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Reviewed by Robert A. Groves for Readers' Favorite
A beautiful flower farm is the setting for Willow Tales by Joni Franks. Granny Bloom has grown and sold flowers for as long as anyone can remember. Helping her is a Welsh corgi named Sebastian. The two are inseparable and make a great team running The Buds and Blossoms Flower Farm. When Granny Bloom falls ill with the flu and does not seem to be improving over the following days, Sebastian must face his fears and make an important decision. That decision leads him on a journey away from the flower farm and into the enchanted forest. There he encounters an ensemble of characters: moss fairies, Grandmother Shrub, a dragonette named Bella, and Elowen, a fairy angel. He also makes a new forever friend, Willow. The forest village comes together to assist Sebastian with his need. Will their help come in time to heal Granny Bloom?
Joni Franks’ Willow Tales is a delightful children’s story filled with magic in words and pictures. The reader is immediately captivated by the lyrical prose and eye-catching illustrations. Each chapter gently blends adventure into insights on how love and community can overcome fear and sickness. Children will learn important lessons about caring for others and nature. I found myself reflecting on the ways we can heal others simply by showing compassion. When I finished reading, I was left with a soul filled with warmth, happiness, and a sense of peace. Joni already has an outstanding body of work to her credit. Willow Tales is a superb addition and highly recommended to parents, educators, and community librarians.
