Willa’s House, by David Booth and artist Renia Metallinou — Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards 2020 Gold Medal Winner for Best Picture Book, All Ages — is a wonderful Christmas gift for teachers. David was a brilliant, passionate educator and award-winning author who left a legacy of thousands of teachers whom he inspired to care deeply about their students and how to help them learn. He wrote Willa’s House, his last book, as a dedication to all teachers. In his words:

“We owe a debt to teachers like Willa, who dedicate their lives to helping our children become better — not only at learning, but also at life.”

The book stirs a nostalgia for a quiet life in those calmer days of the past in a small town, Stratford, Ontario, so beautifully described by David and depicted by artist Renia Metallinou.