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The Wild Imagination of Willy Nilly #2
Follow The Breadcrumbs
In this stunning new Picture Book series for children aged two to ten, the everyday activities of Willy Nilly spiral into epic adventures as his wild imagination blends with reality and we see the world through a child’s eyes. All built with pop-up text to help parents and teachers use the book to meet syllabus requirements.
In his second adventure, Willy’s has a big idea: why not build a pond in his backyard? That way he can lure some ducks up to visit from the local lake - but his plan backfires dramatically when all the local wildlife turns up. How will he feed them all? And how will he clean up the mess?
Rejoice in the detailed, all original, video-games-meet-Disney inspired art. Plus, you can help your child meet early school syllabus requirements by using the interactive, pop-up text boxes to hide the story and let them interpret the narrative from the art and the facial expressions first.
Also make sure you also pick up Book 1 of The Wild Imagination of Willy Nilly, The Little Green Boat, which is a rollicking adventure involving a big wave, some dolphins and a secret island with a surprising treasure.
Enjoy.
In his second adventure, Willy’s has a big idea: why not build a pond in his backyard? That way he can lure some ducks up to visit from the local lake - but his plan backfires dramatically when all the local wildlife turns up. How will he feed them all? And how will he clean up the mess?
Rejoice in the detailed, all original, video-games-meet-Disney inspired art. Plus, you can help your child meet early school syllabus requirements by using the interactive, pop-up text boxes to hide the story and let them interpret the narrative from the art and the facial expressions first.
Also make sure you also pick up Book 1 of The Wild Imagination of Willy Nilly, The Little Green Boat, which is a rollicking adventure involving a big wave, some dolphins and a secret island with a surprising treasure.
Enjoy.
- GenresPicture Books
21 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 28, 2016
3 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Chris Stead
31 books43 followersChris Stead is an author, editor, designer and publisher. He not only produces his own books, but also works with other indie authors and illustrators seeking to get their projects completed.
He is best known for his work as one of the world's leading video games journalists. A multiple award winner, for the bulk of his career he worked as the editor of major magazines and websites in the video gaming space, including Game Informer, GamePro, Official PlayStation Magazine, Red Bull, Maxim, Krash and more.
In 2013, he quit his high profile role as editor of Game Informer Australia to found his own company, Old Mate Media to focus on self-publishing original work. He now as 10 books available for purchase, as well as eight episodes of an iPad magazine called Grab It, which was nominated for a digital magazine of the year award in 2014.
Predominantly Chris writes, creates and designs interactive children's books. Now a father of three, he has started releasing the first of these books through iOS and Amazon, with an aim to making them physical books in the future. The lead series is called The Wild Imagination of Willy Nilly, but he has also released a number of single books with different artists.
Most recently he released the sci-fi novel Adam Exitus, and a Guide to the Nintendo Switch game console.
Chris currently has 12 other books in production, due for release through 2017. The Old Mate Media website features updates on these titles, as well as free guides for other authors, and a free review service.
He is best known for his work as one of the world's leading video games journalists. A multiple award winner, for the bulk of his career he worked as the editor of major magazines and websites in the video gaming space, including Game Informer, GamePro, Official PlayStation Magazine, Red Bull, Maxim, Krash and more.
In 2013, he quit his high profile role as editor of Game Informer Australia to found his own company, Old Mate Media to focus on self-publishing original work. He now as 10 books available for purchase, as well as eight episodes of an iPad magazine called Grab It, which was nominated for a digital magazine of the year award in 2014.
Predominantly Chris writes, creates and designs interactive children's books. Now a father of three, he has started releasing the first of these books through iOS and Amazon, with an aim to making them physical books in the future. The lead series is called The Wild Imagination of Willy Nilly, but he has also released a number of single books with different artists.
Most recently he released the sci-fi novel Adam Exitus, and a Guide to the Nintendo Switch game console.
Chris currently has 12 other books in production, due for release through 2017. The Old Mate Media website features updates on these titles, as well as free guides for other authors, and a free review service.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 25, 2019
Be careful what you wish for.
