Title: Willow Tales
Author & Illustrator: Joni Franks
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 979-8-3694-6698-8
Pages: 36
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book / Fable
Reviewer: Beth Adams
Pacific Book Review
In this adorable children’s book Willow Tales, creative author and illustrator Joni Franks takes readers on a journey from Buds and Blossoms Flower Farm through an enchanted forest with mystical characters as Sebastian, a Welsh corgi, meets Willow, and together they pursue to find a cure for an ailing old lady, Granny Bloom. Peppered with perfect poetry to convey the sentiments of her book, award-winning author Joni Franks created a storybook adventure with artistic imagery resulting in an inspiring tale of love, fortitude, compassion, and hope.
When Granny Bloom falls ill to the new flu, and her faithful companion Sebastian is worried and reluctant to leave her side to carry on his farm-related tasks. Yet, he musters up the inner strength to seek a cure for his ailing master and proceeds out to find a cure. Traveling over moss-covered trees, paths, and through flowers, he first encounters a Moss Fairy who guides Sebastian gently between worlds. He then meets Willow, a girl dog who could have been mistaken for a small fox with her tiny, compact, sturdy body and golden-colored fur.
The synopsis of the story is best summed up when Sebastian returns to see Granny Bloom out of bed and back to her tasks. Granny said to Sebastian, “Sebastian, where have you been? I’ve been worried sick about you.” “I was only gone for one night. I was so scared because you weren’t getting any better. So I went looking for help, and the next thing I knew, I met Willow and Moss Drop. Moss Drop took us to where Grandmother Shrub and Bella the Dragonette live. Grandmother Shrub and Bella made magic powder while we watched, and now you seem well,” Sebastian said excitedly.”
Readers will absolutely love the personified animals and fantastical entities embellishing this colorful world of flowers, mushrooms and fauna. I do believe the story gets even better after multiple readings, as one appreciates the theme and poetry of the text and notices many artistic nuances within the drawings. A best-in-class book within the genre of children’s fables, Willow Tale will no doubt become a keepsake for families to enjoy with children wanting to explore the possibilities of super-natural beings achieving magical endeavors of healing, help and love.
As the story closes with “Until our paths meet again,” I do indeed look forward to future children’s stories by Joni Franks. Perfect for bedtime reading or young independent readers who love imaginative adventures.
