Review: Willow by the Sea

Willow by the Sea

Written and illustrated by Camilla Ashforth

Publication Date: 2002
Publisher: Walker Books Ltd
ISBN: 0-7445-7565-6

Summary/Back cover:
In Willow by the Sea, Willow dreams about the sound of waves on the shore, and soon he has invited all of the farm animals to go with him. The delights of summer are beautifully evoked in Camilla Ashforth’s gentle watercolors.

Review
I like this book but some families will find it far too twee for their liking. The illustrations are delicate, hazy watercolours in calm, muted colours. The story quietly unfolds with a couple of songs sung along the way. The tune for the songs is given on the last page.

The story is about a bear called Willow who works at a farm but longs to return to his home by the sea. He sets off with all his farm animal friends to spend time at the beach.

I like that there are not too many words per page, except on the pages where the songs are sung.

It is a calm story that ends with Willow and his friends all going to sleep so it would be an ideal bed-time read. It may be well-suited to younger children or to those families who appreciate the old-world charm of the story and illustrations.

My rating: 3.8 out of 5

Review written by team_s