Fans of Fairlight illustrator Ione Krainyk's book, “Penelope; The House of Pretend” can now make a play date at the very playhouse that inspired the book.
“Come and experience the magic of our prairie playhouse beyond the pages of the book,” says Krainyk. “It's a true labour of love, just like the book that it inspired.”
The playhouse's true story is recounted in “Penelope: Our House of Pretend,” a children's book released in November 2014 and co-created by Krainyk and her sisters, Zelda Luchenski of Regina and Nona McMillan of Ottawa. The book is a lively account of the sisters' childhood memories and a touching tribute to their grandparents.
“It's a children's book about a playhouse,” says Krainyk. “But it's also a true story. My grandfather lost his arm in a combine accident. My grandparents-Albin and Lily Carlberg-moved into Fillmore with my mom and her three little girls when my dad left. The biggest part of that story is that family connection and the playhouse symbolizes that.”
“My grandpa built that playhouse for us,” adds Krainyk. “My grandparents had 18 grandchildren all within seven miles of Fillmore. We played in it, we had birthday parties in it. Later on, it became a bunkhouse at White Bear Lake and my grandma had set it up with two double beds and two little camp beds, so six of us could sleep there. When my grandma passed away, the playhouse went back to Fillmore and became my mom's garden shed.”
“When my mom was passing away, she made me promise to take it and use it as a playhouse for her great-grandchildren to play in, and now, it's in my yard. My grandchildren play in it and so do another group of children who've read the story of Penelope.”
“Interest in visiting the playhouse has actually grown by word-of-mouth,” says Krainyk. “We've had visitors-young and older-from as far away as London, England. People who used to live in Fairlight, or people from elsewhere who have received he book as a gift have come to see the playhouse.”
“In the case of younger visitors, they'll come to have a play, or a tea party or to dress up with costumes from the tickle trunk, or all three,” adds Krainyk.
“I've been collecting all kinds of dress-up clothes, costumes and shoes since my grandaughter was born and I have lots of costumes in all sizes for girls and boys.”
“My husband Richard made me a shop in the yard, where I do a lot of my work. But part of it is converted to a dressing room, so kids can get changed there and head back into the playhouse in costume.”
Roxann Waelchli's daughter and niece recently enjoyed a Penelope playdate, and Waelchli says, “It was wonderful. The girls just loved it. Both of them received the book for Christmas and they were very familiar with Penelope's story.”
“As soon as they saw the playhouse, they said, 'That's Penelope!' They knew right away.”
“They dressed up and had a little tea party while they were there. The playhouse was jammed with stuff for them to play with and (Ione) never made a fuss; she just wanted them to have fun-and they did.”
Bev Moore of Carlyle is Krainyk's cousin and one of Albin and Lily's grandchildren. She appears in the book and says the most important themes of Penelope-the book and the playhouse-are family and memories.
“I remember staying in the playhouse at White Bear with some girlfriends from Regina,” says Moore. “Grandma always seemed to find room for one more person in the playhouse. Grandpa built it with only one arm. We were all so involved with them growing up and it's the memories of Grandpa's playhouse. Our whole family has memories of it.”
“It's a very family-focused book.”
Krainyk agrees. “I felt very close to my grandpa when I was working on the book's illustrations,” she says. “It was a real emotional rollercoaster. The love of my entire family and my children really inspired me.”
“After Grandpa lost his arm in a combine accident, he built the playhouse. I remember sitting on the boards with him as he built it, so in that sense it's a very personal story,” adds Krainyk. “But it's also a very universal story, I think. Our family played in the playhouse, held birthday parties in it...In the book, we also include things like weiner roasts, and funny things from the past, like Beatles posters on the wall and baby-doll pyjamas. These are things that a lot of people can remember or relate to.”
“It's not just our family, though,” she says. “My grandparents touched a lot of people during their lives, and some of those people appear in the book, too.”
“In many ways, it's a very universal and modern story, wrapped up in an old-fashioned package.”
“Actually, the book got going when my sisters and I were having a little tea party in the playhouse,” continues Krainyk. “We were talking and remembering and we decided to do a book to preserve these stories, if only for our own family. We started in October 2013 and I did the drawings, using pencil crayons. My sisters co-wrote the story and I think for all of us, it's been a real labour of love.”
“Penelope: The House of Pretend” is the first of three hardcover, rhyming books illustrated by Krainyk and co-written by her sisters, Zelda Luchenski and Nona McMillan. The trio paid homage to their grandparents by publishing the story under their first and middle names: Ione Rae, Zelda Gaye and Nona Faye.
“The next two books are still in the works,” says Krainyk. “Like 'Penelope,' they're true stories, right down to the names of our pets.”
“'A Pigeon Named Dove' is about a pigeon my grandpa found. It's a real 'If you love something set it free' story. Our third book is called 'I See the Moon'. It's an old song Grandma used to sing with us. It's about farm memories and family.”
“The feedback for 'Penelope' has just been amazing. We're all very happy with the way the book's turned out and we're very proud of it.”
“And now the playhouse has a new lease on life, too.”
To arrange a playdate or to purchase a copy of “Penelope: The House of Pretend” contact Krainyk at: (306)-646-7738 or at ione.krainyk@icloud.com
Krainyk will also be at Kenosee Lake's Red Barn Sundays throughout the season to sign copies of her book.
