Winner of the Schneider Book Award and 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.---from the publisher
40 pages 978-0593697658 Ages 4-8
Keywords: winter, new experiences, trying new things, ice festival, sculptors, art, lost toy, disabilities, wheelchair, comfort zone, reassurance, 4 year old, 5 year old, 6 year old, 7 year old, 8 year old, Schneider Book Award
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Who among us doesn't know the feeling of not wanting to go to a new place or have a new experience. We have no idea if we will know what to do there or if we will even want to be there.
Our young hero here is having that kind of a day. She doesn't want to go. But her mom wants them to go visit an ice festival. We're talking winter and we're talking cold enough that ice won't melt. Hmmmm....
So they climb into the van and arrive. Lots of people. Lots of noise. Too much cold wind. You know the feelings. She tucks her plastic horse into her pocket for company and they head out.
Why would anyone bother to make an ice sculpture when you know it's just going to melt. This is just a big bummer and it gets worse when they get home.
But you know what? This book is a tricky little character. It holds magic. You might not expect it but you're going to turn a page and get drawn into a world of wonder. You might even discover some magic that is meant only for you.
We wait for those moments in life. When it seems like the world is really seeing you and giving you an amazing gift that you just can't believe has been delivered magically into your life... just for you.
The disabilities in this book are not a major player, They are there and all the sharp eyed listeners will see them. But this book is really about how all of us need to try new things and all of us can have that amazing magical moment. This one will touch you.
Recommended by; Barb Langridge, abookandahug.com
