{"id":2132297793,"title":"The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane","handle":"the-ink-garden-of-brother-theophane","description":"\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca title=\"link to C.M. Millen's bio\" href=\"\/pages\/c-m-millen\"\u003eC.M. Millen\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca title=\"link to Andrea Wisnewski's bio\" href=\"\/pages\/andrea-wisnewski\"\u003eAndrea Wisnewski\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOh, Brother!\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eC.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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAndrea Wisnewski’s illustrations, inspired by the illuminated letters that the medieval monks created in books like the \u003cem\u003eBook of Kells\u003c\/em\u003e, bring to life the colors and beauty that surrounded Brother Theophane amidst the plain world of the monastery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/charlesbridge-books.com\/previews\/ink-garden-of-brother-theophane\/inkgarden_preview1.html\" target=\"new\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eRead an excerpt!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/plant-secrets\" title=\"Plant Secrets\"\u003ePlant Secrets\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/the-flower-alphabet-book\" title=\"The Flower Alphabet Book\"\u003eThe Flower Alphabet\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/ink-garden-spread.jpg?10070870965707562798\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e\u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eC.M. Millen, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eC.M. Millen is the author of \u003cem\u003eBlue Bowl Down: An Appalachian Rhyme\u003c\/em\u003e (Candlewick), \u003cem\u003eThe\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eLow-Down Laundry Line Blues\u003c\/em\u003e (Houghton Mifflin), and \u003cem\u003eA Symphony for the Sheep\u003c\/em\u003e (Houghton\u003cbr\u003eMifflin). She lives in Toledo, Ohio.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/c-m-millen\" title=\"C.M. Millen bio\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about C.M.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAndrea Wisnewski, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAndrea Wisnewski is the author and illustrator of \u003cem\u003eLittle Red Riding Hood\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eA Cottage\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eGarden Alphabet\u003c\/em\u003e (David Godine). She creates her astonishing papercut prints in Storrs,\u003cbr\u003eConnecticut.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/andrea-wisnewski\" title=\"Andrea Wisnewski bio\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Andrea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConnecticut Book Award (Children's Illustrator category)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eSpirituality and Practice\u003c\/em\u003e's Best Spiritual Books\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBooklist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a small medieval Irish monastery, the monks quietly work side by side, copying and illuminating manuscripts in brown ink. Theophane, the youngest monk, is so easily distracted by the beauty of the world outside his window that he is given an outdoor task: boiling bark to make ink. Inspired by stains from blackberries, he begins to experiment, making colored inks from berries, leaves, roots, and twigs. Soon the monks are illuminating their manuscripts with the brilliant hues of nature. Words and pictures alike are infused with a sense of the monks’ joy in their faith and work as well as Theophane’s delight in the natural world. Written in rhythmic, rhyming, and near-rhyming verse, the simple story unfolds in a satisfying way, accompanied by short poems inspired by the writings of medieval Irish monks. The richly detailed illustrations were created by using a paper-cut design to print bold, black lines and brightening the pictures with watercolors. The book concludes with lists of recommended books and Internet sites as well as an author’s note related to her research on medieval monasteries. Grades 2-4. \u003cem\u003e–Carolyn Phelan\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrother Theophane copies manuscripts in his monastery in “the mountains of Mourne,” but he also hides crumbs in his sleeve to sprinkle on the windowsill for the birds, and sometimes he gazes too long at the sun dancing on the pages before him. In simple rhyme, Millen conveys how, when woolgathering Theophane is banished to make ink, he finds berries, hazel wood, crocus and cabbage leaves to make many colors. The brown-garbed monks, turned from their brown inks to colors, renew their illuminations to reflect the many-hued world. The text includes a few verses in Theophane’s voice, which are based on scraps of poems written by Irish monks of the Middle Ages. Wisnewski’s gorgeous hand-colored prints are composed of strong black line and interlaced color and pattern. There are echoes of the Book of Kells and other Celtic illumination, but children will especially respond to the borders of apples and berries, the patterned stonework and the black-and-white cat that appears on almost every page. (author’s note, bibliography, websites)\u003cem\u003e (Picture book. 6-9)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/products\/ink-garden-of-brother-cvr.jpg?v=1443452433\" style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/ink-garden-of-brother-hires.zip?5276903273152032956\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/ink-garden-of-brother-theophane-activity-guide.pdf?5276903273152032956\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Activity Guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58089-179-0\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book PDF\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-60734-230-4\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 5-8\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e9 x 11\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","published_at":"2015-10-05T12:50:00-04:00","created_at":"2015-09-28T10:59:57-04:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 3-6","Browse by Age_Ages 6-10","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Art\/Music\/Theater"],"price":1795,"price_min":1795,"price_max":1795,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":6851211073,"title":"Hardcover","option1":"Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"91790","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane - Hardcover","public_title":"Hardcover","options":["Hardcover"],"price":1795,"weight":454,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":4,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"978-1-58089-179-0","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/ink-garden-of-brother-cover.jpg?v=1586804875"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/ink-garden-of-brother-cover.jpg?v=1586804875","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":"The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane book cover","id":5803932745807,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.823,"height":729,"width":600,"src":"\/\/www.charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/ink-garden-of-brother-cover.jpg?v=1586804875"},"aspect_ratio":0.823,"height":729,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/ink-garden-of-brother-cover.jpg?v=1586804875","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca title=\"link to C.M. Millen's bio\" href=\"\/pages\/c-m-millen\"\u003eC.M. Millen\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca title=\"link to Andrea Wisnewski's bio\" href=\"\/pages\/andrea-wisnewski\"\u003eAndrea Wisnewski\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOh, Brother!\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eC.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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAndrea Wisnewski’s illustrations, inspired by the illuminated letters that the medieval monks created in books like the \u003cem\u003eBook of Kells\u003c\/em\u003e, bring to life the colors and beauty that surrounded Brother Theophane amidst the plain world of the monastery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/charlesbridge-books.com\/previews\/ink-garden-of-brother-theophane\/inkgarden_preview1.html\" target=\"new\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eRead an excerpt!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/plant-secrets\" title=\"Plant Secrets\"\u003ePlant Secrets\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/the-flower-alphabet-book\" title=\"The Flower Alphabet Book\"\u003eThe Flower Alphabet\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/ink-garden-spread.jpg?10070870965707562798\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e\u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eC.M. Millen, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eC.M. Millen is the author of \u003cem\u003eBlue Bowl Down: An Appalachian Rhyme\u003c\/em\u003e (Candlewick), \u003cem\u003eThe\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eLow-Down Laundry Line Blues\u003c\/em\u003e (Houghton Mifflin), and \u003cem\u003eA Symphony for the Sheep\u003c\/em\u003e (Houghton\u003cbr\u003eMifflin). She lives in Toledo, Ohio.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/c-m-millen\" title=\"C.M. Millen bio\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about C.M.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAndrea Wisnewski, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAndrea Wisnewski is the author and illustrator of \u003cem\u003eLittle Red Riding Hood\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eA Cottage\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eGarden Alphabet\u003c\/em\u003e (David Godine). She creates her astonishing papercut prints in Storrs,\u003cbr\u003eConnecticut.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/andrea-wisnewski\" title=\"Andrea Wisnewski bio\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Andrea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConnecticut Book Award (Children's Illustrator category)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eSpirituality and Practice\u003c\/em\u003e's Best Spiritual Books\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBooklist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a small medieval Irish monastery, the monks quietly work side by side, copying and illuminating manuscripts in brown ink. Theophane, the youngest monk, is so easily distracted by the beauty of the world outside his window that he is given an outdoor task: boiling bark to make ink. Inspired by stains from blackberries, he begins to experiment, making colored inks from berries, leaves, roots, and twigs. Soon the monks are illuminating their manuscripts with the brilliant hues of nature. Words and pictures alike are infused with a sense of the monks’ joy in their faith and work as well as Theophane’s delight in the natural world. Written in rhythmic, rhyming, and near-rhyming verse, the simple story unfolds in a satisfying way, accompanied by short poems inspired by the writings of medieval Irish monks. The richly detailed illustrations were created by using a paper-cut design to print bold, black lines and brightening the pictures with watercolors. The book concludes with lists of recommended books and Internet sites as well as an author’s note related to her research on medieval monasteries. Grades 2-4. \u003cem\u003e–Carolyn Phelan\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrother Theophane copies manuscripts in his monastery in “the mountains of Mourne,” but he also hides crumbs in his sleeve to sprinkle on the windowsill for the birds, and sometimes he gazes too long at the sun dancing on the pages before him. In simple rhyme, Millen conveys how, when woolgathering Theophane is banished to make ink, he finds berries, hazel wood, crocus and cabbage leaves to make many colors. The brown-garbed monks, turned from their brown inks to colors, renew their illuminations to reflect the many-hued world. The text includes a few verses in Theophane’s voice, which are based on scraps of poems written by Irish monks of the Middle Ages. Wisnewski’s gorgeous hand-colored prints are composed of strong black line and interlaced color and pattern. There are echoes of the Book of Kells and other Celtic illumination, but children will especially respond to the borders of apples and berries, the patterned stonework and the black-and-white cat that appears on almost every page. (author’s note, bibliography, websites)\u003cem\u003e (Picture book. 6-9)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/products\/ink-garden-of-brother-cvr.jpg?v=1443452433\" style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/ink-garden-of-brother-hires.zip?5276903273152032956\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/ink-garden-of-brother-theophane-activity-guide.pdf?5276903273152032956\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Activity Guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58089-179-0\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book PDF\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-60734-230-4\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 5-8\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e9 x 11\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]"}

