Eucalyptus Wings

with paintings by Demi

Atheneum, 1992

Eucalyptus Wings, is a story of magic and friendship. Drawing from early childhood memories of a swing that her father built high in a eucalyptus tree in their back yard, James wrote a story about two girls who find a magical cocoon that for just one night, gives them the ability to fly. When the magic is finished, they are left with the realization that it will never happen again. Their seemingly endless joy is suddenly like the rubber pieces of a popped balloon: lifeless. But when Kiria goes back home, she discovers the swing that her father has been making for her: “a swing with ropes so long it will give you wings!”

Well-known artist Demi created her well-known delicately detailed pen-and-ink art over a watery wash that portrays the landscape. The book gleams with the light of gold ink on many of the pages. Her art helps to convey the theme of fully appreciating a moment. James put it this way: “Sometimes we have an experience that is unrepeatable. Eucalyptus Wings is about allowing that experience to internalize, to become part of the story that makes us who we are.”