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Through the Wardrobe: How C. S. Lewis Created Narnia
A lyrical nonfiction picture book about the inspired life of C. S. Lewis, the beloved author of the Chronicles of Narnia—from Free as a Bird author-illustrator Lina Maslo.
As a child, Clive Staples Lewis imagined many things . . .
heroic animals
and knights in armor
and a faraway land called Boxen.
He even thought of a new name for himself—at four years old, he decided he was more of a Jack.
As he grew up, though, Jack found that the real world was not as just as the one in his imagination. No magic could heal the sick or stop a war, and a bully’s words could pierce as sharply as a sword. So Jack withdrew into books and eventually became a well-known author for adults.
But he never forgot the epic tales of his boyhood, and one day a young girl’s question about an old family wardrobe inspired him to write a children’s story about a world hidden beyond its fur coats . . . a world of fauns and queens and a lion named Aslan. A world of battles between good and evil, where people learned courage and love and forgiveness.
A magical realm called Narnia.
And the books he would write about this kingdom would change his life and that of children the world over.
As a child, Clive Staples Lewis imagined many things . . .
heroic animals
and knights in armor
and a faraway land called Boxen.
He even thought of a new name for himself—at four years old, he decided he was more of a Jack.
As he grew up, though, Jack found that the real world was not as just as the one in his imagination. No magic could heal the sick or stop a war, and a bully’s words could pierce as sharply as a sword. So Jack withdrew into books and eventually became a well-known author for adults.
But he never forgot the epic tales of his boyhood, and one day a young girl’s question about an old family wardrobe inspired him to write a children’s story about a world hidden beyond its fur coats . . . a world of fauns and queens and a lion named Aslan. A world of battles between good and evil, where people learned courage and love and forgiveness.
A magical realm called Narnia.
And the books he would write about this kingdom would change his life and that of children the world over.
42 pages, Hardcover
First published May 19, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
March 30, 2021
Lina Maslo, the author and illustrator who made her debut with
Free as a Bird: The Story of Malala
, a picture-book biography of Malala Yousafzai, returns to the form in this exploration of the life of the celebrated author C.S. Lewis. From his childhood in Belfast, when, together with his brother Warnie, he dreamt up all sorts of stories about the made-up land of Boxen, through his unhappy days at boarding school, after his mother's death, and his service during World War I, the story follows Lewis through his life, leading up to the creation of his most famous work: the children's fantasy novels set in Narnia. Begun as a tale for some of the child evacuees living with him, during World War II, these stories would become famous throughout the world, and would even lead to Lewis meeting his wife, later in life. The book concludes with a detailed afterword giving more information about C.S. Lewis, and a bibliography...
As someone who has loved The Chronicles of Narnia since early childhood, when I first read them, and who also greatly enjoyed Maslo's previous picture-book biography, I picked up Through the Wardrobe: How C. S. Lewis Created Narnia with great interest. Other than the film Shadowlands, which covers Lewis' romance and marriage with Joy Gresham, I have not seen or read anything about his life, so I found this quite informative, and I imagine that young readers will as well. One sees in Narnia the culmination of Lewis' own childhood games of make-believe and storytelling, which I think emphasizes just how important such activities are, for the development of young minds. His unhappy experiences at school, when he was a victim of bullying, clearly also influenced some of his work, such as the early scenes in The Silver Chair . Oddly enough, despite his own negative experiences with more traditional boarding schools, Lewis also seems to have had a distaste for more modern, progressive schools. As someone happiest with a private tutor, perhaps Lewis just didn't care for school at all. In any case, the story here is both informative and engaging, and is paired with appealing, expressive illustrations. Highly recommended to picture-book readers who enjoy biography, and to any child who loves Narnia, or enjoys games of make-believe.
As someone who has loved The Chronicles of Narnia since early childhood, when I first read them, and who also greatly enjoyed Maslo's previous picture-book biography, I picked up Through the Wardrobe: How C. S. Lewis Created Narnia with great interest. Other than the film Shadowlands, which covers Lewis' romance and marriage with Joy Gresham, I have not seen or read anything about his life, so I found this quite informative, and I imagine that young readers will as well. One sees in Narnia the culmination of Lewis' own childhood games of make-believe and storytelling, which I think emphasizes just how important such activities are, for the development of young minds. His unhappy experiences at school, when he was a victim of bullying, clearly also influenced some of his work, such as the early scenes in The Silver Chair . Oddly enough, despite his own negative experiences with more traditional boarding schools, Lewis also seems to have had a distaste for more modern, progressive schools. As someone happiest with a private tutor, perhaps Lewis just didn't care for school at all. In any case, the story here is both informative and engaging, and is paired with appealing, expressive illustrations. Highly recommended to picture-book readers who enjoy biography, and to any child who loves Narnia, or enjoys games of make-believe.
