Welcome to The Adventures of Wonky Willy, written by Kerry Claire and Illustrated by Motoko Lewis
Willy was a delightful little Douglas squirrel who frequented our bird feeders one summer, making himself happy and content in the donut-shaped feeder attached to our deck. He would literally kick back, lean his elbow on the rim, and dig in to the varied seeds and nuts we placed there for him. He came to our deck at ten o’clock each morning like clockwork, and we fell in love with him. Annie, our collie, took notice of him too, and she would sometimes follow him along the deck looking very interested. Willy would tease her, bouncing along just in front of her.
Then one day we noticed that his head was bobbing up and down and tilted slightly to the side. He was also holding one of his front paws against his chest. In spite of these problems, he soldiered on and continued climbing the trees in our garden and foraging for food.
I spoke to the Wildlife Specialist in our area, and she suggested I bring him in for evaluation and treatment, which we did. I was so taken by this brave little fellow that I just had to write a story about him. To find out what happened, you’ll have to read the book!
In this delightful, heartwarming, beautifully illustrated read-aloud story for children five to ten years old, you’ll learn about squirrels, their challenging lives in the forest, and explore the meaning of love as it relates to wild animals.
What people are saying about The Adventures of Wonky Willy
This book takes me back to the type of book that I would have either read or have read to me as a child. It is an engaging, authentic Pacific Northwest story enhanced by finely detailed and beautiful illustrations — a pleasurable read for an adult!
Every so often a book comes along I just want to hug. This is one of them. Willy’s story is so heartfelt, his adventures so real and squirrely relatable, his happy ending (with a bit of help from his human friends) so well earned I wanted to start over when I got to the last page. The depictions of the secret rhythms and joys of the forest are told in simple, appropriate prose and still capture the essence of the outdoors. Every page spread has a stunning watercolor illustration to ooh an aah over, to study and discuss and wonder about. It won’t be just the little ones who are entranced by this book. Buy one for every kid you know and put some in the Secret Santa stockings, too.
If you, like me, cherish reading to your grandchildren, Wonky Willy is a must. My little clan was enchanted by the beautifully illustrated adventures of a backyard squirrel—a creature so relatable to little folks.
And they learned something of the life and habitat of the little Douglas squirrel—sparking wonder, questions and interest. Wonky Willy hits all the marks of a perfect children’s book—both charming and educational.
Love this book for story time. Have always been on the lookout for good books to read to kids too young to read longer prose themselves but plenty old and smart enough to understand more intricate stories. Seems like there’s a market gap. Titles like “My Father’s Dragon” or even the Paddington stories. This book is absolutely perfect for that age group, and the pictures are incredible!
This beautifully illustrated book opens a world that I thoroughly enjoyed. Although young ones will delight in it, everyone will find the tale and the pictures delightful!
Kerry Claire and dogs 