A review by lauren_miller
The Willow Pattern Story by Allan Drummond, Alan Drummond

adventurous reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I picked this up because I too was fascinated by Chinese porcelain and patterns as a child! I was always drawn to the beautiful landscapes and delicate faces, human and animal, in the patterns. Needless to say, of course the cover of this book caught my attention. The art is beautiful; I especially love the use of pottery(?) fragments—the shape and placement give the book such a whimsical vibe. And the art relating to the fable was sweet as well. 

I enjoyed the story, but I came away a bit wary of a kid reading this? I'm not a parent or educator, so I can't really speak to the maturity level needed, but given the elements of stealing, imprisonment, and murder, I'm inclined to say 9/10 years old and above... I really liked the history part at the end, too! It's a good balance to the mythical nature of the preceding story. 

So yes, overall, I did enjoy. Would I recommend to everyone? No. If you (the parent/teacher) have a creative job though, like pottery, interior design, painting, etc., it could be a great conversation starter and interest piquer for your little one(s)! 
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