July 3, 2020
Update: I now have my own copy of this book, and I liked it just as much this time around!
This picture book biography is absolutely phenomenal. As a lifelong C.S. Lewis fan, I am obviously predisposed to like this, but I also have Very High Standards, and this book surpassed them all. Even though this is a very brief book, it encompasses the most significant aspects of Lewis's life and career. It is extremely thorough, and rather than excusing the things that it left out with the knowledge that this was just a picture book, I marveled over the fact that this picture book managed to leave out almost nothing.
In addition to exploring the origins and the significance of the Narnia series, this book also covers his childhood, his sufferings at boarding school, his wartime experiences, his academic career, his conversion to Christianity, his writings for adults, J.R.R. Tolkien's criticism of Narnia, Lewis's marriage to Joy Davidman, and so much else. This is incredibly thorough, and the author's note shares even more details, including some fun facts that even I didn't know, or else didn't remember.
This book is a complete home run. Everything about it is fantastic. I love the illustrations, the well-written text, the attention to historical accuracy and period detail, and the confident narrative voice, which speaks to children as equals and does not dumb down or eliminate aspects of the story that adults might consider difficult for children. Also, even the end-papers are wonderful! The ones in the front illustrate fan letters that children sent to Lewis, and the end-papers in the back illustrate his responses.
I highly recommend this to children and adults who love Narnia or have a general appreciation for C.S. Lewis. This book is bursting with interesting biographical facts, has a satisfying narrative arc, and engages with what makes Narnia so special. It also interacts with more than just The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, sharing basic, spoiler-free plot details from other books as well. Reepicheep made more than one appearance in this book's illustrations, which was a delight to me, since he is one of my favorite characters.
This is an absolutely wonderful book, and it covers so much of my favorite author's life in just forty-eight pages. I'm amazed with how good this is, and even though I read a library copy, I will definitely pursue this eventually for my personal collection, as well as keeping it in mind as a great gift for fellow Narnia fans. I highly recommend this!
This picture book biography is absolutely phenomenal. As a lifelong C.S. Lewis fan, I am obviously predisposed to like this, but I also have Very High Standards, and this book surpassed them all. Even though this is a very brief book, it encompasses the most significant aspects of Lewis's life and career. It is extremely thorough, and rather than excusing the things that it left out with the knowledge that this was just a picture book, I marveled over the fact that this picture book managed to leave out almost nothing.
In addition to exploring the origins and the significance of the Narnia series, this book also covers his childhood, his sufferings at boarding school, his wartime experiences, his academic career, his conversion to Christianity, his writings for adults, J.R.R. Tolkien's criticism of Narnia, Lewis's marriage to Joy Davidman, and so much else. This is incredibly thorough, and the author's note shares even more details, including some fun facts that even I didn't know, or else didn't remember.
This book is a complete home run. Everything about it is fantastic. I love the illustrations, the well-written text, the attention to historical accuracy and period detail, and the confident narrative voice, which speaks to children as equals and does not dumb down or eliminate aspects of the story that adults might consider difficult for children. Also, even the end-papers are wonderful! The ones in the front illustrate fan letters that children sent to Lewis, and the end-papers in the back illustrate his responses.
I highly recommend this to children and adults who love Narnia or have a general appreciation for C.S. Lewis. This book is bursting with interesting biographical facts, has a satisfying narrative arc, and engages with what makes Narnia so special. It also interacts with more than just The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, sharing basic, spoiler-free plot details from other books as well. Reepicheep made more than one appearance in this book's illustrations, which was a delight to me, since he is one of my favorite characters.
This is an absolutely wonderful book, and it covers so much of my favorite author's life in just forty-eight pages. I'm amazed with how good this is, and even though I read a library copy, I will definitely pursue this eventually for my personal collection, as well as keeping it in mind as a great gift for fellow Narnia fans. I highly recommend this!
June 27, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated this picture book biography of C. S. Lewis. It spans his lifetime, with focus on the childhood experiences that helped define both his character and his imagination, and the way these blended with his adult experiences and influences to create the books he is known for, most notably, the Narnia series. It's a little lengthy for the younger picture book crowd, and the illustrations are perhaps a bit "young" for the older picture book crowd, but I found them both of high quality and hope the combination will strike the right chord with the right reader. Note that it does have some sad aspects that might be upsetting for sensitive readers, though I feel it is handled well. Bonus points for the extensive back matter, including two full pages (of tiny font) with "More about Jack..." including Family, Education, The Wars, Faith, The Inklings, Writing Career, Love and Marriage as well as "... And Other Interesting Facts" with a variety of tidbits, mostly about inspiration for characters and incidents in the Narnia books. There's also an extensive Bibliography. Don't miss the end papers, which include fan mail from young readers and Lewis' responses. His advice to writers, in his letter to Joan, is exceptional. Overall, I highly recommend this!
