Publishers Weekly
04/06/2020
In this picture book biography, Maslo crafts a portrait of how Clive Staples “Jack” Lewis’s upbringing and experiences influenced the creation of Narnia, relaying how tragedies in his life made him yearn for a better world. As Jack progresses from an imaginative child into a disillusioned adolescent, bullied in boarding school and wounded in WWI before finally becoming a faith-filled author and professor, Maslo conveys his journey in an accessibly lyrical style (“But when Jack was nine, his mother became sick and died. And his wonder-filled world began to crumble”). Stippled, crosshatched, and otherwise detailed illustrations done in dip pen, India inks, and acrylics on watercolor paper provide a lushly colored look into Lewis’s world, complementing the peaks and valleys of his creative and personal endeavors. Additional facts, trivia about Lewis’s inspirations, and a bibliography flesh out the back matter. A heartening story, and a rich supplemental read for young Narnia fans. Ages 4–8. (May)
From the Publisher
A lushly colored look into Lewis’s world, complementing the peaks and valleys of his creative and personal endeavors…. A heartening story, and a rich supplemental read for young Narnia fans.” — Publishers Weekly
“As befitting the creator of the beloved Narnia books, this illustrated biography maintains the sense of a story unfolding, leading up to the moments when the iconic stories came to be….This engaging and affectionate re-creation of Lewis' life highlights resilience, creativity, and inspiration.” — Kirkus Reviews
"The bold, richly detailed illustrations, crafted with vibrant inks and acrylics, feature numerous gems Narnia fans will enjoy discovering. A finely illustrated biography equally suited to research or pleasure reading.” — School Library Journal
“Children who adore ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ will find references to all seven books in Ms. Maslo's simple and affectionate illustrations.” — Wall Street Journal
Wall Street Journal
Children who adore ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ will find references to all seven books in Ms. Maslo's simple and affectionate illustrations.
Wall Street Journal
Children who adore ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ will find references to all seven books in Ms. Maslo's simple and affectionate illustrations.
School Library Journal
04/01/2020
K-Gr 3—Maslo's picture book biography spotlights how Clive Staples Lewis became acclaimed author C.S. Lewis. Growing up, he faced numerous challenges: bullies at school, the death of his mother, the brutality of war. Using the characters that had saturated his childhood imagination, Lewis created his own world. The young characters who travel to Narnia not only experience magic and adventure; they learn how to handle adversity. This biography clearly links Lewis's lived experiences and written stories. For fans of the "Chronicles of Narnia," these connections will be meaningful. The bold, richly detailed illustrations, crafted with vibrant inks and acrylics, feature numerous gems Narnia fans will enjoy discovering. Images such as a young Lewis drawing a sword-fighting mouse, his cousins sitting in a wardrobe listening to his stories, and a glowing lamppost providing reading light on his school grounds act as subtle reminders that the author's childhood experiences made a profound influence on his most famous writings. His adult experiences, particularly war and the development of his personal faith and philosophy, are also recognized as important to his works. A particularly effective section of the book offers a broad overview of the "Narnia" series: intricately carved wardrobe doors open and scenes of Narnia are visible, including a panel devoted to each of the seven novels. Extended biographical information and a bibliography are included; end pages show letters from children to Lewis and his responses. VERDICT A finely illustrated biography equally suited to research or pleasure reading.—Elizabeth Lovsin, Deerfield Public Library, IL
Kirkus Reviews
2020-01-12
The story of C.S. Lewis and how Narnia came to be.
From a young age, books and imagination were enormously important to young Clive Staples Lewis—or Jack, as he preferred to be called—and here, the warm, folkloric text and colorful, detailed ink-and-acrylic pictures invite readers and listeners to consider how, through dark moments, he created his own stories as a bright refuge. Lewis had a close relationship with his brother, developed a love of religion, and found happiness with an American wife, but he also withstood the early death of his mother, isolation and bullying in boarding school, and the horrors of World War I in part through his creativity and storytelling. As befitting the creator of the beloved Narnia books, this illustrated biography maintains the sense of a story unfolding, leading up to the moments when the iconic stories came to be while simultaneously explaining Lewis' background, experiences, and some of his likely inspirations. Though Lewis dealt with much difficulty, the emphasis is on how he coped and, throughout his life, read, imagined, dreamed, pondered, and created. The endnotes provide a plethora of facts and additional information, nicely organized for potential research; these will likely elicit additional questions about his life and may lead readers to explore further.
This engaging and affectionate re-creation of Lewis' life highlights resilience, creativity, and inspiration. (Picture book/biography. 6-10)
