Coming Soon! Charles’s Story in a Picture Book
New Resource to Help Calm Children in this Time of Crisis
Since the pandemic began, a lot of children have been struggling with how to cope. Charles’s Bridge may be just the tool they need.
“Charles’s Bridge is a beautiful and inspiring tribute to the power of imagination, human creativity and the power of art. The story shows us how even in times of greatest adversity, nature and natural materials can be a source of inspiration and sustain hope. A must-read for children and families especially in current times.”
–-Girija Kaimal, Associate Professor, PhD, Department of Creative Arts Therapies, Drexel University; President-Elect, American Art Therapy Association
(Detroit, MI) – Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we’ve heard the phrases, “The new normal,” and “Life will never be the same” again and again. Flash back to the year 1938, and the crisis facing families in Czechoslovakia, and throughout Europe, was the arrival of armed soldiers and not far behind them the beginning of World War II.
When Charles’s Bridge, a new picture book by Detroit resident Sandra Novacek begins, the soldiers have just arrived in Czechoslovakia. Young Charles Novacek and his family are told they must leave. To Charles’s dismay, he can only bring “necessities,” which means leaving his beloved art supplies behind.
Without his friends, paints, and brushes, Charles feels homesick and alone. The only place he finds solace is the forest where he looks for hiding places to store supplies for his family during wartime. Then one day, a majestic stone bridge with carved statues catches his eye.
Charles longs to paint the beautiful bridge, but with no supplies, that’s impossible—until inspiration strikes. Making paints from clay, herbs, and vegetables, and brushes from branches and pussy willows, he paints the bridge—and forgets his homesickness for a while.
The children’s picture book, Charles’s Bridge, was inspired by the author’s realization that her husband’s personal story had the potential to help other children learn how to use art to calm and soothe them in times of crisis. Beautifully illustrated, this book includes a reproduction of Charles’s painting, and an Author’s Note. This book is written for children in Preschool through 3rd grade.
Charles’s Bridge is scheduled for release on January 12, 2021, and has already received several positive advance reviews. Midwest Book Review’s senior reviewer D. Donovan said, “Charles’s Bridge holds a magical story with a powerful lesson for all ages, and is a much-needed positive perspective in dark times. As the color evolves both in Charles’s life and in the artwork in the book, so hope equally rises in his readers.”
“Charles’s Bridge is a beautiful and inspiring tribute to the power of imagination, human creativity and the power of art. The story shows us how even in times of greatest adversity, nature and natural materials can be a source of inspiration and sustain hope. A must-read for children and families especially in current times,” said Girija Kaimal, Associate Professor, PhD, Department of Creative Arts Therapies, Drexel University; President-Elect, American Art Therapy Association.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sandra Novacek is a librarian, writer, publisher, activist, and award-winning public library director. Charles’s Bridge, her first picture book, is based on actual events from her late husband’s life during World War II. Sandra lives in Detroit, Michigan, and enjoys travel and collecting dragonfly pins.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Nicole Lapointe is a Detroit-area freelance artist whose main focus is digital illustration, but she also dabbles in multiple art mediums including stained glass, painting and photography. Her most recent illustrated book is the award winning Rosie: A Detroit Herstory.
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