Winnie's Adventures
Experience the whimsical adventures of Winnie, a curious Cactus Wren, as she embarks on heartwarming journeys filled with curiosity, friendship, and the magic of discovery. This enchanting series is perfect for young readers and those young at heart, offering delightful tales that capture the joy of exploration in the Sonoran Desert.
Have you heard?
Winnie will steal your heart in this sweet & silly, yet compelling tale of a little bird who just wants to go to school.
Did you know?
This heartwarming Christmas adventure is filled with exciting things kids love about the holiday season—including treasures!
Winnie Goes to School will foster a love of learning - specifically the wonder of learning to read.
The book is perfect for any library or classroom setting, ideally for children ages 4-8.
Parents will appreciate themes emphasizing curiosity and persistence in the face of initial failure
Testimonials
“Libraries and read-aloud parents seeking colorful lessons on both will find Winnie Goes to School a captivating winner.“
Winnie Goes to School connects nature with learning in the story of a curious bird who wants to join a classroom. Manuela Pentangelo provides gorgeous, nicely detailed color illustrations to accompany Joy K. Ball’s vivid story of a Cactus Wren’s venture into the classroom of the Desert Hills Academy in Arizona, and its unexpected results. Arizona’s nature is profiled as Ball explores the personality of curious Winnie, who lives in a comfortable cholla cactus, but cultivates an interest in the outside world and new experiences. None of the creatures she queries quite know what the human kids do in a classroom, and so she sets out to conduct personal research, inadvertently becoming part of the learning process herself as she satisfies her sense of adventure and makes new discoveries. Picture book readers and read-aloud parents will relish Winnie’s story as the bird learns the basics: “Winnie learned that the symbols in books are called letters…and letters make sounds that form words. Winnie was learning to read! Later Winnie learned that the Cactus Wren is the state bird of Arizona.”Besides instilling a love of learning in young readers, perhaps the most important message represented by Winne’s excursion is that of appreciating the outdoors environment in general. Ball brings the Sonoran Desert and its creatures to life, celebrating both the Southwest and the adventures to be enjoyed while pursuing new experiences and education alike. Libraries and read-aloud parents seeking colorful lessons on both will find Winnie Goes to School a captivating winner.
Diane Donovan, Editor
Midwest
“An entertaining and informative children’s picture book because learning should be fun!”
Winnie Goes to School is a children’s picture book written by Joy K. Ball and illustrated by Manuela Pentangelo. Winnie is an inquisitive Cactus Wren who lives near the Desert Hills Academy in Arizona. One beautiful Spring day, she decides to find out what the children do in school. She flies inside the cafeteria and the library, finally ending up outside Miss Wilson’s classroom. Everywhere she goes the children are giggling and scampering and Winnie is always chased back through the outside door. However, Winnie is not about to give up easily; she wants to learn about the magic of books. When Miss Wilson starts her lesson again, Winnie flies right back through the open door. Will Miss Wilson allow Winnie to join the children and attend her class? Joy K. Ball’s Winnie Goes to School is a captivating picture book about a young Cactus Wren that is beautifully illustrated with colorful plants and fascinating animals that inhabit the Sonoran Desert. Highlighting the theme of the story, the title is memorable and intriguing for children. Winnie, the main character, is unique and lovable with a name that’s easy to remember. The plot is simple and easy to understand with a beginning, a conflict, and a resolution. Ultimately, the story is amusing and Winnie, with her determination to attend school and learn the magic of books, can be a role model for children. It is an entertaining and informative children’s picture book because learning should be fun!
Maria Victoria Beltran
Readers' Favorite
The Sonoran Desert Meets the Classroom
Ideal for ages 4-8.
Keep older kids coming back for the fun, educational facts about the Sonoran Desert.
Bird lovers of all ages
will love Winnie
Quotes from Amazon listing
Meet the Author
Joy K. Ball is a busy pediatrician, wife, and mother. She feels fortunate to have spent several years living in Arizona, in the beautiful Sonoran Desert, where she and her family loved exploring the wide variety of plants and animals. Having lived most of her earlier life in the Southeast, Joy was amazed to see the desert actually bloom in spring!
Her debut children’s book, Winnie Goes to School, was inspired by an event that occurred one dazzling spring day when a feathered friend attempted to join her daughter’s first-grade class.
Joy now happily lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband and 2 teenage daughters. When she’s not working or writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, reading, cheering for her kids at various sporting events, and (most of all) traveling with her family.
Where will Winnie go next?
Stay tuned …
