10 Feb / Willow’s Whispers by Lana Button, illustrated by Tania Howells
“Willow’s words came out in whispers …,” so she just doesn’t get heard. She ends up sitting alone at school, drinking orange juice when she prefers apple, getting her doll snatched away in mid-play, and gets overlooked once again from being chosen line leader.
“‘Your big, strong voice got stuck way inside you,'” her father gently encourages her. “‘But one day your voice will wiggle its way out,'” he promises. One morning Willow wakes up and decides to make her very own magic microphone. And finally, Willow finds her own “big, strong voice.”
Willow’s Whispers immediately stands out with its simple lines, bight colors, and lots of fresh white space. Illustrator Howells adds memorable little details to her drawings, like fruit-filled healthy lunches, ethnically diverse dolls (which only enhances Willow’s multi-hued schoolmates), and even a recycle symbol on the center of box from which Willow gathers the ingredients to make her magic microphone.
Most importantly, Canadian author Button’s debut picture book is an adorable, powerful tale of empowerment. How many girls can you remember in school who didn’t, couldn’t speak up? How many little girls do you see getting lost and never heard? Start them young in letting out their big, strong voices. We should all be heard, loud and clear!
Readers: Children
Published: 2010