Sara Sarhangpour – illustratör

Come one, come all to a very special event … the grand opening of the Museum of Willa and Wade!

Willa and Wade (an ostrich and a penguin) discover something curious on their walk. The small round object is sparkly but looks very old. They’ve discovered a treasure! And it belongs in a museum. In fact, it belongs in their very own museum, which will be called the Museum of Willa and Wade (MOWW). So, how do you make a museum? Well, first they have to choose a location. A box labeled MOWW is just the thing. Next, they need to add a few more treasures. Wade’s rock, handed down for generations, and Willa’s dinosaur are perfect for rounding out the collection. Add a café and a grand opening and voilà! They’ve created the perfect museum – almost as perfect as their friendship!

Judith Henderson’s graphic-novel series for early readers is a testament to trying new things, being undeterred by setbacks and learning as you go. The two adorable flightless birds are ever curious and always optimistic as they use creative problem-solving to work their way to solutions. Through it all, their friendship is the star, as the two are always open to each other’s suggestions. Illustrations by Sara Sarhangpour add to the whimsical tone of the story and, with just a few per spread, never overwhelm young readers. This book offers excellent character-education lessons on teamwork, initiative and perseverance. It could also serve as a great discussion starter on the value of museums or on what the things we cherish represent to us.

Everyone’s favorite flightless bird friends learn a thing or two about suspicious behavior in this clever addition to the fun graphic novel series!

When best friends Willa and Wade discover that there may be spies among them, they decide to see if they can spot any in their neighborhood. Of course, they don’t want to be noticed. So they disguise themselves in belted trenchcoats, tipped fedoras and sunglasses. They make sure to act calm and casual as they nonchalantly survey the scene. And they are stealthy when interrogating suspicious-looking characters. Even so, their investigation turns up no spies. However, the rest of the neighborhood now seems to be whispering about them …

Judith Henderson delivers another amusing story about two lovable bird friends who are always trying new things and learning together. This whimsical graphic novel series for early readers promotes being curious and staying optimistic, no matter what happens. Key to their appeal is the friendship between the two birds, who always listen to and support the other’s ideas, and who thoroughly enjoy investigating the world together. Children will love being in on how obvious the pair are while trying to go undercover, and simple illustrations by Sara Sarhangpour provide visual cues that complement the story. This title is excellent for teaching critical-thinking skills and for character-education lessons on perseverance, adaptability and teamwork.