The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane

By: C.M. Millen / Illustrated by: Andrea Wisnewski

Oh, Brother!

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.

Read an excerpt!

Maximum quantity available reached.

C.M. Millen, author

C.M. Millen is the author of Blue Bowl Down: An Appalachian Rhyme (Candlewick), The
Low-Down Laundry Line Blues (Houghton Mifflin), and A Symphony for the Sheep (Houghton
Mifflin). She lives in Toledo, Ohio.

Read more about C.M.


Andrea Wisnewski, illustrator

Andrea Wisnewski is the author and illustrator of Little Red Riding Hood and A Cottage
Garden Alphabet (David Godine). She creates her astonishing papercut prints in Storrs,
Connecticut.

Read more about Andrea.

  • Connecticut Book Award (Children's Illustrator category)
  • Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award
  • Spirituality and Practice's Best Spiritual Books

Booklist

In a small medieval Irish monastery, the monks quietly work side by side, copying and illuminating manuscripts in brown ink. Theophane, the youngest monk, is so easily distracted by the beauty of the world outside his window that he is given an outdoor task: boiling bark to make ink. Inspired by stains from blackberries, he begins to experiment, making colored inks from berries, leaves, roots, and twigs. Soon the monks are illuminating their manuscripts with the brilliant hues of nature. Words and pictures alike are infused with a sense of the monks’ joy in their faith and work as well as Theophane’s delight in the natural world. Written in rhythmic, rhyming, and near-rhyming verse, the simple story unfolds in a satisfying way, accompanied by short poems inspired by the writings of medieval Irish monks. The richly detailed illustrations were created by using a paper-cut design to print bold, black lines and brightening the pictures with watercolors. The book concludes with lists of recommended books and Internet sites as well as an author’s note related to her research on medieval monasteries. Grades 2-4. –Carolyn Phelan

Kirkus Reviews

Brother Theophane copies manuscripts in his monastery in “the mountains of Mourne,” but he also hides crumbs in his sleeve to sprinkle on the windowsill for the birds, and sometimes he gazes too long at the sun dancing on the pages before him. In simple rhyme, Millen conveys how, when woolgathering Theophane is banished to make ink, he finds berries, hazel wood, crocus and cabbage leaves to make many colors. The brown-garbed monks, turned from their brown inks to colors, renew their illuminations to reflect the many-hued world. The text includes a few verses in Theophane’s voice, which are based on scraps of poems written by Irish monks of the Middle Ages. Wisnewski’s gorgeous hand-colored prints are composed of strong black line and interlaced color and pattern. There are echoes of the Book of Kells and other Celtic illumination, but children will especially respond to the borders of apples and berries, the patterned stonework and the black-and-white cat that appears on almost every page. (author’s note, bibliography, websites) (Picture book. 6-9)

Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-58089-179-0

E-book PDF
ISBN: 978-1-60734-230-4

Ages: 5-8
Page count: 32
9 x 11