Written by Sarah Carter
Art by Juka
Project Description
This picture book helps children process the nature of life and death while offering hope, depth, and faith.
Little Alice has a lush garden with a majestic old orange tree and many critter friends.
Alice and her uncle Chris spend hours exploring nature, picking fruits, vegetables, and herbs, and coming up with answers to some of life’s biggest mysteries.
One evening while Uncle Chris is over for dinner, Alice’s dad announces that he’ll be spraying the orange tree with pesticides first thing in the morning, and all of Alice’s dear critter friends will be in danger.
Uncle Chris and Alice set out with a wagon full of mason jars to save the caterpillars. He teaches her that in nature every living thing is interconnected, and nothing really dies - it just becomes something different.
When tragedy befalls Uncle Chris, Alice draws the connection between the metamorphosing caterpillars in their cocoons and her beloved uncle.
Chrisalice is a colorful, dreamy, and poetic picture book that will help children process the nature of life and death in a way that honors their natural emotional intelligence. It offers hope, depth, and faith while bringing a sense of wonder, lightness, and play to tender times of transition.
“In our dreams, we can wrap our spirits around the roots of every tree on the planet to listen for wisdom and guidance,” he told her.
Sarah Carter
SARAH CARTER is a talented creative visionary, known for her diverse contributions to the arts as a writer, filmmaker, and musician. With a career marked by collaborations with industry icons and a passion for storytelling, Sarah has crafted narratives that resonate with audiences of all ages.
Inspired by her three-year-old daughter's profound perspective on life, Sarah embarked on a heartfelt journey to create stories that celebrate the beauty of resilience and the power of love. Her latest venture as a children's book author draws from personal experiences, including the loss of a loved one to addiction, inspiring a message of hope and understanding for young readers.
Throughout her career, Sarah has embraced the transformative nature of storytelling, infusing her work with compassion, wisdom, and a deep appreciation for the human spirit. Her commitment to sharing simple truths that inspire empathy and connection shines through in her writing, reflecting a belief in the healing power of art.
Her success as an actor led to a growing interest in writing, directing, and producing. As the CEO of her own production company, Cheshire Moon Productions, Sarah premiered her directorial debut feature film, "In Her Name," at the Tribeca Film Festival, where it won an Audience Award and was selected for wide release with Giant Pictures and Drafthouse. This success paved the way for continued achievements, with projects like "A Pity" and "Girl Who Needed a Ride" currently in development.
With a background rooted in creativity and a dedication to uplifting narratives, Sarah Carter continues to honor her career milestones while embarking on a new chapter as a children's book author. She weaves tales of resilience and love for young hearts to cherish, all while honoring the child’s natural emotional intelligence, recognition of higher truth, and capacity to survive and grow through the darkest and most challenging moments in life.
Collaborators
JUKA
JUKA is a multimedia and interdisciplinary artist born and raised in Brazil. His practice explores storytelling through poetry, sculpture, illustration, film, and digital technologies. He has worked on 13 published children’s and youth’s books and was nominated for the Brazilian National Literature Prize (Jabuti) 3 times. During his time in Brazil, he also worked as an educator, supporting schools and developing curriculums based on multidisciplinary artistic practices, Paulo Freire’s theories and Brazilian folklore.
About his own work, Juka shares, “My work is created through a physical process. A process that summonses and amalgamates the various essences and heritages of my being. Different aspects and characters that take front stage, at different times, in different projects, at different moments, contribute to an endless path of discovery and growth. A recurring metamorphosis and adaptation that are essential to both my work and sense of self. I am undefined by nature, open to explore what is presented today, yesterday, and tomorrow.” Read more of Juka’s manifesto here.
Juka recently completed his MFA in Interdisciplinary Art, Media and Design at OCAD University (2022). He was awarded the University Medal and President's Award for best MFA for his installation "The E(X)U behind the mask(s)". Juka is currently based in Vancouver, unceded and ancestral territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
You can check out more of Juka’s work at https://www.jukaart.com/
