Ashoka the Fierce
Written by Carolyn Kanjuro | Published by Balakids books | Designed by Kara Plikaitis
As a boy, Ashoka was overlooked as a successor to his father, the emperor. He grew to become arrogant, impatient, and above all, angry. Wanting nothing more than to be king, Ashoka learned to be cunning, and when he finally managed to ascend to the throne, he was eager for war. But after a particularly brutal battle, Ashoka was heartbroken and haunted by the death and devastation he had caused. This moment marked a momentous change of heart.
Ashoka’s inspiring story of transformation shows that we are all capable of overcoming our strongest emotions and being of service to make the world a better place.
I researched 600 AD India extensively to help create a sense of time and place. I looked into script, architecture, sculpture and textile; anything I could find. These small details helped shape the larger image. Above, a peacock with a spiral next to it found on gateway made during Ashoka’s reign signifies the unfurling of a scroll. I used it on the jacket flaps. The peacock is also what Ashoka’s empire was named after – Maurya. Below a bit of script, a stupa and a piece of relief from a pillar formed the edge of an illustration. Research was great fun to do for this book and played such a huge part in the decisions I made. I would enjoy doing another book set in the past, just to be able to time travel for a few days.
Sonali Zohra 