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Shadow Chasers
Once evening paints the summer sky, shadows will come out to play. You must move fast, because as quickly as the wind blows, the shadows will be on their way. Chasing after our hopes and dreams may take many tries before we finally catch them. This magical nighttime story shows that the journey is just as remarkable as the destination.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 22, 2014
About the author
Elly MacKay
31 books106 followersI’m Elly MacKay, a.k.a Theater Clouds. I live in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada with my husband Simon and little ones, Lily and Koen. I live a short drive from where I grew up – in an old church in Big Bay. I am an artist, making scenes using paper, light and photography. I refer to it as paper theater, lightbox illustrations or illuminated papercraft… It has been several years, but I am still working on a name for this technique.
I went to the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and the University of Canterbury for illustration, printmaking and electronic art. However, it wasn’t until the birth of my daughter Lily, that I began working in this way.
Well, sort of…
I used to spend a great deal of time as a kid making dioramas and tunnel books. As a teen, I sold them at 1st Hand Gallery in Toronto. I stopped making them when I went off to art school to explore other interests. After graduating I was enjoying working at a gallery but the birth of my daughter sparked something in me. I wanted to create things in the way that I had in my youth. I wanted to make things for the simple pleasure of making… to create my own little worlds and explore childhood again through my daughter’s eyes. I told my husband about my wish and he made me a beautiful little theater to work in. These illuminated paper scenes are a return to working with layers of paper like the dioramas and tunnel books I had made as a kid, but with the addition of lighting and photography. I set up layers of drawings on a small scale in my very tiny stage. They are wonderfully fun to create. You can take a look at my process page, to see how I make them.
I use this technique to create photographic prints and illustrations for children’s books. At times I have worked on a larger scale, creating installations. In the future I hope to do some animation as well. Simon recently made an animation table so hopefully I will be able to show you my simple stop-motion animations. I take inspiration from several sources:
My work often plays with the themes of childhood, and the ephemeral. I look to my own childhood, and to my experience as a mother.
I have a fascination with Victorian curiosities, and set design. I love anything that involves a trick of the eye – zoetropes, paper theaters, tunnel books, pop-ups, etc. As a teen, I took a trip to meet members of The Movable Book Society with my Mom, Joan Irvine. She is a paper-engineer and author. The trip was an education in papercraft.
I am also always looking to the land and weather here on Georgian Bay for inspiration.
ETSY:
https://www.etsy.com/people/theatercl...
https://www.etsy.com/shop/theaterclouds
I went to the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and the University of Canterbury for illustration, printmaking and electronic art. However, it wasn’t until the birth of my daughter Lily, that I began working in this way.
Well, sort of…
I used to spend a great deal of time as a kid making dioramas and tunnel books. As a teen, I sold them at 1st Hand Gallery in Toronto. I stopped making them when I went off to art school to explore other interests. After graduating I was enjoying working at a gallery but the birth of my daughter sparked something in me. I wanted to create things in the way that I had in my youth. I wanted to make things for the simple pleasure of making… to create my own little worlds and explore childhood again through my daughter’s eyes. I told my husband about my wish and he made me a beautiful little theater to work in. These illuminated paper scenes are a return to working with layers of paper like the dioramas and tunnel books I had made as a kid, but with the addition of lighting and photography. I set up layers of drawings on a small scale in my very tiny stage. They are wonderfully fun to create. You can take a look at my process page, to see how I make them.
I use this technique to create photographic prints and illustrations for children’s books. At times I have worked on a larger scale, creating installations. In the future I hope to do some animation as well. Simon recently made an animation table so hopefully I will be able to show you my simple stop-motion animations. I take inspiration from several sources:
My work often plays with the themes of childhood, and the ephemeral. I look to my own childhood, and to my experience as a mother.
I have a fascination with Victorian curiosities, and set design. I love anything that involves a trick of the eye – zoetropes, paper theaters, tunnel books, pop-ups, etc. As a teen, I took a trip to meet members of The Movable Book Society with my Mom, Joan Irvine. She is a paper-engineer and author. The trip was an education in papercraft.
I am also always looking to the land and weather here on Georgian Bay for inspiration.
ETSY:
https://www.etsy.com/people/theatercl...
https://www.etsy.com/shop/theaterclouds
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 19, 2019
Beautiful & Colorful! I just loved this book! The story follows children that are playing outside at sunset chasing their shadows and trying to catch them before they fade away in the dark. I highly recommend this book. Kids of all ages will enjoy it.
October 27, 2022
While I love the idea of the children being free to explore the forest in the evening, the book as a whole just doesn't work for me. I imagine plenty of people love it, though, so, more power to them.
I prefer The Moon Jumpers.
Btw, the hardcover from my library seems fragile. It doesn't show obvious signs of hard use, but I had to repair several rips and, whilst doing to, reinforce the attachment of pages to each other.
I prefer The Moon Jumpers.
Btw, the hardcover from my library seems fragile. It doesn't show obvious signs of hard use, but I had to repair several rips and, whilst doing to, reinforce the attachment of pages to each other.
