Hi Reader, This week, one of my very favorite authors returns to Read-Aloud Revival! You know him as the author of Sweep, The Night Gardener, The Vanished Kingdom series (Peter Nimble), and The Fabled Stables series. That’s right–Jonathan Auxier is back! This time, we’re talking about the much-awaited conclusion to The Vanished Kingdom series, The War of the Maps. We delve into the guiding questions he explores during the writing process and how each of these questions becomes a doorway for...

Hi Reader, One of my favorite reads of 2024 was The Myth Makers by John Hendrix. This gorgeous graphic novel tells the story of the remarkable friendship between C. S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. I thought I already knew quite a bit about these Inklings, but it turned out there was more to uncover. This week, I’m delighted to share my conversation with John Hendrix. During our chat, we dove into his research and writing process, exploring how the threads of The Myth Makers came together. Jon...

Hi Reader! What comes to mind when you think of C. S. Lewis’s Narnia and J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings? There’s a good chance we're seeing similar pictures: images that swept us into the whimsical world of wonder beyond the wardrobe (and into the Shire). But it’s likely we don’t know much about the woman who created the iconic illustrations of the White Witch, Mr. Tumnus and Lucy, and the Pevensie children having tea with Mr. and Mrs. Beaver. Her name was Pauline Baynes. In this...