The charming tale of a well meaning child, who should have spent a few more minutes considering his plans before he acted on them. But don't worry, he makes it right in the end. Cute art.
The charming tale of a well meaning child, who should have spent a few more minutes considering his plans before he acted on them. But don't worry, he makes it right in the end. Cute art.
April 19, 2019
https://patriciatimbrook.wordpress.co...
The Wild Imagination of Willy Nilly, a series by Chris Stead
Book #1: “The Little Green Boat,” published in 2015 by Old Mate Media
https://patriciatimbrook.wordpress.co...
Book #2: “Follow the Bread Crumbs,” published in 2017 by Old Mate Media
Book #3: “Christmas Chimney Challenge,” published in 2018 by Old Mate Media.
Book #2: Follow the Bread Crumbs
Ever Heard of Caine’s Arcade?* You may have, since dozens of blogs and websites have featured Caine Monroy’s remarkable true story of what his visualization, drive, and use of cardboard produced in his father’s garage.
Children’s imaginations show up in many ways and in many places.
In Book #2, young Willy Nilly’s imagination mixes up a batch of outdoor adventures with a wheelbarrow, a shovel, and a sack full of bread.
“Follow the Bread Crumbs,” spreads another tale about Willy Nilly’s wild imagination when he is rewarded with feeding the ducks after he cleans his room. At the pond, Willy Nilly’s brain bakes up the brilliant idea of making his own duck pond, and for two (selfish, though he does not realize it) reasons: 1. He could have the ducks to feed whenever he wanted; and, 2. He could skip cleaning his room. As predicted in the series, Willy Nilly’s day starts with a fun-filled and favorite place or event, this one being at the duck pond. But, like dough with yeast, Willy Nilly’s activity expands and expands into a big dilemma. Even so, he relies on that same imagination that baked an unpleasant situation, to resolve it: Bread crumbs led the animals to his home, and bread crumbs led them back to their own pond.
So, to Willy Nilly, life goes back to the way it was. However, he soon discovers it is NOT the same: His imagination created a huge hole in his family’s back yard. The story concludes with a life-lesson ending: Often times, acted-out imaginations, like mold on bread, may leave a mark, a consequence that must be set right.
*
*https://psychcentral.com/blog/the-pow...
The Wild Imagination of Willy Nilly, a series by Chris Stead
Book #1: “The Little Green Boat,” published in 2015 by Old Mate Media
https://patriciatimbrook.wordpress.co...
Book #2: “Follow the Bread Crumbs,” published in 2017 by Old Mate Media
Book #3: “Christmas Chimney Challenge,” published in 2018 by Old Mate Media.
Book #2: Follow the Bread Crumbs
Ever Heard of Caine’s Arcade?* You may have, since dozens of blogs and websites have featured Caine Monroy’s remarkable true story of what his visualization, drive, and use of cardboard produced in his father’s garage.
Children’s imaginations show up in many ways and in many places.
In Book #2, young Willy Nilly’s imagination mixes up a batch of outdoor adventures with a wheelbarrow, a shovel, and a sack full of bread.
“Follow the Bread Crumbs,” spreads another tale about Willy Nilly’s wild imagination when he is rewarded with feeding the ducks after he cleans his room. At the pond, Willy Nilly’s brain bakes up the brilliant idea of making his own duck pond, and for two (selfish, though he does not realize it) reasons: 1. He could have the ducks to feed whenever he wanted; and, 2. He could skip cleaning his room. As predicted in the series, Willy Nilly’s day starts with a fun-filled and favorite place or event, this one being at the duck pond. But, like dough with yeast, Willy Nilly’s activity expands and expands into a big dilemma. Even so, he relies on that same imagination that baked an unpleasant situation, to resolve it: Bread crumbs led the animals to his home, and bread crumbs led them back to their own pond.
So, to Willy Nilly, life goes back to the way it was. However, he soon discovers it is NOT the same: His imagination created a huge hole in his family’s back yard. The story concludes with a life-lesson ending: Often times, acted-out imaginations, like mold on bread, may leave a mark, a consequence that must be set right.
