Willow is back! This time she’s so excited to be flower girl for her favorite uncle and his partner David’s wedding. Willow just can’t wait to help make it perfect. The beach ceremony! The dinner! The dessert! The dancing! But there’s just one hiccup. Uncle Ash refuses to dance these days. A wedding with no dancing?! Willow makes it her mission to remind him of the joy he found in dancing years ago. On the evening of the wedding, Uncle Ash surprises them all and everyone dances in just the ways they were meant to.

 

Review

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"Told from Willow’s point of view, the uplifting message of doing what you love, regardless of what anyone else thinks, is appropriate for all ages. It’s a simple story for children, when taken at face value, or a more complex and emotionally nuanced journey for adults able to read between the lines. Themes of bullying, teasing, humiliation, and abandonment are subtle but still present as Willow focuses on helping Uncle Ash rediscover his love of dancing without fear or hurt.

 

Cheerful and fluid, sweet and colorful, illustrations by Cyd Moore follow Willow and Uncle Ash as they cuddle dogs at the shelter, slide on the playground, goof off with doughnuts, and walk down the aisle. Even the end pages, done in teal and white doodles, are creatively inspirational and entertaining glimpses into Willow’s world.

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The embodiment of unconditional love and confidence, Willow is always in motion, her joyful exuberance easy to see as she flits and flutters around wedding guests, getting a warm beach blanket for shivering Aunt Carol and a lemonade for overheated Uncle Larry; nothing dampens her excitement. When Cousin Joe begins whispering that he’s “never been to a wedding like this before,” Willow’s perfect response, “Isn’t it splendid?” sets the tone for a lovely sunset wedding complete with seashells, palm trees, and, of course, dancing.

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Willow and the Wedding encourages self-expression, positive thinking, and pursuing whatever makes you happy, whether it be singing, dancing, or letting loose while spending time with family and loved ones." - Foreword Reviews