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When we asked renowned artist David Wiesner to paint new jackets for The Chronicles of Narnia, he joined the ranks of multiple-Caldecott Medal winners Leo and Diane Dillon and Chris Van Allsburg in interpreting C. S. Lewis’s beloved fantasy series. Of course, David is a three-time medal winner in his own right and we were delighted to discover that he was a Narnia fan.

Apart from being an extraordinary artist, David is also the quintessential illustrator. He understands that jacket art tells a story first and foremost. If it’s beautiful but doesn’t make you pick up the book and read it, it hasn’t done its job. As the jackets for The Chronicles have been illustrated many times already, David’s first hurdle was to decide on a fresh approach.



His first try was The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and it came in exactly as you see it here. We were blown away by the beauty of the piece and even more by the story it told. The jackets for Dawn Treader usually show the ship sailing on a sea of lillies. David decided to zero in on the heart of the story instead—the transformation of enemies into friends and the power of loyalty. 		 

   
 






  So it was decided that all seven covers should focus on the emotional core of each book. It wasn’t an easy task and astonishingly, David did more than one hundred sketches. Here are more examples of what went into some of the most extraordinary jackets ever produced.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the most famous book in the series. Of course, the most iconic images are the White Witch, the Great Lion Aslan, and the wardrobe. David felt the Witch wouldn’t work because she represents evil and that is not what the book is about. The wardrobe was mysterious, but lacked heart. And Aslan as sketched here wasn’t quite right. What was right is the moment when Lucy and Susan embrace the lion before his ordeal, highlighting the triumph of good over evil and of love over all.

 
   
 







  For some reason, Prince Caspian is always the most elusive to illustrate. The book has many beautiful images to choose from—the passing of Queen Susan’s magical horn to the boy prince on a dark and starry night, a golden chess piece with a ruby eye, and dramatic battle scenes with unlikely warriors.  
   
 


  But what David pinpointed as the heart of the book is the moment when the outcast prince assumes the mantle of kingship. That moment is not on a tower, not on a battlefield, but in a small cave when he accepts the gift (and responsibility) of the king’s sword made for him by the loyal Narnians. About 25 sketches later—including the one here that shows a forge David decided was much too sophisticated for a cave—you see the stunning final jacket for Prince Caspian.  


   
 


  All of these examples of the “making of the jackets” for The Chronicles of Narnia are a testament not only to the popularity, richness, and impact of C. S. Lewis’s series, but also the art of illustration when it is in the hands of a master.  





 
The Chronicles of Narnia®, Narnia® and all book titles, characters and locales original to The Chronicles of Narnia are trademarks of C.S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. Use without permission is strictly prohibited.