Paisley Pig & Friends combines art, geography, language skills, and map reading in a bright, playful book that can either form the center of a cross-discipline studies unit, or serve as a complement to a variety of classroom studies.
A Multi-Cultural, Multi-Disciplinary Presentation
Willow’s alphabet book is much more than meets the eye. As animals and art styles for each letter leap off the page, maps and brief lessons describe where each style originated and how it has spread across the world.
Willow explains, “I wanted to do my bit to increase map literacy while introducing children to the many beautiful ways people have found to express themselves through the natural resources in their environment.”
In her presentations, Willow also talks about the ways art styles that developed in one part of the world have spread and been adapted to other times and places.
For the letter P, for example, the prop is a paisley shawl and a wrapping paper book of paisley patterns. Willow discusses the origination of paisley in India as a symbol for Life, and explains that it was carried back to Great Britain, where it became a common textile produced in Paisley, Scotland. And that’s how it got its name.
Later, in discussing the letter U, she shows a vest embroidered with Uzbecki art that also incorporates paisley shapes from India.
This unique program integrates art with reading, geography, and the social sciences and demonstrates that multi-cultural give-and-take has been a part of human development for hundreds of years.
A Diversity-Oriented Approach
Willow also provides a human dimension to the discussion about being differently abled, and demonstrates that even when faced with physical challenges, as she is, it is still possible to realize your dreams.
Due to the onset of Lupus, Willow has had to deal with bouts of fatigue that prevent her from working outside the home, and a steady loosening of the ligaments in her fingers. As her ability to draw has been affected, she has had to find alternative ways to continue in her chosen craft.
When she lost the ability to grip her favorite colored pencils, for example, she discovered colorful Sharpies, whose larger diameter and liquid ink allowed her to continue to work. Today, she still draws the basic outlines of each piece by hand, and then scans the images into her computer and uses Photoshop to provide the color.
Often children ask about Willow’s hands, and she is comfortable talking about her changing abilities and her quest to discover new ways to achieve her goals.
