Elfwyn's Saga

Wisniewski, David

3.78

73 ratings by Goodreads

ISBN 10: 0688095909 ISBN 13: 9780688095901

Publisher: HarperCollins, 1990

"An original saga, inspired by Viking lore, that explains the origins of the northern lights....Wisniewski's prose resonates with the majesty of legend, and his handsome, dramatic cut-paper illustrations add dimension to a splendid tale."--Publishers Weekly.

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About the Author:

David Wisniewski passed away in his sleep, from an unknown illness, on September 11, 2002. Born in 1953, he had all-too-brief a life and leaves behind his lovely wife, Donna, and their two children, Ariana and Alexander.

Just this week David had seen the finished books for Halloweenies, and he was so happy with how it turned out.

He will, of course, be remembered as the 1997 Caldecott Medalist for his 6th book, The Golem. But perhaps even more, he'll be known for his off-beat postmodern humor, seen in Tough Cookie, The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups, and Halloweenies. Everyone who knew him loved his wit and his vibrancy; he was also quite an inspirational speaker. We will miss him.

In His Own Words:

My mom taught me to draw in first grade. Nothing fancy. Just how to put circles and ovals together for form "bubble men." It was a wonderful introduction to drawing and a terrific gateway to action and proportion. But third grade, I was one of the class artists.

That's when I started reading comic books, especialy the Marvel superheroes created by Stan Lee. My sketchpads became full of The Fantastic Four, Spider-man, The Mighty Thor, and X-Men. Comic books were also my first introduction to dynamic storytelling. Nothing's more dramatic than colossal struggles between good and evil with entire galaxies at stake!

This enthusiasm led directly to Classic Comics, simplified versions of fantasy masterpieces like Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds. It wasn't long before I became an avid reader, willing to tackle the work of Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, and A.E. van Vogt.

During high school I became interested in the performing arts as well as the visual When I couldn't afford more than one semester of college, I signed up for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. After training for two months, I clowned with Ringling for two seasons (1973-74), then performed with the country's largest tent show, Circus Vargas, in 1975.

After the circus, I was hired by my future wife, Donna, to perform with a puppet theatre. We married in 1976 and started our own company, Clarion Shadow Theatre, in 1980. Shadow puppetry was our specialty, wherein flat, jointed figures move against a screen illuminated with rear-projected scenery. Although I didn't know it at the time, shadow puppetry trained me to do picture books. Cutting out shadow puppets and projected scenery taught me how to use an X-Acto knife. The shadow screen was the same shape as an open book. Adapting legends and folktales into scripts taught me how to write.

When our chidren - Ariana and Alexander - were born, touring became impossible, so I adapted my cutting skills to illustration. After four years of freelancing for newspapers and magazines, I created my first picture book. The Warrior and the Wise Man (1989) looks very much like a shadow puppet play.

My cut-paper style matured with ensuing books. I learned to construct more detailed people and scenery, plus how to layer the artwork, creating the shadows that give depth to the pages. Happily, my books have been well received, culminating in the 1997 Caldecott Medal for Golem.

After six epic adventures, I wanted to try something comedic that would draw on my circus and puppet theatre experience. The Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups was the result, a silly conspiracy spoof about the real reasons why parents tell kids to do things.

From School Library Journal:

A mesmerizing picture book for older readers, this story unfolds in a perfect blend of text and illustration. The Hidden Folk of frost and fire guide a Viking ship of settlers to a safe harbor, but deter a warrior ship from landing there. In anger, the warrior leader, Gorm the Grim, pronounces a curse on the peaceful Anlaf and his kin, causing Anlaf's daughter to be born blind. The child Elfwyn grows happily under the protection of the Hidden Folk, learning to use her other senses to make up for her blindness. In Trojan Horse fashion, Gorm presents Anlaf with a gift, a huge crystal in which all see a reflection of themselves in some unattainable position--younger, prettier, wealthier. The crystal causes discontent in all except Elfwyn, whose blindness makes her immune to its evil. When the others neglect their duties to continue gazing into the crystal, Elfwyn uses her pony to topple it. The splinters pursue her until she is rescued by the Hidden Folk, regaining her sight when the splinters crash into a boulder, thus ending the curse. This powerful story is based on elements of legend and history of the settlement of Iceland that are discussed in an extensive author's note at the end. Wisniewski's distinctive cut-paper illustrations are exquisitely rendered in rich and glowing colors. His portrayal of the people is especially compelling, with details of facial expression reflecting character and plot development. A truly original offering that will give back to today's children some of the mythic element that Joseph Campbell said we are missing. --Connie C. Rockman, The Ferguson Lib . , Stamford, CT
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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