Victoria and the Golden Bird
Earliest known original book and her only listed fantasy novel.
Author guide
Pauline Baynes Books in Order
Pauline Diana Baynes (1922–2008) was an English illustrator, author, and editor of children's and religious books. She illustrated all seven Chronicles of Narnia books and several works by J. R. R. Tolkien, including Farmer Giles of Ham and The Adventures of Tom Bombadil. Her own books range from children's fantasy and animal stories to biblical picture books, prayer collections, a creed, and a fantastical bestiary.
children's literaturefantasyreligious literatureillustrated booksnonfiction
Catalog record updated .
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
Questionable Creatures
A distinctive late work showcasing her original writing and illustration.
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (1)
- Victoria and the Golden Bird
novel · 1948
Children's books (7)
- How Dog Began
picture-book · 1985
- The Song of the Three Holy Children
religious-picture-book · 1986
Apocryphal insertions to the Book of Daniel, in which Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who have been cast into a fiery furnace by Nebuchadnezzar, call upon the angels, all things in nature, and people to praise the Lord.
- Good King Wenceslas
religious-picture-book · 1987
Beautifully illustrated in rich, glowing colours, this is the exciting story behind the well-known carol of Good King Wenceslas. The words and music of the carol are also included.
- Noah and the Ark
religious-picture-book · 1988
- In the Beginning
religious-picture-book · 1990
- The Elephant's Ball
picture-book · 2007
A rhyming story about a grand party in the forest, given by the elephant and attended by all the animals.
- Psalm 8: How Excellent is Thy Name!
religious-picture-book · 2007
Edited works (1)
- Thanks Be to God: Prayers from Around the World
anthology · 1990
An illustrated collection of prayers from England, Japan, India, and other nations.
Other (2)
- I Believe: The Nicene Creed
religious-book · 2003
- Questionable Creatures
bestiary · 2006
Frequently asked questions about Pauline Baynes
Who was Pauline Baynes?
Pauline Baynes (1922–2008) was an English illustrator and author, born in Hove and raised partly in India. She became especially known for her work on fantasy and children’s books.
Sources: paulinebaynes.com (opens in a new tab)theguardian.com (opens in a new tab)
How did Pauline Baynes become linked to Tolkien and C. S. Lewis?
J. R. R. Tolkien noticed Baynes’s artwork and selected her to illustrate Farmer Giles of Ham. Their collaboration led to her association with C. S. Lewis, whose Chronicles of Narnia she illustrated.
Sources: paulinebaynes.com (opens in a new tab)theguardian.com (opens in a new tab)
Which artists influenced Pauline Baynes?
Baynes cited her elder sister as an early influence, along with Edmund Dulac, Rex Whistler, Arthur Rackham, Gustave Doré, E. H. Shepard, and the French illustrator known as Job. Medieval manuscript illumination also shaped her distinctive style.
What award did Pauline Baynes win?
Baynes won the 1968 Kate Greenaway Medal for her illustrations for Grant Uden’s A Dictionary of Chivalry. The award recognized distinguished illustration in a children’s book.
Sources: paulinebaynes.com (opens in a new tab)theguardian.com (opens in a new tab)carnegiegreenaway.org.uk (opens in a new tab)
What is Pauline Baynes’s legacy?
Baynes’s illustrations became an enduring part of how readers visualize Narnia and Tolkien’s imagined worlds. Her papers, including artwork, correspondence, sketchbooks, and notebooks, are preserved in the Williams College collections for continued study.
Sources: paulinebaynes.com (opens in a new tab)archivesspace.williams.edu (opens in a new tab)theguardian.com (opens in a new tab)