A Little Like Magic

Ages 4 to 8, Grades P to 3

Glistening with winter charm, this is an exhilarating, tender story of pushing past your comfort zone and finding inspiration in art and natural beauty.

Our young narrator doesn’t like itchy hats or cold wind, and she especially doesn’t like going places she’s never been before. But she reluctantly agrees to join her mom at an ice festival, where they watch sculptors chisel and drill until it’s too cold to watch anymore. That night the girl discovers that she has lost the horse figurine she’d brought with her, and she wishes she’d never gone . . . until the next night, when they return to the festival and see what the artists have created: sparkling, glorious sculptures that feel a little like magic. One surprise in particular seems even more magical to the girl. The ice art will stay with her long, long after it has melted away.

About the Author

Sarah Kurpiel is a librarian and self-taught author/illustrator. Her stories are inspired by animals, nature, and moments of wonder, such as the magical ice festival held in her hometown when she was a kid. She is the creator of several picture books, including Lone Wolf and Snake’s Big Mistake. Sarah hopes her work brings a bit of happiness into the world—and a bit of disability representation too. She uses a power wheelchair and considers her disability an important part of her identity. She lives with her family in Downers Grove, Illinois.

Author Residence: Downers Grove, IL