Finding Narnia

The Story of C.S. Lewis
and His Brother

Roaring Brook Press
(MacKids)
(pub. 11.19.2019) 
48 pages

A True Tale with

A Cherry On Top   

A uthor: Caroline McAlister
 and illustrator:  Jessica Lanan

 
C haracter: C.S. Lewis and Warnie Lewis

O verview: 
     "Before C.S. Lewis wrote The Chronicles of Narnia, he was a young boy named Jack who spent his days dreaming up stories of other worlds filled with knights, castles, and talking animals.
     His brother, Warnie, spent his days imagining worlds filled with trains, boats, and technology.
     One rainy day, they found a wardrobe in a little room next to the attic, and they wondered, What if the wardrobe had no end?"

T antalizing taste: 
     "Another terrible war broke out. Families in London sent their children to the countryside to  be safe from the bombs. On Sundays, Jack noticed the church was full of refugee children, squirming uncomfortably on unfamiliar pews among unfamiliar people. He didn't know much about children, but he figured he and Warnie could help out.
     That's how two girls came to stay with Jack and Warnie. One rainy day, the girls were exploring the house, and they found the old wardrobe..."

And something more: Caroline McAlister's Author's Note explains that "Different groups of children arrived throughout the war, and Warnie met many of them. We don't know exactly which ones gave Jack the idea for the premise for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Perhaps it was more than one that asked about the old wardrobe." In these days of "shelter in place", it's nice to imagine stepping into a wardrobe into another world.

Out of School and Into Nature

The Anna Comstock Story

Sleeping Bear Press

(pub. 3.15.2017)
32 pages

A True Tale with
A Cherry On Top  

A uthor: Suzanne Slade
      and illustrator:
       Jessica Lanan

C haracter: Anna Comstock

O verview from the jacket flap: 

     "This picture book biography examines the life and career of naturalist and artist Anna Comstock (1854-1930), who defied social conventions and pursued the study of science. From the time she was a young girl, Anna was fascinated by the natural world. She loved exploring outdoors, examining wildlife and learning nature's secrets. From watching the teamwork of marching ants to following the constellations in the sky, Anna observed it all. And her interest only increased as she grew older and attended Cornell University

       ... Eventually, Anna became known as a nature expert, pioneering a movement to encourage schools to conduct science and nature classes for children outdoors, thereby increasing students' interest in nature."

T antalizing taste: 
      

"So she decided to start by teaching the teachers. Anna grabbed her pen and wrote lessons about nature's marvelous mysteries.

     Caterpillars changing into graceful butterflies.

     Water freezing into six-sided snowflakes.

     Trees turning rain and sunlight into sweet sap.

Her lessons captivated curious teachers. Soon, nature classes sprouted up in schools everywhere."
  
and something more: The "More About Anna" section at the back of Out of School and into Nature explains that "Anna is one of only four women inducted into the National Wildlife Federation's Conservation Hall of Fame... Her beloved nature-study handbook has been translated into eight languages and reprinted dozens of times. Today children around the world still enjoy her book. Many of her readers have become nature teachers, keeping her passion for the environment alive."

Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth

Shen's Books

(pub. 5.31.2011)  32 pages 

A Tale with A Cherry On Top

A uthor: Joan Schoettler

     and Illustrator:  Jessica Lanan

C haracter: Ji-su, a fictional Korean girl 

O verview from the jacket flap: 

         "Ji-su's mother has been chosen by the Korean king to be a seamstress at the palace and sew bojagi, or wrapping cloths, for the royal household. It is a great honor, but to Ji-su it means saying good-bye to her mother. The only way for them to be reunited, Ji-su realizes is for her to become a seamstress just as talented and be chosen to serve the king.

           Through the changing seasons Ji-su sews, learning the craft from her great-aunt and practicing her stitches tirelessly... Is her sewing fine enough for the king?
            Joan Schoettler's warm text brings the landscape and culture of ancient Korea to life. Together with illustrator Jessica Lanan's breathtaking depictions of Korea through the seasons, Ji-su's story of longing and determination will capture the hearts of readers of all ages."

T antalizing taste: 

        "'My dear daughter.' Eomma and Ji-su held each other like threads in a seam.

          Ji-su opened her bojagi.

          Eomma examied it. 'Each stitch has brought us together again.'

          Ji-su nodded. 'Good fortune is in a wrapping cloth.'"

and something more:    With this post, I veered from my usual picture book biography because I wanted to feature Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth, a compelling fictional story with an artistic, cultural and historical basis. Joan Shoettler was inspired to write this story after viewing an exhibit of bojagi, Korean wrapping cloths, at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.  

        Joan explained the background of bojagi in her Author's Notes: "Bojagi, sewn by women, held an important place in the everyday lives of all classes of Koreans during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897). They were used for everything from storing foods and household items to covering bedding and screens and wrapping gifts... Artistic creativity was embraced in bojagi. Women used scraps of fabrics to create works of art. Abstract designs, contrasting or complementing colors, and intricate stitches and embroidery are evident in their wrapping cloths.. Koreans believed good luck could be enclosed within a bojagi. Blessing and good wishes accompanied each stitch and piece of fabric. Also, wrapping a gift in a bojagi offered blessings of good luck and happiness ..." 

        Meeting Joan Shoettler at the Asilomar SCBWI conference was a gift wrapped in a bojagi -- I feel we are kindred spirits.  Joan wrote a lovely inscription in my copy of her book -- "May good fortune be wrapped in the fabric of your life." And may that be true for everyone's lives.