*
*https://psychcentral.com/blog/the-pow...
July 15, 2019
This is an interesting story. I have read it and reread it with my youngest child. She enjoyed it immensely. The illustrations are fun. And the story is creative. But for a picture book every page is the same layout. It is one big picture with a white bar on the right-hand side and the text centered both vertically and horizontally on the white space. Some words are either red or green for emphasis. I believe the layout and design could use some work.
But that being said and it is a fun story. Willy Nilly seems to get in trouble a lot. At the beginning of the book it is for a mess in his room. At the end for an even bigger mess in the yard. But Willy loves the outdoors, loves animals, and has some interesting ideals, even if they may not be the most well through out. He does take responsibility for his actions and tries to make things right.
My concern with the book is that a lot of children and parents are not aware that bread is not good for waterfowl. That it causes problems for the birds in quantities and for the ecosystem. And many with out knowledge will have this book reinforce the idea of feeding these birds bread.
Overall a fun story with goo illustrations. And an interesting character. We look forward to checking out some of the other Willy Nilly books.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
But that being said and it is a fun story. Willy Nilly seems to get in trouble a lot. At the beginning of the book it is for a mess in his room. At the end for an even bigger mess in the yard. But Willy loves the outdoors, loves animals, and has some interesting ideals, even if they may not be the most well through out. He does take responsibility for his actions and tries to make things right.
My concern with the book is that a lot of children and parents are not aware that bread is not good for waterfowl. That it causes problems for the birds in quantities and for the ecosystem. And many with out knowledge will have this book reinforce the idea of feeding these birds bread.
Overall a fun story with goo illustrations. And an interesting character. We look forward to checking out some of the other Willy Nilly books.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
May 2, 2019
Willy is intelligent and curious. He is also messy. His mother offers to take Willy down to the lake to feed the ducks after he cleans up his room. Willy complies with her request but comes up with an idea to bring the ducks to him, so he won’t have to clean up first.
Willy ventures to the bakery to find stale bread and leave a trail of crumbs. Then he digs a ditch and fills it with water from the garden hose. The next morning, Willy is awakened by lots of noise. He couldn’t anticipate the havoc he has engendered. Willy must find a way to undo the damage he has caused. In the process, he learns a few valuable lessons.
The author includes a teaching plan for parents and teachers at the beginning of the tale. Stead uses different colors to highlight the dialogue and the more difficult vocabulary. Illustrations are bright and expressive. Children of all ages will enjoy it, but I especially recommend it for ages five through eight.
Willy ventures to the bakery to find stale bread and leave a trail of crumbs. Then he digs a ditch and fills it with water from the garden hose. The next morning, Willy is awakened by lots of noise. He couldn’t anticipate the havoc he has engendered. Willy must find a way to undo the damage he has caused. In the process, he learns a few valuable lessons.
The author includes a teaching plan for parents and teachers at the beginning of the tale. Stead uses different colors to highlight the dialogue and the more difficult vocabulary. Illustrations are bright and expressive. Children of all ages will enjoy it, but I especially recommend it for ages five through eight.
March 19, 2020
Wow, Willy Nilly sure has a wild imagination! He doesn't want to clean his room, but his mom offers to let him go to the lake to feed the ducks if he cleans his room. He takes her up on the offer and cleans his room and hurries off to the lake. He has this idea to bring the animals to him instead of having to go to the lake and clean his room and it involved bread crumbs to lure the animals to his own home. What he doesn't realize is that he is not thinking of others and how it will impact them if he takes all the animals away from the lake.
This is a great story to teach kids to think of the consequences of their actions. People should consider the feelings of others before going and doing things sometimes. It also teaches kids that if they make a huge mess, even though it was fun, they should clean it up.
One thing I would like to know though is, how did the fish get to his backyard lake?
This is a great story to teach kids to think of the consequences of their actions. People should consider the feelings of others before going and doing things sometimes. It also teaches kids that if they make a huge mess, even though it was fun, they should clean it up.
