September 9, 1999
Web posted at: 6:45 p.m. EDT (2245 GMT)

(CNN) -- Well known children's book illustrator Kathryn Hewitt has teamed up with the J. Paul Getty Museum for her latest project, "Marguerite Makes a Book," the story of a girl in 1420s Paris who helps her father illuminate a manuscript.

Hewitt says she was approached by Getty Senior Editor John Harris, shortly after a children's book fair in Bologna. He saw her illustrations, learned she lived in California, and contacted her when he returned.

The Getty's illuminated manuscript collection was the inspiration for the project. Hewitt and Harris decided it would be fun to show young people how books were made in medieval times.

Bruce Robertson, an art historian, was recruited to write the text.

"Bruce came up with the plot, to have a young girl help her father complete an important commission," Hewitt says.

The story isn't actually based on any story associated with a manuscript at the Getty, but a book of hours made around 1420 in Paris was the inspiration.

The book of hours is illuminated with marguerite daisies, and that led to the young heroine's name. Hewitt said she incorporated some of those same daisies into the pages of "Marguerite Makes a Book."

Since most young readers will not be familiar with some of the terms of a 15th century illuminator, the book includes a glossary of technical terms to help them along.

Real people were used as models for almost all the characters. Marguerite is based on a 12-year-old girl named Daisy who lives in Hewitt's neighborhood.

Many of the other characters are based on Getty Staff members. Harris, who edited the book appears as Master Raymond, the libraire. He helped cast other Getty employees in other character roles.

Hewitt said it is likely that a young woman in 1420 would have been allowed to help her father.

"There were girls who were apprentices and women who were professional illuminators. In fact, I've discovered in my research for other books that women had wider roles in the workplace in the Middle Ages than we might assume, especially compared to other times in history," she says.

In total, "Marguerite Makes a Book" took Hewitt a year to sketch and paint the book's illustrations. The 48 page book contains 46 color illustrations, and will be released by the Getty in October of this year.

Hewitt's previous works include "Lives of the Artists" and "Lives of the Musicians."