I will use this book with students from K-2nd grade. Sometimes students are shy and introvert. With this book, I will help students learn about self-confidence and reassurance. ( )

Willows words come out in whispers that no one (except her Dad) can hear. She gets disappointed time and time again when no one hears her wishes or requests. She creates a magic microphone which helps her find her big voice. She is pleased when she can stand up for herself, express herself and finally be understood.

Young girl talks very quietly and no one hears her. She does not get what she wants. Her father has confidence in her though and change ensues.

Ages: 3-7
Source: Pierce County Library, UP Branch

[refers to http://jeanlittlelibrary.blogspot.com/2010/12/disappearing-desmond-by-anna-alter...

Our next shy student story is Willow's Whispers. Willow is so quiet nobody ever listens to her. She wishes she could speak up...but her words just don't come out loud enough! She'd like to join in with the other children and tell people what she thinks, but when they can't hear her whispers, they ignore her and think she's unfriendly. Willow decides to find a way to make her whispers louder, so everyone can hear her! With a little creativity and some rummaging in the recycling bin, she creates a "magic microphone". Now Willow can tell the other kids she does want to be friends, stand up to an aggressive little girl, get a turn in the line, and pick her own juice. But then her microphone gets crunched. Can Willow speak up on her own? Yes she can!
While this story is also dealing with a very shy child who's being overlooked, it's quite different from Desmond in several ways. First, Willow has specific reasons she wants to be able to speak up - she's getting overlooked and she wants to stand up for herself. She's not simply a quiet child who enjoys observing, her shyness is causing problems. Secondly, she solves her problem all by herself. Her dad is supportive, but Willow doesn't need an extrovert to bring her out of her shell - she just needs a little creativity and some practice in speaking up for herself.
Verdict: Recommended this is a practical and fun book for children who need to speak up for themselves without having to change their personalities to suit extrovert social standards. I enjoyed the minimalist illustrations and I would hand this book to any child who has this problem - and those who don't.

Willow is a lovely soft spoken girl with ideas, opinions and dreams. Unfortunately, her quiet voice is often overlooked and, as a result, her teacher and classmates miss hearing her thoughts and choices. For Willow, this means lost opportunities for companionship at lunchtime, orange juice instead of applie juice, disappointment at playtime and standing at the end of the line once again.

Dad has very good advice for Willow. He tells her, “Your big, strong voice got stuck way inside you, Willow. That happens sometimes. But one day your voice will wiggle its way out.”

Thinking about Dad’s words, gives Willlow an opportunity to devise a plan. The following morning, Willow gathers some materials together and designs her very own magic microphone. Initially, the microphone helps Willow to express herself but before long she must manage without it and does so very successfully.

Willow’s Whispers is a charming story that will be enjoyed by boys and girls ages four and up. Note, although Willow’s Whispers invites discussion of finding one’s voice and having confidence when speaking, it does so very sensitively and without reference to “shyness.”