March 7, 2017
I love Elly Mackay's illustrations. They never disappoint. The story itself is good too, but the illustrations are what make the book. This book could be used with a unit on seasons, highlighting the summer in this book.
April 9, 2020
The illustrations in this book are lovely - I especially love the cover illustration.
It is a lyrical poem about chasing shadows at dusk. Sometimes it seemed to rhyme and sometimes it did not. It would work well as a bedtime story for toddlers & preschoolers.
It is a lyrical poem about chasing shadows at dusk. Sometimes it seemed to rhyme and sometimes it did not. It would work well as a bedtime story for toddlers & preschoolers.
November 2, 2020
Children make shadows outdoors as the sun lowers in the sky -- I think readers will want to try this out for themselves. Love the golden orange light that infuses the illustrations. Mackay is an artist that creates with light and shadow herself, so I love this theme for a book.
February 26, 2018
Lovely lyrical book, beautifully illustrated, about chasing shadows as evening falls until it is too dark and there are no shadows at all.
April 19, 2018
Gorgeous.
November 15, 2018
The story is fine, but Elly MacKay is a favourite illustrator making this a book that I love.
December 4, 2019
A dreamy sunset-drenched story about trying to catch shadow. Elly Mackay's beautiful collage illustrations make this one especially stunning
December 18, 2020
Elly MacKay has once again created a cozy and magical world with her lightbox illustrations. Her ability to manipulate light and shadows is very impressive and enjoyable.
June 6, 2021
The illustrations in this are what really stand out.
July 9, 2022
What a fun story. Three children chase the shadows as the sun sets. As the shadows dance this way and that, so do the children.
April 30, 2024
Found in L4L Volume 110.
April 5, 2014
I have such mixed feelings about Elly MacKay! I do think her stories are lovely, and her illustrations are generally very beautiful--except for the people. There's something about their faces that is quite creepy and I can't get over it. It's not as bad in this one, but they do look a bit otherworldly. I couldn't find information in the book about what medium she uses...maybe like a watercolor/collage mix? I'm not an artist so it's hard to tell; it could be digital for all I know. The colors are just fantastic though, especially the deep pinks, purples and oranges. All of the sunset scenes in this are simply delightful.
August 14, 2017
Stunning illustrations and scenes, 3 children wonder and chase their shadows well into the night until it's time for bed. A gentle read that may create some magic replacing fear for the little person afraid of the dark. An evening forest can be a mystery to be enchanted by rather than scared of. Overall, a very good read.
May 24, 2014
3.5/5 Stars
The illustrations in this book were amazing! I am not sure what medium they were done in, but the made the entire book stand out. The story was good, but I didn't think that it compared to the illustrations.
The illustrations in this book were amazing! I am not sure what medium they were done in, but the made the entire book stand out. The story was good, but I didn't think that it compared to the illustrations.
August 19, 2014
Elly MacKey continues to weave magic in her pictures books. This title features the illusive shadows the play between sunset and moonrise. A wonderful and playful book that highlights a special time of day - dusk.
2022 Storytime Theme: Twilight
Reviewed from a library copy.
2022 Storytime Theme: Twilight
Reviewed from a library copy.
March 6, 2015
This lovely picture book wherein we join a trio of children exploring their natural surroundings is reminiscent of TIME OF WONDER by Robert McCloskey and WHEN THE SKY IS LIKE LACE by Elinor Horwitz, illustrated by Barbara Cooney.
December 8, 2015
Elly McKay is such an amazing picture book artist! Her work with lightboxes is perfect to explore the way that shadows play -- in this book, children chase the shadows of birds and forest animals all day into the evening. Their warm house beckons as night falls. A perfect picture book!
July 10, 2014
I really like the art in this one. The story is okay. The art has this, kind of, hazy quality to parts of the background while other parts are incredibly delineated. So, I like that.
July 16, 2014
Beautiful artwork
July 22, 2014
I was intrigued by this book when I saw it as a new arrival at the library. The illustrations are interesting, but when combined with the text it failed to wow me.
July 25, 2014
The illustrations are really gorgeous. I think it would have been better as a wordless book. The text was overly precious, and boring.
September 13, 2014
This story is great for imagination. I would read this to the class to talk about adventures. We could do a fun art project with this book to try and recreate the amazing illustrations.
October 23, 2014
Another gorgeous book by this author/illustrator.
January 7, 2015
What an awesome book! Love Elly's art. I looked her up on line and saw more of her work. Just beautiful!
March 6, 2015
I didn't really connect with this book.
Interesting mixed media illustrations.
Interesting mixed media illustrations.
March 31, 2015
Warm, lush illustration with warm words. A great book in anticipation of summer. Beautiful colours. Poetic verse. Model writing with this example. K-3
April 17, 2015
super cool shadowbox art!
April 18, 2015
A poetic story about looking at shadows as the day closes. Text and vibrant artwork build a world with a magical atmosphere.
PreK-2.
PreK-2.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews