Artist Paul Schexnayder’s painting of a Trojan horse, a king, and a blue monkey in a boat developed into his first book, In the Time of Joy and Wonder (2017), which told the fantastical tale of these three characters and their discovery of an abandoned boat with a young oak tree sapling stowed inside. In the Time of Shimmer and Light precludes this story of the mighty love oak tree. Queen Ida Peacock, Sir Galatoire Gator, and Tin Toy Hare are all living on a happy island home. A strange object floating in the water brings pride and envy to the island. A dark cloud of doom hangs in the air. However, Queen Ida has a plan to restore the peace, setting off the beginning of this three book series.