Reviewed by Alyssa Elmore for Readers' Favorite

What happens when you decide not to brush your teeth? Where does a lost toy really go to? What happens when books get neglected? Does an Indian really wear pajamas? Ask William, he'll tell you. William by Heiki Vilep is an adorable collection of short stories about an ornery little boy named William. William has many adventures and visits many interesting places, and even makes some unlikely friends on his journeys. He becomes an Indian warlord, fights fear, visits the moon, and goes on even more great adventures!

Sometimes adults can seem perfectly unreasonable to little boys. We tell them to brush their teeth, wear pajamas, read more books and play fewer video games. But how often do we stop to tell them why? I loved this book. As a mother to a little "William," sometimes I find myself at my wit's end arguing with him. I have had to fight to get him to brush his teeth, sleep in his pajamas and many other things that William's mom struggles with. The characters are funny and the stories are impossibly fantastic, yet help the reader to see the logic behind a parent's unreasonable requests. I believe that there is magic within the stories that the author imparts to both parent and child, and maybe, just maybe, Indians do wear pajamas.

A small book at fifty-six pages, each chapter begins a new story and has colorful illustrations throughout. It is the perfect book for any little boy who is still being read to. I think little boys 4-8 would sympathize with the main character and enjoy his adventures. I feel that the stories are helpful in bridging the gap of reasoning between the parent and the child. Sometimes it is hard to remember what it is like to be a child, and I can only imagine what it is like to be a boy. Thank you for the insight. I will be reading this book to my "William."