents and teachers).

How about you? What is your favorite picture book about art?

Some more picture books about art 

• Beautiful Oops Book and Drawing Activity
• The Dot :: A Book about Creativity and Confidence
• Sky Color :: A Children’s Picture Book about Creativity
• Ish by Peter Reynolds
• Best Kids Picture Books to Inspire Children’s Art
• Art Books for Toddlers :: The Mini Masters Board Books
• I Spy Shapes in Art
• 5 Picture Books to Inspire Creativity

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