Guest Book Review from Art Instructor, •Christa Mecham•

Because my dear friend/art instructor/and Summer Art Camp collaborator, Christa Mecham (pictured above and below), happily suffers from the same space-consuming habit of acquiring picture books as I do...


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...I've invited Christa to be our  guest book reviewer this summer.
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Christa still has young readers (a.k.a. avid sponges) in her home with whom she can snuggle over exquisite titles. 


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(A little glimpse into her personal book display, above. She rotates the titles seasonally for her kiddos. Once a teacher, always a teacher at heart, right?)


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​Christa says:

"There are two things that I spend my personal money on: books and flowers. And as an artist, when going to a garden center, I have a really hard time not buying all the colors!"

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And have I mentioned Christa's wicked artistic skills? She's a former art instructor at a local private school--before taking a maternity break to bring her ginger-haired little wonder-of-a-daughter into the world. Kudos! There is no more important work than that. And so fun for our summer camp students taking her week-long course in world celebrations and architecture and authors this July, as Christa has her BFA in architecture from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
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Christa is one of those people who just makes life more delightful for everyone. I mean, do not these creations of hers below just make you involuntarily smile?!!

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The googly eyes do it for us every time, right?

Ms. Mecham--as her students call her--is one who loans out stacks of books from her personal library, shares away duplicate copies, gives out-of-print or rare book gems for birthdays, and designs her corner of the world to be a little more colorful by planting tulips and poppies in her flowerbeds around her cottage-in-the-woods to be a bastion of light and joy for all who encounter her home. Let's just say Barbara Cooney's Miss Rumphius would find this woman has made life more beautiful for many, as well as providing the best literature for her children, friends, and anyone needing good book titles for their family.

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​So without further rambling, here are the delectable titles artist Christa Mecham has chosen to inspire the child within us, and comfort and connect with those we love who can still fit into our laps.

Behold...Christa's picks, for the rest of this review, in her own words:

1) The Hidden House

Written by Martin Waddell,
Illustrated by Angela Barrett

​What do the woods,
cozy homes, and
shadows all have in common?
You're about to find out...

Discover the enchanting world of “The Hidden House,” a delightful children’s book that will captivate young readers with its charming story and exquisite illustrations.

​Published in 1990, this gem by the author of the beloved “Owl Babies” invites you into the life of a wood carver who creates three life-size dolls—Winnaker, Maisie, and Ralph—to keep him company in his quaint garden-surrounded home. 

Angela Barrett’s illustrations bring these dolls to life, infusing them with unique personalities as the dolls appear to be animated when the carver is away. 

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​The story unfolds with a simple yet magical narrative: the carver leaves one day never to return, and nature gradually reclaims the house, with  a tree growing in the kitchen and small animals finding homes in its nooks. 

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The muted, detailed illustrations evoke a warm, comforting feeling, leading up to a heartwarming conclusion. 

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​​After many years, a family of three stumbles upon the overgrown house, and with love and care, they restore it to its former glory, along with the dolls. The dolls, placed in front of a bay window, become central to the story, expressing their emotions as the house transforms. 


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“The Hidden House” is a beautifully illustrated tale that celebrates the magic of imagination and the joy of making a house a home. It is a simple story with a very satisfying ending. 

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​2) Shadow Chasers 

Written and Illustrated
by Elly Mackay

Elly MacKay’s “Shadow Chasers” is a magical journey that will captivate young readers' sense of curiosity.  Known for her enchanting illustrations, MacKay uses watercolor and inks on transparent papers to craft miniature, illuminated worlds, with the help of...

​colored lights--using her own homemade miniature theater.

I find the process that MacKay creates, with her unique cut-out and photographed illustrations (rather than drawing and painting an image directly onto a page), makes her books  glow.
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​In “Shadow Chasers,” the story unfolds showing a full day of young children exploring in the woods, finding shadows and live animals here and there. 



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The book begins starting from the warm glow of morning light, to the red-purple mid-day sun heat, and ends with a soft, blue foggy glow of twilight, speckled with fireflies, creating a truly magical scene. 

