A new mural is welcoming children and families to the Halton Hills Public Library’s Georgetown Branch.
The mural, titled Fairy Tale Willow, has transformed the Children’s Area into a space designed to inspire imagination and a love of reading. It was created by local artist April Zheng over the course of a week. The project was developed in partnership with the Town of Halton Hills’ Public Art Program and funded through the support of the Friends of the Library.
According to the library, the mural celebrates storytelling, creativity and community while encouraging visitors of all ages to explore its many details.
“This mural is my depiction of the fairytale childhood that exists in stories and make-believe imagination,” says Zheng. “Inspiration was drawn from the nature, community, and storytelling that surrounds the Halton Hills Library. It is an homage to the trees, stories, and playmates whose effects last well beyond childhood. The fantasy procession emerging from a book features various characters and little details that I hope viewers can pick out and feel a resonance with.”
Drawing inspiration from the natural landscape of Halton Hills, Fairy Tale Willow features woodland imagery and a procession of fantasy characters emerging from the pages of a book. Library officials say the artwork is intended to encourage visitors to discover new details with each visit.
The mural also marks a milestone in Zheng’s career after participating in the Town’s 2025 Bell Box Mural Mentorship Program, which supports emerging mural artists.
The Friends of the Library, a volunteer organization that raises funds to enhance library collections, programs and spaces, helped make the project possible.
“The Friends of the Library believe a strong library helps build a stronger community,” says Mark Rowe, Chair, Friends of the Library. “We’re proud to support projects like Fairy Tale Willow that create welcoming, inspiring spaces for children and families to read, imagine, and grow. Seeing the community enjoy something we’ve helped make possible is incredibly rewarding, and we’re grateful to everyone whose support allows us to continue investing in our Library.”
Halton Hills Public Library officials say the mural reflects the organization’s commitment to creating engaging spaces for learning and community connection.
“At HHPL, we believe our spaces should inspire creativity, support learning, and foster meaningful community connections,” says Beverley King, Chief Librarian and CEO, Halton Hills Public Library. “Fairy Tale Willow is more than a work of art. It invites children and families to imagine, explore, and discover together while creating new opportunities to connect through stories.”
Visitors can view Fairy Tale Willow in the Children’s Area at the Georgetown Branch.
To learn more about the mural and watch a behind-the-scenes video featuring artist April Zheng, click here.
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