The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane
C.M. Millen
The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane
C.M. Millen
Winner of the 2011 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award. In a monastery in the mountains of Mourne during the Middle Ages, one young monk struggled to focus on his task- copying the Bible and other scholarly books with plain brown ink made from wood bark in plain brown books in his plain brown robe at his plain brown desk. Brother Theophane was soon transferred from the scribe’s room and assigned to make the ink that the brothers used. With his natural curiosity, Theophane discovered that inks could be made from other plants besides the wood bark. Berries and leaves produced other beautiful colors. And soon, the books the monks made were illuminated with colors and drawings. C.M. Millen’s charming story of a young monk who defied the discipline of the monastery and found his own way to express the beauty of the world will inspire young readers to explore their own world and find their own voices. Andrea Wisnewski’s illustrations, inspired by the illuminated letters that the medieval monks created in books like the Book of Kells, bring to life the colors and beauty that surrounded Brother Theophane amidst the plain world of the monastery.
Review
Kathy Kozlowski, Children's Book Specialist, Readings Carlton
This beautiful picture book, illustrated from paper-cut prints and watercolours, is a celebration of Medieval Celtic illumination.
A young monk, Theophane, is sometimes restless during the long days bent over his work, and loves above all to be out walking in the open countryside. From nature, he learns to make inks – yellow from the crocus, blue from woad leaves, violet from bilberries – and early one morning his brother monks come in to find him asleep over his work table, their work glowing with new colour and life. Highly recommended. Medieval life, the joy of colour, and the beauty of nature all brought to life for ages six to adult.
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