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.

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.

Share this magical nonfiction picture book at home or in the classroom.

This inspiring true story shows how a boy’s imagination can change the world:

The Story Behind the Story: Learn how a real-life wardrobe and a question from a curious little girl sparked the entire magical world of Narnia.
A World Before Narnia: Explore Boxen, the secret land of talking animals C. S. Lewis (or “Jack”) invented long before he ever dreamed of Aslan.
Famous Friends: Discover his friendship with J. R. R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings—who at first didn’t like the idea for Narnia at all!
Overcoming Hardship: A gentle introduction to how Jack used his imagination to navigate loss, bullying, and the realities of war.

Through the Wardrobe: How C. S. Lewis Created Narnia

Through the Wardrobe: How C. S. Lewis Created Narnia