Kids Comics Pitchfest 2025 Showcase

WISTY OF WOODSY WILLOW

Wisty and her pal Pooncha (a guinea pig) live inside a willow tree hollow, near her two besties. Lily cheers on Wisty's wish for a baby sister; Walnut is skeptical. At Spring Festival Wisty tends Posy’s baby brother – but abruptly cuts into Posy’s dance when he pees. Posy rages! Wisty is shocked, but soon forgets – thrilled as her wish comes true. Her goal to be a perfect helper, ends up in stress, upset, loneliness. In summer an outing helps until Pooncha’s acorn poisoning ends their game with a rush to find healing herbs! Autumn’s picnic shows Lily’s help as a “2nd sister”; they learn Posy helped Pooncha, and gain empathy for her problems. Breaking down walls they grow the friend circle, sharing problems and fun together.

My Why:

As we face threats to human, animal and plant diversity, I feel that sensitive kids (like me) need respite from dystopian tales. I welcome young readers to the whimsical Utopian world of Woodsy Willow – a community of lively, tiny, colorful and diverse Woodsy folk who thrive by sharing both joys and trials. I intertwine real world foraging facts naturally to seed fascination and comfort with nature; include back matter on wild and domestic guinea pigs to inspire respect, care and further understanding of animals. The Woodsy Willow world is a metaphorical home for my inner child dreams – to live in harmony with one another, support biodiversity, and by inclusion and sharing, solve problems to create real “magic” – a safe world together.