April 16, 2021
Lina Maslo has written for us an interesting and insightful view into 'Jack' (C.S.) Lewis' life and that which made him the author that we know and love.
Now was an excellent time for me to read this with my son, as we have just finished reading The Magician's Nephew and soon we'll be embarking on The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, both, of course, from Lewis' epic: The Chronicles of Narnia.
I found it a lovely and fascinating fact that Lewis was inspired to bring some of the characters from his childhood imagination to paper for the evacuated children that he took in during WWII, and how some of those evacuees became a part of his beloved stories.
I am giving 3.5 stars to this sweet biography.
Now was an excellent time for me to read this with my son, as we have just finished reading The Magician's Nephew and soon we'll be embarking on The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, both, of course, from Lewis' epic: The Chronicles of Narnia.
I found it a lovely and fascinating fact that Lewis was inspired to bring some of the characters from his childhood imagination to paper for the evacuated children that he took in during WWII, and how some of those evacuees became a part of his beloved stories.
I am giving 3.5 stars to this sweet biography.
January 10, 2021
Through the Wardrobe: How C. S. Lewis Created Narnia is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Lina Maslo. It centers on the story of C.S. Lewis and how Narnia came to be.
Clive Staples "Jack" Lewis was a British writer and lay theologian. He held academic positions in English literature at both Oxford University and Cambridge University. He is best known for his works of fiction, especially: "The Screwtape Letters", "The Chronicles of Narnia", and "The Space Trilogy".
Maslo's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, informative, and lyrical. Maslo conveys his journey in an accessibly lyrical style and crafts a portrait of how Clive Staples "Jack" Lewis' upbringing and experiences influenced the creation of Narnia, relaying how tragedies in his life made him yearn for a better world. Backmatter includes additional facts, trivia about Lewis' inspirations, and a bibliography. Stippled, crosshatched, and otherwise detailed illustrations done in dip pen, India inks, and acrylics on watercolor paper provide a lushly colored look into Lewis' world, complementing the peaks and valleys of his creative and personal endeavors.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. 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 and the creator of Narnia.
All in all, Through the Wardrobe: How C. S. Lewis Created Narnia is an engaging and affectionate re-creation of Lewis' life highlights resilience, creativity, and inspiration.
Clive Staples "Jack" Lewis was a British writer and lay theologian. He held academic positions in English literature at both Oxford University and Cambridge University. He is best known for his works of fiction, especially: "The Screwtape Letters", "The Chronicles of Narnia", and "The Space Trilogy".
Maslo's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, informative, and lyrical. Maslo conveys his journey in an accessibly lyrical style and crafts a portrait of how Clive Staples "Jack" Lewis' upbringing and experiences influenced the creation of Narnia, relaying how tragedies in his life made him yearn for a better world. Backmatter includes additional facts, trivia about Lewis' inspirations, and a bibliography. Stippled, crosshatched, and otherwise detailed illustrations done in dip pen, India inks, and acrylics on watercolor paper provide a lushly colored look into Lewis' world, complementing the peaks and valleys of his creative and personal endeavors.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. 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 and the creator of Narnia.
All in all, Through the Wardrobe: How C. S. Lewis Created Narnia is an engaging and affectionate re-creation of Lewis' life highlights resilience, creativity, and inspiration.
September 21, 2021
I suppose for the age level that the story was written, it is good.
I was disappointed that it didn't emphasize that, Lewis struggled to believe in God, and that he really began to write once he came to believe in and trust in God. That the principles and truths that he wove into his science fiction and his children's stories of fantasy were expressions of his renewed faith.
Maybe those are challenging thoughts to put into a picture book.
In general it was a good mini biography of a well loved author.
November 29, 2022
My history-loving self is excited to see more kid's picture books that are introductions to the people of history.
This is a wonderful example of not only a book that introduces kids to C.S. Lewis, but helps them to see that they have stories in their imagination to tell.
The illustrations were lovely too!
This is a wonderful example of not only a book that introduces kids to C.S. Lewis, but helps them to see that they have stories in their imagination to tell.
The illustrations were lovely too!
November 17, 2020
Read with my children at lunch.
March 15, 2021
A lovely young reader biography of C. S. Lewis. I listened to her talk with the Pints with Jack podcast, and loved her process. The book is fun and age appropriate. I love the addition of some of the letters to children in the endpapers. She also puts the Chronicles of Narnia in publication order in the back, along with lots of additional information that just didn't fit in the book/story itself. It was a great companion to his life told in Surprised by Joy. The drawings are great, the boys really enjoyed it and it brought out a sense of wonder for me to continue on in the series. In publication order. ;)
May 18, 2020
Through the Wardrobe: How C. S. Lewis Created Narnia
Through the Wardrobe is an absolute masterpiece! And I would expect nothing less from talented artist and author Lina Maslo. Her colorful illustrations bring Narnia to vivid life for the reader, but not only that, she has masterfully recreated the wardrobe and covered it with intricate carvings and designs on many of the pages, making this an extravagant portrayal, one in which a child can feel he or she has dropped into Narnia for a visit. Even the font design on the front cover takes you to a different place and time. And the endpapers! The front inside cover is filled with copies of actual letters to Lewis from children, and the back inside cover has his answers to those letters! What a wonderful idea! I am a long-time C. S. Lewis fan. I've read the Narnia books, the Space Trilogy, Surprised by Joy, Letters to Malcolm, Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, The Abolition of Man, and more. Lina Maslo has captured not just C. S. Lewis creator of Narnia, but C. S. Lewis the man who was formed by his experiences at boarding school, in the trenches of World War I, by the deathbed of his beloved wife Joy. In the back matter at the end of the book, she also has extra tidbits and details that wouldn't fit in the actual story but are of special interest to a Narnia fan and to any child reader. Bravo, Lina Maslo. You've created another winner!
Through the Wardrobe is an absolute masterpiece! And I would expect nothing less from talented artist and author Lina Maslo. Her colorful illustrations bring Narnia to vivid life for the reader, but not only that, she has masterfully recreated the wardrobe and covered it with intricate carvings and designs on many of the pages, making this an extravagant portrayal, one in which a child can feel he or she has dropped into Narnia for a visit. Even the font design on the front cover takes you to a different place and time. And the endpapers! The front inside cover is filled with copies of actual letters to Lewis from children, and the back inside cover has his answers to those letters! What a wonderful idea! I am a long-time C. S. Lewis fan. I've read the Narnia books, the Space Trilogy, Surprised by Joy, Letters to Malcolm, Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, The Abolition of Man, and more. Lina Maslo has captured not just C. S. Lewis creator of Narnia, but C. S. Lewis the man who was formed by his experiences at boarding school, in the trenches of World War I, by the deathbed of his beloved wife Joy. In the back matter at the end of the book, she also has extra tidbits and details that wouldn't fit in the actual story but are of special interest to a Narnia fan and to any child reader. Bravo, Lina Maslo. You've created another winner!
June 17, 2020
Great Insights into Why C.S. Lewis Created Narnia
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA series of books has sold over 100 million copies in 47 languages and is a children’s classic. Author and artist Lin Maslo helps children (and parents) understand the author, C.S. Lewis and why he wrote THROUGH THE WARDROBE.
This children’s book is a biography of the life of C.S. Lewis. From four years old, Lewis used the nickname Jack and it’s what his friends called him. Lewis had a vivid imagination and storytelling ability. Late in his life, he used this ability to write THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA. Lewis was an established adult author and Oxford professor before publishing these children’s stories. As Lin says, “He scribbled down the beginning and showed the people around him. A few liked it, but some of Jack’s friends, and even his publisher, didn’t think it was a good idea. One brined, an author named J.R. R. Tolkien hated it! Talking animals, mythical creatures, and Father Christmas in one book? It didn’t make sense. Jack was discouraged, he put the story aside.”
Later Lewis returned to the story and decided to write it no matter what others thought. The effort turned into the classic bestselling children’s books. Beautiful illustrations combine with clear and interesting storytelling in THROUGH THE WARDROBE to make this book fascinating. I recommend it.
W. Terry Whalin is an editor and the author of more than 60 books including his latest 10 Publishing Myths, Insights Every Author Needs to Succeed .
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA series of books has sold over 100 million copies in 47 languages and is a children’s classic. Author and artist Lin Maslo helps children (and parents) understand the author, C.S. Lewis and why he wrote THROUGH THE WARDROBE.
This children’s book is a biography of the life of C.S. Lewis. From four years old, Lewis used the nickname Jack and it’s what his friends called him. Lewis had a vivid imagination and storytelling ability. Late in his life, he used this ability to write THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA. Lewis was an established adult author and Oxford professor before publishing these children’s stories. As Lin says, “He scribbled down the beginning and showed the people around him. A few liked it, but some of Jack’s friends, and even his publisher, didn’t think it was a good idea. One brined, an author named J.R. R. Tolkien hated it! Talking animals, mythical creatures, and Father Christmas in one book? It didn’t make sense. Jack was discouraged, he put the story aside.”
Later Lewis returned to the story and decided to write it no matter what others thought. The effort turned into the classic bestselling children’s books. Beautiful illustrations combine with clear and interesting storytelling in THROUGH THE WARDROBE to make this book fascinating. I recommend it.
W. Terry Whalin is an editor and the author of more than 60 books including his latest 10 Publishing Myths, Insights Every Author Needs to Succeed .
October 30, 2020
This was a picture book that I took out just for fun because that's who I am now. The pictures in this are gorgeous and it gives a good overview of C. S. Lewis' life. It also conveys the hope of Narnia and what it means to children and adults alike.
November 14, 2020
My kids love Narnia, and they were excited to read this book. It gives some beautiful history and context to Lewis and his stories, and the illustrations add to the effect nicely. Great for kids and adults alike.
January 21, 2023
I checked this out from the library for my daughter… and myself. A well-done Narnia-focused biography of C.S. Lewis for kids. I’ve loved Narnia ever since we would check out VHS tapes of the BBC Narnia series from the church library when I was a kid.
October 1, 2026
Why did the ending of this book make me want to cry? This was precious and I love seeing the behind the scenes of Jack's life and what inspired him to write the Narnia books (which are my favorite books of all time)!
July 30, 2021
This is such a lovely book!
April 17, 2024
I enjoyed this short look at C.S. Lewis' life. It does mention his faith and how that played a part in his life and writings but it is not a huge theme. I found the illustrations sweet and the author did a great job of humanizing one of the great literary giants without him seeming stuffy and boring.
December 2, 2020
I really enjoyed this picture book biography of C. S. Lewis. It gave just enough details to acquaint children with his life, with many more details in the back matter, as well as a bibliography.
June 17, 2020
This non-fiction picture book provides enough details about C.S. Lewis's childhood and adult traumas to help the reader understand how the world of Narnia came into existence.
"As a boy, Clive Staples Lewis did not like his name. He imagined himself as more of a... Jack. When he was four years old, he changed it."
Since Jack didn't always like his own world, he imagined and wrote about other worlds. That was a precursor of things to come.
Jack lived in Ireland where it rained a lot. He and his older brother spent hours reading about talking animals and knights in armor. They made up a world populated with frogs, mice, and rabbits who argued about politics and went on quests to defeat evil cats. Conquering evil played a part in Jack's early stories.
Jack's pleasant childhood ended when he was nine. His mother died and he and his brother were sent to a boarding school in England--a horrible experience for him. Jack finished his education with a tutor and was on his way to being a teacher when WWI broke out. Jack went into the army but was determined to be a writer. After the war, he "pushed his imagination away." He taught at Oxford University and wrote many books about "pain, faith, love; about medieval times; about people discovering strange planets."
"But in the back of his mind, Jack had characters waiting for a story of their own."
During WWII, Jack took in evacuees. One day, a little girl asked him if there was anything behind [his] old wardrobe.
That started him thinking. He "decided to write a fairy tale...about a land unlike the dreary one they lived in, and about the characters in his imagination."
Jack's publisher, and his good friend, J.R.R. Tolkien, didn't like his first ideas about Narnia, so he put it aside. But when he got sick, he decided he didn't care what others thought. He would write a story about four children who had been sent far from home during the war. "It was raining, and they were stuck inside a house of endless hallways. They found a wardrobe and crawled in. But as they pushed back the old fur coats, they fell into a magical realm..."
Narnia was a place that children learned about characters who stood up to bullies and that "the worst moments of your life were only leading you to become the person you were meant to be."
Children wrote to him and begged for more stories about Narnia. But by the time he wrote the seventh book, he knew he was finished. "This time, it was up to others--to discover a world only they could imagine and to find the door they were destined to open."
SOME FINAL NOTES
Look closely at the clever cover of the book pictured above and notice what Lina incorporated into it. If you get the book for a young reader--as I hope you will--you'll discover that the hardback cover is a wardrobe. Young readers open the doors of this beautifully written book and step inside C.S. Lewis's life.
Make sure you don't skip over the endpapers. In the front are imagined letters from children to C.S. Lewis. Since he destroyed all of his correspondence, Maslo created these. The back endpapers are actual letters from Jack to children which can be found in C.S. Lewis: Letters to Children. Back matter includes interesting facts about Jack and an extensive bibliography.
A PERSONAL NOTE
I love stories within stories and in fact, this is a picture book about a man who loved reading and writing books. The illustrations are accessible to children; the color pallet which Lina Maslo used is beautiful. Although C.S. Lewis ages in the book, he still has a child-like wonder in his facial expressions.
I bought this book for my not-quite-five-year-old granddaughter since I knew her father had already read The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe to her. During the Covid quarantine, my daughter suggested that I read books to her via Skype. I happily obliged. After my granddaughter received Through the Wardrobe she asked if I could read it to her. I was glad I had saved the F and G's so I could read the book to her.
GIVEAWAY
I have a special giveaway for you! Lina Maslo is donating a personally autographed copy of THROUGH THE WARDROBE for you or for a young reader in your life. All you have to do is leave me a comment (please include your email address if you are new to my blog) by Friday, June 19 at 5 PM. Want extra chances? Share this on social media and tell me what you did.
"As a boy, Clive Staples Lewis did not like his name. He imagined himself as more of a... Jack. When he was four years old, he changed it."
Since Jack didn't always like his own world, he imagined and wrote about other worlds. That was a precursor of things to come.
Jack lived in Ireland where it rained a lot. He and his older brother spent hours reading about talking animals and knights in armor. They made up a world populated with frogs, mice, and rabbits who argued about politics and went on quests to defeat evil cats. Conquering evil played a part in Jack's early stories.
Jack's pleasant childhood ended when he was nine. His mother died and he and his brother were sent to a boarding school in England--a horrible experience for him. Jack finished his education with a tutor and was on his way to being a teacher when WWI broke out. Jack went into the army but was determined to be a writer. After the war, he "pushed his imagination away." He taught at Oxford University and wrote many books about "pain, faith, love; about medieval times; about people discovering strange planets."
"But in the back of his mind, Jack had characters waiting for a story of their own."
During WWII, Jack took in evacuees. One day, a little girl asked him if there was anything behind [his] old wardrobe.
That started him thinking. He "decided to write a fairy tale...about a land unlike the dreary one they lived in, and about the characters in his imagination."
Jack's publisher, and his good friend, J.R.R. Tolkien, didn't like his first ideas about Narnia, so he put it aside. But when he got sick, he decided he didn't care what others thought. He would write a story about four children who had been sent far from home during the war. "It was raining, and they were stuck inside a house of endless hallways. They found a wardrobe and crawled in. But as they pushed back the old fur coats, they fell into a magical realm..."
Narnia was a place that children learned about characters who stood up to bullies and that "the worst moments of your life were only leading you to become the person you were meant to be."
Children wrote to him and begged for more stories about Narnia. But by the time he wrote the seventh book, he knew he was finished. "This time, it was up to others--to discover a world only they could imagine and to find the door they were destined to open."
SOME FINAL NOTES
Look closely at the clever cover of the book pictured above and notice what Lina incorporated into it. If you get the book for a young reader--as I hope you will--you'll discover that the hardback cover is a wardrobe. Young readers open the doors of this beautifully written book and step inside C.S. Lewis's life.
Make sure you don't skip over the endpapers. In the front are imagined letters from children to C.S. Lewis. Since he destroyed all of his correspondence, Maslo created these. The back endpapers are actual letters from Jack to children which can be found in C.S. Lewis: Letters to Children. Back matter includes interesting facts about Jack and an extensive bibliography.
A PERSONAL NOTE
I love stories within stories and in fact, this is a picture book about a man who loved reading and writing books. The illustrations are accessible to children; the color pallet which Lina Maslo used is beautiful. Although C.S. Lewis ages in the book, he still has a child-like wonder in his facial expressions.
I bought this book for my not-quite-five-year-old granddaughter since I knew her father had already read The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe to her. During the Covid quarantine, my daughter suggested that I read books to her via Skype. I happily obliged. After my granddaughter received Through the Wardrobe she asked if I could read it to her. I was glad I had saved the F and G's so I could read the book to her.
GIVEAWAY
I have a special giveaway for you! Lina Maslo is donating a personally autographed copy of THROUGH THE WARDROBE for you or for a young reader in your life. All you have to do is leave me a comment (please include your email address if you are new to my blog) by Friday, June 19 at 5 PM. Want extra chances? Share this on social media and tell me what you did.
September 16, 2020
A lyrical nonfiction picture book about the inspired life of C.S. Lewis, the beloved author of the Chronicles of Narnia--from Free as a Bird author-illustrator Lina Maslo. Perfect for fans of The Important Thing About Margaret Wise Brown and Some Writer!: The Story of E.B. White. This nonfiction picture book is an excellent choice to share during homeschooling, in particular for children ages 4 to 6. It's a fun way to learn to read and as a supplement for activity books for children. As a child, Clive Staples Lewis imagined many things ... heroic animals and knights in armor and a faraway land called Boxen. He even thought of a new name for himself--at four years old, he decided he was more of a Jack. As he grew up, though, Jack found that the real world was not as just as the one in his imagination. No magic could heal the sick or stop a war, and a bully's words could pierce as sharply as a sword. So Jack withdrew into books and eventually became a well-known author for adults. But he never forgot the epic tales of his boyhood, and one day a young girl's question about an old family wardrobe inspired him to write a children's story about a world hidden beyond its fur coats ... a world of fauns and queens and a lion named Aslan. A world of battles between good and evil, where people learned courage and love and forgiveness. A magical realm called Narnia. And the books he would write about this kingdom would change his life and that of children the world over.
April 27, 2020
I’ve had a chance to read a pre-release copy of this beautiful book and enjoyed it very much. Through the Wardrobe: How C.S. Lewis Created Narnia, beautifully distills the formative events in the life of writer-theologian C.S. Lewis. We feel the power of his childhood imagination and invented worlds, and we come to understand that his imagination was his salvation in a difficult life—at boarding school, through war, and into adulthood. You come away from this book feeling as though The Chronicles of Narnia existed within Lewis all his life, bound to one day come alive on the page. Author-illustrator Lina Maslo enhances her story with charming and emotive drawings. My favorites are the one where Lewis performs theatrics for two young cousins who are sitting in a wardrobe (lots of vibrant purple on this page, and lovely woodwork); the one where Lewis lies awake after his mother’s death, a rich red carpet taking up most of the space, and the carpet design hinting of the lion and witch; and the page in the trenches in WWI, only the writer’s feet, knees, paper and pencil visible. This bio spans many rich and complex years in the life of the man who brought us one of our most enduring and beloved fantasy stories. Well done! Sure to engage young readers, and plenty of historical depth here for readers to think, study, research further, or write about.
April 30, 2020
From the first pages of this beautiful book, readers will be swept into C.S. Lewis’ world. Young “Jack,” as he calls himself, has an imagination that is bursting with magical creatures and fantastic stories, and makes every day an adventure. As Jack grows older and his world changes, this imagination carries him through challenges at school and the dark days of World War I, where he starts writing poems of his own. As Jack moves into adulthood, commences his writing career, and finds himself in the throes of a second world war, the full picture of why he was so compelled to write his famous Narnia series becomes clear. And readers are right there with him, sailing through nightmares, standing up to bullies, and opening doors to breathtaking new lands.
As an avid C.S. Lewis enthusiast (both of his adult and children’s works), I cannot stress enough how incredible this book is. Anyone who has an interest in Lewis at all should read this book—both for its factual insight into Lewis’ life and career, and for its sensitive (and beautiful) portrayal of the man himself. Maslow’s writing is carefully researched and documented, and her artwork is simply stunning! THROUGH THE WARDROBE is a true tribute to “Jack” and his beloved Narnia books, which have touched so many hearts—as this book is sure to do, too.
As an avid C.S. Lewis enthusiast (both of his adult and children’s works), I cannot stress enough how incredible this book is. Anyone who has an interest in Lewis at all should read this book—both for its factual insight into Lewis’ life and career, and for its sensitive (and beautiful) portrayal of the man himself. Maslow’s writing is carefully researched and documented, and her artwork is simply stunning! THROUGH THE WARDROBE is a true tribute to “Jack” and his beloved Narnia books, which have touched so many hearts—as this book is sure to do, too.
December 15, 2020
Picture book biography. Growing up in a Christian household and attending a Christian college, I have read the Chronicles of Narnia, watched the movies, and had book discussions on at least one of C.S. Lewis' nonfiction books. So I had a basic understanding of C.S. Lewis but wanted to know more. What I learned: he actually went by "Jack," he was injured in WWI, suffered through several boarding schools, and had a very close relationship with his brother. I also learned that he once told stories to his cousins while they sat inside the wardrobe carved by their grandfather. The author doesn't shy away from Jack's questions-- after his mother died, after his school experience, after his war injury. This book is an honest and informative book about an author who is still read today by both children and adults. The back matter includes more information, assorted facts, and the order the Chronicles of Narnia were published (one thing it did not mention were the chronological order of the series, due to the in-story timeline, but that debate might be a bit much for a children's book), along with an extensive bibliography. The illustrations are very fitting, with clean lines and muted colors.
April 25, 2020
Reviewed for YA Books Central
What a wonderful story.
The world - young and old -- know C.S. Lewis most than they know most authors. His stories are a part of our culture, a rite of passage growing up. Yet, most nonfiction works telling about men and women behind the stories are usually left to adults in formats they'd enjoy. I fell in love with the ease of this story, the way the author so simple explains a larger than life figure to children. Told with educational and entertaining prose, we get to see how two wars shaped the stories we still love today.
And let's not forget the illustrations. They're gorgeous!
Overall, this book is a complete win. It gives us a peek into the mind behind the stories we love, but it's about more than that. The world shapes the tales we tell and the ones we read. That is ever present in these pages.
What a wonderful story.
The world - young and old -- know C.S. Lewis most than they know most authors. His stories are a part of our culture, a rite of passage growing up. Yet, most nonfiction works telling about men and women behind the stories are usually left to adults in formats they'd enjoy. I fell in love with the ease of this story, the way the author so simple explains a larger than life figure to children. Told with educational and entertaining prose, we get to see how two wars shaped the stories we still love today.
And let's not forget the illustrations. They're gorgeous!
Overall, this book is a complete win. It gives us a peek into the mind behind the stories we love, but it's about more than that. The world shapes the tales we tell and the ones we read. That is ever present in these pages.
November 24, 2020
A picture book biography of C.S. Lewis.
I just recently read another picture book biography of Lewis, Finding Narnia by McAlister. I feel like both are equally good and contribute little bits that are different enough it is worth reading both. McAlister's focuses more on Jack's relationship with his brother through the years. This one focuses more on his writings in general and dives into the world of Narnia more. This book also has a very extensive back note with lots more fun and interesting facts on Lewis and his books. Highly recommended to C.S. Lewis fans and kids about to start reading the Chronicles of Narnia.
I just recently read another picture book biography of Lewis, Finding Narnia by McAlister. I feel like both are equally good and contribute little bits that are different enough it is worth reading both. McAlister's focuses more on Jack's relationship with his brother through the years. This one focuses more on his writings in general and dives into the world of Narnia more. This book also has a very extensive back note with lots more fun and interesting facts on Lewis and his books. Highly recommended to C.S. Lewis fans and kids about to start reading the Chronicles of Narnia.
November 26, 2020
A lower grade biography of C.S. Lewis that focuses on how his life shaped his writing of the Chronicles of Narnia and how his books deliver powerful messages to readers still today.
I wasn't expecting to love this as much as Finding Narnia: The Story of C. S. Lewis and His Brother, but both tell his story from different angles and both are worthy reads. I guess that speaks to the inspirational life he lead and the legacy he left behind in his books.
I wasn't expecting to love this as much as Finding Narnia: The Story of C. S. Lewis and His Brother, but both tell his story from different angles and both are worthy reads. I guess that speaks to the inspirational life he lead and the legacy he left behind in his books.
December 2, 2020
Don't you love when authors/illustrators use every square inch of a picture book to celebrate the subject of their books?! In "Through the Wardrobe," the end pages welcome the reader in with letters from fans of C.S. Lewis, written to him about his books. At the end of "Through the Wardrobe," C.S. Lewis responds to the letters. It is a wonderful extra touch!! Beyond the end pages, young readers will gain an introductory appreciation for C.S. Lewis imaginative escape from his childhood reality with talking animals and magical wardrobes. A delightful picture book biography about a person who left a significant mark on Children's Lit and Christian Lit as well.
January 29, 2021
I didn't realize I knew so little about C.S. Lewis. He certainly lived during trying times, and even had many obstacle in his life; world wars, his mother's death, and more. Yet, he managed to live peacefully and to create a legacy in literature for the world. This pictobiography does an excellent job of framing Lewis's life against world events and is accessible for many audiences. It's definitely worth a read. Now, I want to go see the wardrobes that inspired him to write the stories about Narnia!
October 26, 2021
Well done biography over all. I think it would appeal more to kids who are familiar with the Narnia stories, and mostly to the parents who grew up with the stories. The message of being who you are meant to be was heavy handed, and I was surprised that the faith-filled (Christian) message of C.S. Lewis's books was not given more air time. Of course, that's not a popular approach for main-stream publishing, but without it, the biography is missing a critical element of the series and of Lewis's life.
November 5, 2021
Nice biography about C.S. Lewis and Narnia. I was pleasantly surprised to see pages depicting the Silver Chair (my favorite) and the Horse and His Boy, two less-referenced Narnia books. If you enjoyed this book then I would also recommend Finding Narnia: The Story of C. S. Lewis and His Brother, another picture book biography with a slightly more advanced text.
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