Come to the Castle!
Written by Linda Ashman, Illustrated by S.D. Schindler.
Roaring Brook/Macmillan, 2009. 978-1596431553.
Reviews & Honors
NY Public Library’s 100 Titles for Reading & Sharing
“Wit meets historical accuracy in a pitch-perfect mix of laugh-out-loud text and entertaining image. . . . An informative delight bound to find its audience.” —Kirkus
“Quirky, sarcastic, and rather educational, too.” —Booklist
“This rollicking take on the Middle Ages . . . prob[es] the attitudes of medieval workers with a wink and a chortle.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“This picture book told in verse depicts life in a medieval castle with its always-fascinating contrasts of grandeur and filth, indulgence and hard work. The text’s humor and specific detail are echoed in Schindler’s ornate and thoughtful pictures, done in the style of an illuminated manuscript.” The Horn Book
About this Story
Book ideas develop in funny ways, and this one had a particularly odd genesis given my ability to recall historical dates, eras, rulers and the like (which is to say, extremely limited). I started writing it in 2003, shortly after the beginning of the Iraq War. I was feeling distressed about the state of the world, and wondered if times had ever been as bad as they seemed to be at that moment. This got me thinking about the Museum of Torture that Jack and I had visited in Italy years before, and the horrendous torture devices on display. Well, I thought, at least we don’t draw and quarter people any more.
This cheery thought led me downtown to the Denver Central Library, where I began browsing books on the Middle Ages. Given the size of this section (and the weight of those hefty history books), it seemed wise to narrow my inquiry. I gravitated toward books on medieval castle life, which I eventually narrowed further to 13th century castle life in England.
As I read through piles of books, and jotted down notes, stories began to emerge about the lives of people in a particular castle. The lord of this castle, the rather shallow Earl of Daftwood, had every luxury–and, yet, he was bored. Seeking some amusement, he calls for a tournament–much to the dismay of all those whose duty it was to plan and execute such an event. I had so much fun speaking for all of them.
Deborah Brodie at Roaring Brook bought the manuscript, and signed up the very talented Steve Schindler to do the illustrations. I love Steve’s ornamental lettering, and all the humorous details he’s included in the book. I particularly love the amorous visitors depicted in the poems by The Suitor and The Earl’s Daughter. I hope children enjoy poring over the details in Steve’s illustrations as much as I do, and that they enjoy reading the poems aloud and performing them in classrooms.
Illustrations copyright 2009 by S.D. Schindler. Roaring Brook/Macmillan.