One thing I would like to know though is, how did the fish get to his backyard lake?
November 4, 2022
This is a good fun, comical adventure which many kids might think could happen to them. Young Willy enjoys feeding the ducks at the lake, and he wonders if they would settle in his backyard if he built a pond. I love the nature imagery and the life lessons.
There are some tips on the front pages for adults reading to or with kids, however, this might make it less enjoyable for young children, and they might not read as well if they are concentrating only on the pictures. Very lively and colourful pen drawings. Good for readers from three to six.
I downloaded a copy from Amazon. This is an unbiased review.
There are some tips on the front pages for adults reading to or with kids, however, this might make it less enjoyable for young children, and they might not read as well if they are concentrating only on the pictures. Very lively and colourful pen drawings. Good for readers from three to six.
I downloaded a copy from Amazon. This is an unbiased review.
March 24, 2019
Loved this book! From beginning to end. The title grabbed my attention right away, as I’m always telling my grandson, don’t Willy Nilly it. The story was entertaining and kept his attention. He asked questions as we read along side by side and I have to admit, I was just as excited as he was to see how the story ended. The illustrations were great. Story was great. Characters in the story were interesting and as I mentioned, kept his (4yr old) attention from start to finish. I’m excited this is a little series and can’t wait to enjoy the next adventures of Willy Nilly! Loved loved loved it.
April 1, 2019
Review of the children’s book: Follow the Breadcrumbs
This is a delightful and energetic adventure! The author was very creative in thinking up this wonderful story!
Each illustration elaborates a part of the story. Very lovely illustrations by the way. This would be an easy book for a young child to follow along while looking at the pictures and listening to the story.
The ideas at the beginning of the book for some comparative reading and useful tips for parents and teachers looks very helpful! So many children are homeschooled these days.
I’m a big fan of reading to children. I think a book like this helps spread the imagination wide!! What would happen if there is a homemade lake in the yard, will the animals come? Leaving a trail of breadcrumbs is a great idea!
As an adult reading the story for fun, I was entertained and charmed!
I received a complementary copy and I’m happy to provide a review with my own opinion.
This is a delightful and energetic adventure! The author was very creative in thinking up this wonderful story!
Each illustration elaborates a part of the story. Very lovely illustrations by the way. This would be an easy book for a young child to follow along while looking at the pictures and listening to the story.
The ideas at the beginning of the book for some comparative reading and useful tips for parents and teachers looks very helpful! So many children are homeschooled these days.
I’m a big fan of reading to children. I think a book like this helps spread the imagination wide!! What would happen if there is a homemade lake in the yard, will the animals come? Leaving a trail of breadcrumbs is a great idea!
As an adult reading the story for fun, I was entertained and charmed!
I received a complementary copy and I’m happy to provide a review with my own opinion.
May 2, 2019
Fun and Exciting
What a great idea! Kids love feeding ducks and I can totally some kid trying to build a pond in their backyard. What happens next is what makes the book imaginative and fun.
What a great idea! Kids love feeding ducks and I can totally some kid trying to build a pond in their backyard. What happens next is what makes the book imaginative and fun.
July 31, 2020
What a fun read for 3 to 7 year olds! I can see my 4 yr old granddaughter wanting to bring the ducks home, too! A good thoughtful consequences read. Lots of discussion points. Great illustrations. One of the better children's books I've read lately. 6 stars!
April 22, 2019
Sweet Story
My 6 to and I just finished reading! He said "Tell everyone it's funny, mom." We will definitely come back for more adventures with Willy!
My 6 to and I just finished reading! He said "Tell everyone it's funny, mom." We will definitely come back for more adventures with Willy!
May 5, 2019
A neat story idea.
My daughter liked the idea of the story and how Willy got all the animals to follow him. Really fun idea and great pictures.
My daughter liked the idea of the story and how Willy got all the animals to follow him. Really fun idea and great pictures.
May 10, 2020
Cute
This was a cute little adventure book. It shows a bit of empathy and kindness. My 5yr old got a kick out of the animals going to Willy’s backyard.