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The whimsical, dream-like illustrations follow carefree children as they create shadows of birds and butterflies using their hands, where some of these shadows may come to life as they
go on a walk in the woods.
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This book beautifully captures a child’s memory and a moment in time, offering a playful and happy story that will leave readers feeling truly magical. Don’t miss the chance to experience Elly MacKay’s artistry and storytelling in this delightful tale!



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3) Home in the Woods 

Written and Illustrated
by Eliza Wheeler

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​“Home in the Woods” by Eliza Wheeler is likely my favorite modern book. I was so captivated by it that I bought several copies for friends, knowing they would enjoy it too.


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The story begins with an illustration that lists the actual names and ages of all eight children (one of these girls being the narrator--named Marvel--the real-life grandmother to the author, Eliza Wheeler).

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The widowed mother, starts anew after loss, with minimal necessities. The bleak situation
must have been daunting for her. Despite having little, she and her family rely on 
each other, the woods, ​and plenty of courage--for shelter, food, and entertainment throughout the year.

I can imagine that the majority of this woman's time "home in the woods," was spent
growing, canning, and preparing nourishing meals
for her passel of children. 

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I also have a  great respect for single parents, who raise their children all on their own--sometimes having one, two, or even three jobs, just to get by in order to give their children the best possible life they can.

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This book follows the family through each season, illustrating how they work together to clean up
a small shack in the woods and make it their own, grow their own food, and
​find fun without toys.

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​One memorable game they play is “General Store,” a carefree and imaginative activity that evokes childhood memories of outdoor joy and creativity. One of my own fond memories from being a child is of playing outside all day in the warm summer sunshine, creating things from nature, like little clay pots from clay dug in the ground. These pots and doll-size dishes would dry in the hot sun all day and then I would decorate them with the juice from berries. 

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Eliza Wheeler’s illustrations are not only beautiful but also well-organized, offering a variety of artistic perspectives. For example, the first illustration is a photograph, while the third shows a bird’s-eye view of their new home’s interior. Pages with text often depict cherished finds, like sticks for the stove, fish for meals, and berries.  A treasure hunt of “gems” from the forest! 


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I admire (the author/illustrator's) use of designing each illustration, depicting emphasis, through her control of light. She highlights the most memorable moments for the main character, named Marvel, such as the vibrant colors of the harvest gathered from the garden in autumn, contrasting with the dull surroundings. Eliza Wheeler whimsically created a table of nourishing food...
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a feast for the eyes! 

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​In winter, the soft glow of a wood stove fire illuminates the family’s faces as they enjoy hot drinks, learn to read and sew, and spend time together, during long wintery days. 

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​To share a personal note, halfway through my teenage years, my own mother became a single mom. I can relate to the struggles and hardships the little narrator, Marvel, and her family must have endured. Despite being a middle-class family, I vividly recall a summer when my mother worked three jobs: her full-time job as an elementary school teacher, and two part-time jobs during the summer break.


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As an adult, I deeply appreciate and applaud her hard work, both professionally and at home. And am grateful for my mom's strength in keeping our family together while raising me and my twin sister. Today, my mother is remarried, and we all continue to be a strong and happy family. However, without her unwavering determination to maintain a stable and loving family, I believe our lives would have taken a different turn. My mother is truly an amazing person whom I have always admired, and is the kind of person I strive to be.

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Four year-old Christa (left), with her mom and twin sister when they lived in England for a bit.

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Eliza Wheeler has crafted a wholesome story about the simple pleasures of living in the woods and how this large family thrived by their mother's resilience to rely on the forest--keeping her family thriving, by making their “Home in the Woods”  a special place. 


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Emily Reynolds here again. Christa, THANK YOU SO MUCH for whisking us away onto the spongy moss path of the woods. We could almost hear the rustling of the trees,  nearly lick the berry juicy stains from our fingers, and practically breathe in the tangy scent of pine sap, as we strive to find meaning in life while providing for our own families. I'm so grateful for  inspired creators, like you, who share this wild life with us all through their artwork, and children's literature

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​Let us know if any of you readers were already familiar
with those three titles we highlighted above. And if 
YOU have favorite treasured children's picture or
chapter books to recommend to the rest of us to
bring our families joy during the wondrous summer
months ahead... 

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​Sunny summer reading ahead, bookish friends!
​Love,
Emily (and Christa!)

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