Overview

Willow and The Teardrop Forest, written and illustrated by Andi Hayes, is a 244-page fantasy/fable with 9 color illustrations, targeted at Middle Grade readers aged 8 through 12, although suitable for all ages. Steeped in magical realism, it is a tale of a tenderhearted weeping willow tree's soul-searching journey of self-discovery in an enchanted forest repeatedly under attack by a myriad of malicious interlopers. The interactions between talking trees, telepathic horses, winged eyeballs and demonic loggers offer insight into the complexities and contradictions of human nature while teaching a reverence for animals and nature. In a style reminiscent of C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, its parables illuminate the eternal battle of wisdom and compassion versus hatred and heartlessness. Willow will also appeal to fans of George Orwell's Animal Farm with its subtle underlying themes of societal politics and ethics. A fairy tale for the eternal child within us all, it has been called A serious and substantial piece of work - not just for children.

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9780986442032

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1. Willow and The Teardrop Forest speaks to the human heart and emotions in a way few stories today can. If Aesop were alive, he would have written this. The story will stay with you long after you put the book down. It is impossible to read this and not envision it as a full-blown movie! - Michael Ventarola 2. The energy and professionalism that it takes to produce a serious and substantial piece of work is immediately evident in Willow and The Teardrop Forest. The wording is excellent, as is the sentence structure, flow and rhythm. The tone, consistent and most appropriate for the subject, creates the right atmosphere and mood which brings to life this fantasy world of thinking, feeling and talking trees. I can hear an adult smoothly reading it to a child. And like all good works, the whole of the book is greater than the sum of its parts. -- William Kohn, Former Editor, Los Angeles Times 3. Willow and the Teardrop Forest is a beautiful story told by wonderfully humanized spirits of nature, reminding us that a positive, kind and caring world is what we should strive for. You feel like you know the author very well after reading this with its treasure of lovely lessons. It was a great pleasure to see the stunning illustrations that support the story...This is a story that will be enjoyed by readers of any age. - Diane Furst 4. This is a fairytale fable in the form of a horticultural animal farm - fortunately not as topical, but just as clever in its subtleties when approaching politics and ethics. Children would easily enjoy the story of the magical forest, while also learning the moral responsibility humans have with nature. The otherworldly illustrations are a beautiful accompaniment incredibly useful for sparking the readers imagination - Max Shackleton

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