This was a cute little adventure book. It shows a bit of empathy and kindness. My 5yr old got a kick out of the animals going to Willy’s backyard.
January 4, 2017
This is the second book in the Willy Nilly Series. I really enjoy Willy Nilly. He has a lot of cool ideas, but like most kids he doesn’t think them through all the way. This seems to get him into trouble. Willy wakes up one morning and his mom tells him he has to clean his messy room. Once he has done that he can go to the lake and feed the ducks. This is something he loves to do. Once there he gets a bright idea. What if he had a lake in his own back yard. Then he could feed the ducks in his own back yard. Willy goes to the bakery and gets all of their stale bread and creates a trail of bread crumbs to his back yard. Then he digs a lake. When he wakes up in the morning Willy realizes he has created a problem and he is I so much trouble with his parents. How will he get out of this situation? I think I like this character because he is so genuine. I could see his wheels turning in his head and it made me think of my own grandkids and how they think of things like this without thinking of consequences.
November 23, 2016
Funny story about a little boy's mischief and how he handled it responsibly
Willy Nilly plans to bring the animals from the lake to his house by leaving a trail of breadcrumbs and having them follow it. He doesn't realise the gravity of the situation, and the next morning he finds himself in deep water.
In this installment, Willy Nilly definitely had a 'wild' adventure. Ducks, pelicans, and even a crocodile came to visit! Despite the mishap he caused, he did his best to resolve it. The situation might be over the top, but it can be a lesson for your young ones to be responsible for their actions.
As always, Willy Nilly's adventures are thrilling, and you just don't know what he plans on doing next. Share this story with your kids and enjoy reading time full of laughs, and at the same time awakening their sense of adventure.
Willy Nilly plans to bring the animals from the lake to his house by leaving a trail of breadcrumbs and having them follow it. He doesn't realise the gravity of the situation, and the next morning he finds himself in deep water.
In this installment, Willy Nilly definitely had a 'wild' adventure. Ducks, pelicans, and even a crocodile came to visit! Despite the mishap he caused, he did his best to resolve it. The situation might be over the top, but it can be a lesson for your young ones to be responsible for their actions.
As always, Willy Nilly's adventures are thrilling, and you just don't know what he plans on doing next. Share this story with your kids and enjoy reading time full of laughs, and at the same time awakening their sense of adventure.
December 11, 2020
Follow The Breadcrumbs (The Wild Imagination of Willy Nilly) by Chris Stead.
This is a fun story that also happens to be interactive. Each page allows you, or your child, to click on a breadcrumb, or a loaf of bread, to actually see the text. Another icon, a Willy Nilly button, one-click allows you to hear the story, audible sounds from the characters. Great fun!
My almost 2-year-old grandaughter found the sounds delightful.
The book design is quite imaginative with interesting illustrations. This adventure is sure to delight the young ones and at the same time teach some valuable lessons about responsibility.
This is a fun story that also happens to be interactive. Each page allows you, or your child, to click on a breadcrumb, or a loaf of bread, to actually see the text. Another icon, a Willy Nilly button, one-click allows you to hear the story, audible sounds from the characters. Great fun!
My almost 2-year-old grandaughter found the sounds delightful.
The book design is quite imaginative with interesting illustrations. This adventure is sure to delight the young ones and at the same time teach some valuable lessons about responsibility.
July 4, 2019
An active and adventurous story that kids love!
This is a very nicely written story about a boy who loves the animals in his life, but whose choices have some unforeseen consequences. The language is filled with fun action words that allow the reader to have fun with the movement of the story, and the illustrations work well to create more humor in the story. The style is great for emerging and confident readers, and parents will enjoy it as well. Excellent children’s book!
This is a very nicely written story about a boy who loves the animals in his life, but whose choices have some unforeseen consequences. The language is filled with fun action words that allow the reader to have fun with the movement of the story, and the illustrations work well to create more humor in the story. The style is great for emerging and confident readers, and parents will enjoy it as well. Excellent children’s book!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews