A man named Doc Roesser once lived. After he retired, he started carving birds. I have many of his carvings but this one is special
as it is "The Willie Bird". I knew that it came from a book character but I recently (almost 50 years later) learned the full story.

The following is credited to the Norman Rockwell Museum.

"Willie Was Different" is a children’s story written and illustrated by Norman Rockwell. The story focuses on a wood thrush with a
magical gift for music and tells of the trials of genius and the satisfactions of true friendship. "Willie Was Different" has been published
in three different versions.

In 1966, Rockwell wrote a story outline about a little bird with a special talent. Rockwell’s wife Molly, a retired English teacher, rewrote
the text and greatly expanded it. “Willie, the Uncommon Thrush, a Picture Story” was published in an abridged version credited to
Norman Rockwell in McCall’s magazine in 1967 with Rockwell’s original color illustrations. "Willie Was Different, The Tale of an Ugly
Thrushling" by Norman and Molly Rockwell was published in book form by Funk and Wagnalls and intended for adult as well as
adolescent readers. Quotes from these earlier versions appear within the mats of the paintings. The 1994 edition, co-published by the
Norman Rockwell Museum and Berkshire House Publishers, returned as nearly as possible to Rockwell’s original manuscript,
and it is once again clearly a children’s story.

"Willie Was Different" is not a true story, although Rockwell wrote it as if it were a narration of real events.


And now, you too know the true story of the Willie Bird!