Willie Was Different: A Children's Story

by Norman Rockwell

Overview

A children’s story for the ages by a beloved artist of American life.

Norman Rockwell, the foremost chronicler of small-town American life in paint, wrote just one work of fiction, a children’s story, first published in McCall’s magazine in 1967. It was later republished by Funk & Wagnalls as a book, but this edition is based on Rockwell’s original concept, complete with the color and monotone paintings he created for the story.

Willie is a wood thrush—but a very different kind of wood thrush. Driven by his intimation that he possesses a special genius, Willie leaves his avian fellows to take up singing with the exquisitely down-to-earth Miss Polly, flautist extraordinaire. Together they find fame, and they eventually travel to the nation’s capitol so Willie’s beautiful singing can be appreciated all the more. Yet all the attention and bustle of city life distress Willie and make him stop singing, so Miss Polly brings Willie back to his native woods, where he resumes his tranquil life and music-making with her. But the world remembers and reveres Willie and the genius of his song.

Share Willie’s timeless story with the children in your life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780936399614
Publisher:	Countryman Press, The
Publication date:	09/17/1994
Pages:	34
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.40(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	800L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

American artist Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) is perhaps most famous for his cover illustrations for The Saturday Evening Post—322 covers in 47 years. His work still enjoys great popularity today.

Editorial Reviews

Originally printed in McCall's in 1967, this publication of Rockwell's only story for children coincides with the 100th anniversary of the American illustrator's birth. The tale, said to be autobiographical, concerns a "gawky and pigeon-toed" wood thrush named Willie who has vague premonitions of his own genius. Willie flees his family-particularly his overbearing father-in order to find his talent. When Miss Polly, the town librarian, plays her flute at the window, Willie joins her in a duet and the two discover his gift: he can improvise. However, Willie's reputation for composing "cadenzas and trills inspired by his own moods" soon lands him in an aviary to be observed and studied. There the virtuoso loses his spirit: "Willie was proud to be different, to be a genius, but he did not want to be a celebrity." Miss Polly rescues him and the two continue their music-"Very softly, just for themselves." Rockwell's effusive color illustrations will warm new generations, while adult admirers will savor the presentation of Rockwellian faces and gestures in a new context. Ages 6-10. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Gr 1-3-Tired of hearing about his father's expectations for him, Willie the wood thrush flies the coop and is soon drawn to the sound of Miss Polly's flute. As he accompanies her, he begins to experiment with variations on his wood-thrush theme. His fame as a composer spreads, and he is invited to grace the aviary at the National Ornithological Society in Washington, D.C. But celebrity status doesn't suit Willie, and Miss Polly takes him back home where both his health and his song are restored. A fascinating foreword traces the history, alteration, and variations of this, Rockwell's only story for children. His illustrations are, of course, classic, with all the detail and homey qualities one expects from the artist. However, the pictures are sparse, at times making the book look like an avian guidebook gone awry, and there is a vast amount of unused, glaring white space surrounding both text and illustrations. The text itself seems like the working outline it was originally meant to be; as such, it is both sketchy and choppy. As a story about friendship and individuality, this tale doesn't measure up to Leo Lionni's poet-mouse Frederick (Knopf, 1967) or of Peta Coplans's endearing gardener-dog, Dottie (Houghton, 1994). The ending, as well, is misleading for children. It tells readers that there is a ``Willie's Room'' in the museum in Washington, which in reality does not exist. The value of this book lies in the fact that it is indeed pure Rockwell.-Lisa Wu Stowe, Great Neck Library, NY

School Library Journal