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Chris Raschka on Home at Last

h1 September 13th, 2016 by jules



Chris: “Perhaps our best time together was on my second visit when we spent two long days side by side on her sun porch, each in our own wicker chair.
Vera drew all day, and much of the night.”


 

It’s a pleasure to share some thoughts and images from Chris Raschka today. Just this month, Greenwillow Books released Home at Last, written by Vera B. Williams and illustrated by Chris. This was the last book Vera worked on before her death last October. You may have seen the wonderful Horn Book cover story from the May/June issue of this year, in which Lydie Raschka, Chris’s wife, writes about their collaboration. Today, Chris shares a bit more, including some of Vera’s sketches for the book. (His paintings for the book are based on her sketches.)

The story is about a boy, adopted by two dads, and the boy’s efforts to acclimate himself to his new life. It is tender and heartbreaking but, ultimately, joyful. I thank Chris for sharing a bit about the process today. I find it fascinating to see, in particular, the early sketches and Vera’s own drawings. Let’s get right to it.



 


Chris: “I like Vera’s cane. This is in Vera’s beautiful backyard with the Delaware River floating peacefully by. Later in the afternoon it will shimmer.”
(Click to enlarge image)


 


Chris: “Our hands are nearly identical. …”
(Click to enlarge image and read rest of text)


 


Chris: “Our first work session …”
(Click to enlarge image and read rest of text)


 



Chris: “Vera spoke and I drew …”
(Click each image to enlarge)


 


Chris: “I tried to draw just enough that Vera and I would remember
what we talked about but not more.”
(Click to enlarge image)


 


Chris: “After our first afternoon together, I reorganized the spreads a bit
and filled out the design.”
(Click to enlarge image)


 




Chris: “At first, we thought we might do the book entirely in pen.”
(Click each image to enlarge)


 


(Click to enlarge image)


 



 


Chris: “This is Vera’s drawing which you can compare to
the finished art at the end of this picture collection.”
(Click to enlarge image)


 


(Click to enlarge image)


 



 


Chris: “This is our last session together. …”
(Click to enlarge and read rest of text)


 



 


(Click to enlarge)


 




Chris: “These are the sample renderings of Vera’s drawings.”
(Click first image to enlarge)


 


Chris: “From the final layout …”
(Click to enlarge image)


 


Chris: “I love these drawings, some of the last drawings Vera ever made.”
(Click to enlarge image)


 


Chris: “When Vera cuts and pastes …”
(Click to enlarge image and read rest of text)


 


Chris: “This was taken after our breakfast in Narrowsburg during my first visit.”
(Click to enlarge image)


 



 



 


Chris: “From the finished book …”
(Click to enlarge image)


 

* * * * * * *

HOME AT LAST. Text copyright © 2016 by the Estate of Vera B. Williams. Illustrations copyright © 2016 by Chris Raschka and the Estate of Vera B. Williams. Published by Greenwillow Books, New York. All images reproduced by permission of Chris Raschka.





3 comments to “Chris Raschka on Home at Last”

  1. This book (and the story behind it) is full of heart, leaving me with a big smilie, knowing that the world once held someone as special as Vera WIlliams. Thanks for telling the whole story.

         by Robin Smith September 14th, 2016 at 5:52 pm

  2. Wow. This is what the internet is for! How lovely. Thank you so much for sharing. 🙂

         by Elizabeth Dulemba September 15th, 2016 at 8:21 am

  3. […] Just out is his moving collaboration with the late great Vera B. Williams’ Home at Last. This is such a real story of adoption, family, and the smallest things that children struggle with — worry, sleeping, etc. Williams and Raschka collaborated on this book up to her death and then Raschka fullfilled her vision beautifully. A warm and lovely book. (You can learn more about the book and the creators’ collaboration here.) […]

         by Two Titles from Chris Raschka | educating alice October 30th, 2016 at 4:10 am

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