Shy Willow

November 23, 2020
A timid bunny named Willow must venture outside her comfort zone in Min’s quiet, whimsical debut. In an abandoned mailbox decorated with taped-on sketches and flora, shy Willow hides from the noisy and chaotic world outside, her long ears occasionally poking through the mail slot. When an envelope is slipped into her cozy home, Willow discovers it’s a letter to the moon from a boy hoping to arrange a surprise for his mother’s birthday. Moved by the boy’s thoughtfulness, Willow determines to help deliver the message, even if the long journey means she’ll need to travel far from the mailbox’s security. To reach the moon, she tries jumping, climbing, and even catching a ride on a magnificent phoenixlike bird, until in an act of selflessness, Willow makes a final, improbable attempt that proves successful, slowly propelling the tale to a heartening, if predictable, conclusion. Employing watercolor and colored pencil, Min creates gentle scenes—the most striking of which are wordless—that radiate with hints of sunset pink, lending a luminous quality that befits this earnest tale of bravery begetting self-realization. Ages 4–7. Agent: Maria Vicente, P.S. Literary.

Narrator Vico Ortiz's angelic voice brings a magical quality to this sweet story about a courageous rabbit. Shy Willow lives in an abandoned mailbox. When a little boy deposits a letter for the moon, Shy Willow decides to deliver it. This precious story provides a delightful and absorbing experience for children as they accompany the shy rabbit on her journey. Ortiz captures Shy Willow's quiet, kind nature, as well as her determination, as she bravely sets out to find the moon. A twinkle of melodies and sound effects highlights Ortiz's spot-on narration, creating a daydreamy atmosphere for Shy Willow's adventure. This story may be an especially encouraging listening experience for shy children. M.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine