If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that I love discovering historical picture books. I find them through Goodreads, Amazon, others blogs, and — best of all — browsing the stacks at my local library. Of all the topics I’ve covered so far, I think medieval bookmaking is particularly interesting, and the last book in this post is one of my favourites.
Marguerite Makes a Book by Bruce Robertson, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt (The J. Paul Getty Museum, 1999)
This longish picture book (divided into four chapters) is set in Paris circa 1400. Marguerite’s father — a famous bookmaker — is getting old and infirm, so Marguerite finishes a prayer book commissioned by Lady Isabelle. The story follows Marguerite on her errands: buying gold leaf, parchment, and ink ingredients, then completing the illuminations. The drama comes from wondering if she will finish the book in time for her father to get paid. The text includes descriptions of making the five ink colours. The “Glossary of Technical Terms” defines 21 terms, while the “Note to the Reader” explains the inspiration for the story: an illuminated manuscript held by the J. Paul Getty Museum. I enjoyed the realistic, colourful illustrations and the detailed illuminated border (with gold touches) at the beginning of each chapter. Recommended for ages 8 to 11.
Across a Dark and Wild Sea by Don Brown (Roaring Brook Press, 2002)
This picture book is a biography of Columcille (521 – 597), also known as St. Columba. The text focuses on him secretly copying a psalter belonging to Finnian and then fighting a battle over it; afterwards he exiled himself to the Scottish island of Iona where he founded a monastery. The story includes definitions of terms like “manuscript” and emphasizes the importance of books and learning. Unfortunately, the Illustrations are dull and muted with expressionless faces. A bibliography and one-page biography of Columcille are included. A nice touch is the hand-lettered calligraphy in the one-page introduction and the entire ionic alphabet at the end. Recommended for ages 5 to 9.
Magic in the Margins: A Medieval Tale of Bookmaking by W. Nikola-Lisa, illustrated by Bonnie Christensen (Houghton Mifflin, 2007)
Set in the 11th century, Magic in the Margins tells the story of Simon, an orphan taken in by a monastery, who learns to make illuminated manuscripts. His desire is to illustrate one of Father Anselm’s manuscripts, but first he must learn to create true art by using his imagination rather than strictly copying another book. The text is fairly long. I liked the fact that it mentions different types of manuscripts: Bestiary, Herbal, and Psalter. I found the simple illustrations a little boring since they didn’t incorporate a wide range of colours. The preface explains the inspiration for the story: an illustration in Bibles and Bestiaries: A Guide to Illuminated Manuscripts published in 1994. The afterword explains the importance of illuminated manuscripts in the Middle Ages and how they were made. The “margins” in the title refers to the fact that the margins of the pages were one place where illuminators could use their imagination. Recommended for ages 7 to 10.
The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane by C.M. Millen, illustrated by Andrea Wisnewski (Charlesbridge, 2010)
This was the first that I read of the four books in this post and it remains my favourite. It tells the story of a fictional Irish monk who grows bored copying manuscripts in plain brown ink. When he is sent to make ink instead, he discovers that he can create all different colours from plants. The particular plants are named in the text, which is written in rhyme and includes short poems that the author created by combining and paraphrasing medieval Irish poetry. The colourful illustrations have elaborate borders like illuminated manuscripts. The illustrator cut designs from paper, had them made into plates, and then printed them on a handmade press and added colour with watercolour paint. An author’s note explains the role of Irish monks during the Middle Ages, including how they made ink. The short list of recommended books includes the New Oxford Book of Irish Verse and three picture books. Unfortunately two of the three recommended websites are no longer available. Recommended for ages 5 to 8.