Painting Wonder

How Pauline Baynes Illustrated the Worlds of C. S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien

By: Katie Wray Schon

Narrated by: Sarah Mackenzie

Young Pauline Baynes lives in India, a land of towering mountains, sparkling lakes, and bright flowers. She even has a pet monkey that joins her for tea.

Then her life takes a turn, and Pauline is sent to dreary England. Books bring light and color to her world, so she sets out to paint the stories she loves. Years later, two iconic authors see her paintings and know she’s the illustrator for their stories—of fire-breathing dragons, towering giants, a golden lion, and four brave children.

Follow Pauline into some of the most beloved and prominent landscapes in all of children’s literature: the magical lands of J.R.R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis.

©2025 Katie Wray Schon (P)2025 Waxwing Books

Critic reviews

★ “It’s a beautiful tribute. An accessible and inspiring mini-biography, delightfully illustrated.”—Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)