Wondrous Willow

By Christine Horner and Joey McGrellis

"Horner's debut story has action and adventure as well as nature lore as the animals have to contend with the ramifications of events created by people, but the story really shines in the bucolic meadows by the river where Willow and her friends live. Wondrous Willow is highly recommended." ~ Jack Magnus, 5

• Language: English
• Publisher: In the Garden Publishing
• Release date: Sep 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781941351154

Christine Horner

Christine Horner enjoys writing fiction and nonfiction that offers a higher consciousness perspective on the human experience. Nominated for the 2014 Dayton Literary Peace Prize for nonfiction, she is co-founder of the What Would Love Do Foundation. Christine has been featured on many programs and written for international publications. Discover the miraculous within!

Book preview

Day 2

Once there was the most auspicious little butterfly named Willow who lived at the edge of a lush grove of Ponderosa Pine trees on the side of a very steep mountain.

There was a reason Willow considered herself lucky. Though another Old World Swallowtail had once lived in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado many generations ago, no Swallowtail had been seen since.

Sometime during the human Great Depression of the 20th century, the very last Old World Swallowtail to be recorded in the National Park was logged in a special butterfly book by a handlebar-mustached man called John and his nature-loving wife, Grace.

It wasn’t that this little Swallowtail was important for being last; it was what the Swallowtail did during his short life that made him important.

How Willow had come to be born on the side of this particular mountain was a great mystery to her. She couldn’t ask her mother, for she had long since gone. Her father had also recycled back to Creation even before her mother.

Yet Willow couldn’t help but quiver with wonder. And, as she sunned herself while sitting on a Golden Currant shrub, she regarded herself very seriously.

Aw, geez, there she goes again, Skipper said to his friend, Percy. In the neighborhood a few days and she thinks she doesn’t stink like the rest of us.

Actually, Skipper, in your case, she doesn’t, said Percy.

Percy usually didn’t try to make his friend feel bad by pointing out the obvious. (Okay, that might not be true.) After all, Skipper couldn’t help that he was a malodorous baby skunk while Percy was the most adorable of adorable little hedgehogs.

Just by virtue of his cuteness, Percy could get away with anything, and he did! Like when his orneriness would get the best of him, and Percy just had to pour several acorn caps full of fresh rainwater down into Louis the Rattlesnake’s already sodden house. Or, sometimes he couldn’t help himself from using his petite hind legs to stomp and kick dirt into Mrs. Meeker’s flower bed. Well, what was he to do?

As Louis slithered out to chastise Percy or Mrs. Meeker twitched her whiskered nose and turned her long ears accusingly toward him, all he had to do was bring a twinkle to his little black button eyes and a crooked smile to his pint-sized snout of a nose, and you know the rest.

If that didn’t work, Percy would tuck his diminutive cuteness into a ball of soft fur, rolling quickly down the mountain to safety!

Skipper’s snuffling noises and the sound of Willow’s gentle voice brought Percy back from reminiscing about the good times. The smile quickly faded from his usually endearing little face.

Skipper, don’t cry. He didn’t mean it in a bad way, reassured Willow.

Skipper shook his head, doubting Willow’s sincerity. He hiccupped, It’s easy for you. You’re so beautiful.

Something about this made Percy angry, an emotion he wasn’t used to feeling. But, since all feelings are a part of Nature, he decided to go with it.

Don’t talk to Skipper like that! Percy cried his eyes suddenly ablaze. I’m his friend, not you.

Skipper hiccupped again, becoming more nervous. It’s what he did when he was upset. Skipper wasn’t sure if he got nervous because of the hiccups or if the hiccups were what made him nervous.

Skipper appreciated Percy’s friendship. Truthfully, any and all friends were appreciated because it’s hard for skunks. Skipper didn’t want to offend this potential new friend either!

It’s okay, Percy. Willow is just trying to be friendly.

Come to think of it, how Percy and Skipper had become friends was nearly as mysterious as how Willow had come to live on the mountain with them. What an odd

Reviews for Wondrous Willow

[bellymonster-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I was hoping this would be a fun children's book. Unfortunately I found it to be clunky, skipping from chapter to chapter, and the animal personifications were unengaging and in my mind a little trite. It didn't grab my attention at all, and while I do enjoy children's books, this one failed to hit the mark.*i received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[kristikingmorgan · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I was not impressed by the story at all. Anthropomorphic animals usually do not make the best stories, in my opinion. I understood the moral point that the author was trying to make, but I think the message is going to fall flat on most children. In fact, using the story of a controlled burn may harm more children's knowledge of animal behavior and what is good for the environment than intended. A controlled burn is actually a very healthy thing for a forest, unlike what this story would have you believe. The best part of this book is the illustrations. I wish there were more of them! The illustrator shouldn't have a hard time finding a career in illustrating. He did a very good job.

[kimmyd76 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An inspiring story with animal characters. Children of young and old will surely enjoy this book. A story of how every soul is special and here on earth for a purpose. The illustrations were cute and the only thing I would say would make it better for children is to have more of them!I received this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

[kimsbooks · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The illustrations seem childish, the narrative is lugubrious, and I find the combination of the two tedious. I had hoped for something more engaging, and as an avid collector/reader of picture books I was ready to appreciate this if done well. Instead, I encounter heavy-handed allegory...

[moiser20 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a cute book and something that younger children would enjoy.

[polarmath · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A cute story with many great pictures. I enjoy getting to read stories that are for children and love how this one can be used to show how everyone is different.

[lilwolfmisty · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed the illustrations they went well with the story. I loved the message of the story that everyone is important and unique. Also the deeper message that no matter how small or insignificant that we feel we are we all have an effect on the world around us and we can choose to make that a positive or negative effect. I think the young children will love the animals and the message and it will give parents the opportunity to open the door for discussing issues such as how important and unique each person is.

[thequietreader · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A lovely read that young readers will enjoy. The personalities of the creatures was unique to each one. The illustrations were charming and I do wish there had been more of them.

[rtamie-142648 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book so much I read it in one sitting. Ms Horner's story is unique and had a good moral to it. It is very appropriate for boys and girls. A quick interesting read. I especially liked the illustrations by Mr. McGrellis he is very talented and has a great future in illustrating or any field he goes into.