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A Little Like Magic
40 pages, Hardcover
Published October 15, 2024
3 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Kurpiel
7 books26 followersSarah Kurpiel is a librarian and picture book author/illustrator from the Midwest. Her stories are inspired by animals, nature, and everyday life. Instagram:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
December 5, 2024
This was a truly beautiful #ownvoices picture book about a young girl who uses a motorized wheelchair and her dislike of winter. Told over the course of a couple days when she and her mother visit a winter ice sculpture festival, we get to know what it's like to experience the cold weather and winter through her eyes. Gorgeously illustrated by the author, this is a tender, moving read and I enjoyed it immensely!!
December 27, 2024
A very sweet book about pushing past your comfort zone. My girls loved the winter setting and the familiarity of losing a favorite toy. I personally appreciated that main character in this book uses a wheelchair and it’s never mentioned or explained. My mom was in a wheelchair while I grew up and it would have meant SO much to see a character like this living and going about life.
January 27, 2025
2025 Schneider Family Book Award Winner for Young Children’s Literature!
February 11, 2025
Reading age
5 - 8 years
Schneider Family Book Award for Young Children (2025)
5 - 8 years
Schneider Family Book Award for Young Children (2025)
January 28, 2025
I want to go see gigantic sculpture created out of ice. I loved the kid’s crankiness. It is often easier to just stay home with the familiar The wheelchair rep in this is great. But give that kid more blankets to cuddle under. My husband likes to point out that he needs added insulation in the cold as he is not using his large muscles to keep his temp up.
February 7, 2025
The way I teared up and got so emotional when she saw the foal!
January 17, 2025
Magic indeed! This heartwarming story is simply told and beautifully illustrated.
November 4, 2024
What a beautiful picture book, a quiet yet mighty sensory and emotional experience that lots of kids and adults will understand.
February 28, 2025
The Winner of this year's Schneider Family Book Award.
Kurpiel's beautiful story reminds me of an ice festival that I went to during the pandemic. The artists were chipping away and creating some spectacular ice works in a small town; we also went back to see the finished pieces in place. What a magical experience it was!
A young girl and her mother go to see a nearby ice festival being set up. The girl does not want to go. She does not like to be cold. She does not like unfamiliar places. Her mother takes her anyway. She feels lost in the sea of people while there, comforted by her mother's presence. They watch the artists create many pieces that will be on display during the festival, even though they know they will melt away. She realizes she dropped her favorite toy - a small plastic horse - somewhere along the way. That night, they return to the festival to see the beauty of the ice sculptures lit up. She sees another in the distance, so zooms in her wheelchair to see that it is an ice horse and below it is her beloved toy.
Kurpiel's text reads as if actual thoughts or diary entry of the girl. They were full of raw emotion, fleeting thoughts, and her perspective. I spotted the horse just after she dropped it and wondered how she was going to get it back; Kurpils's solution was just perfect. Growth of the girl in the story is evident in her turnaround about the impermanence of the art. The story was loosely inspired by one of Kurpiel's memories.
Illustrations were sketched first with pencil on paper. She added details to the artwork based on research in microfilm copies of local newspaper reports (from her library); they helped inform the story. Final artwork was created digitally.
Highly Recommended for Preschool-grade2.
Kurpiel's beautiful story reminds me of an ice festival that I went to during the pandemic. The artists were chipping away and creating some spectacular ice works in a small town; we also went back to see the finished pieces in place. What a magical experience it was!
A young girl and her mother go to see a nearby ice festival being set up. The girl does not want to go. She does not like to be cold. She does not like unfamiliar places. Her mother takes her anyway. She feels lost in the sea of people while there, comforted by her mother's presence. They watch the artists create many pieces that will be on display during the festival, even though they know they will melt away. She realizes she dropped her favorite toy - a small plastic horse - somewhere along the way. That night, they return to the festival to see the beauty of the ice sculptures lit up. She sees another in the distance, so zooms in her wheelchair to see that it is an ice horse and below it is her beloved toy.
Kurpiel's text reads as if actual thoughts or diary entry of the girl. They were full of raw emotion, fleeting thoughts, and her perspective. I spotted the horse just after she dropped it and wondered how she was going to get it back; Kurpils's solution was just perfect. Growth of the girl in the story is evident in her turnaround about the impermanence of the art. The story was loosely inspired by one of Kurpiel's memories.
Illustrations were sketched first with pencil on paper. She added details to the artwork based on research in microfilm copies of local newspaper reports (from her library); they helped inform the story. Final artwork was created digitally.
Highly Recommended for Preschool-grade2.
December 12, 2024
It is not often that you encounter a picture book with depth of feeling and meaning that speaks to both kids and adults. That is the goal, definitely, but it is a goal that is most difficult to reach. A Little Like Magic achieves this goal, asking the beautiful question, "What IS worthy of our time? What IS valuable to do?" When the young narrator is forced to go on an outing, she can think of many reasons she does not want to go. Too cold, uncomfortable, distant. At least Mom will be with her. But when she reaches the park, she discovers ice sculptors hard at work. She wonders why anyone would spend so much time or work so hard on something that will be gone within hours or days. When she loses her beloved safety item, it only makes her more upset about the outing and convinced that the trip was not worth it. But a return visit the next night brings a profound, unexpected revelation.
By using an ice sculpture exhibit as the background, A Little Like Magic cleverly deals with questions of worth and value and longevity. Written in succinct, lyrical, prose from the perspective of a girl in a wheelchair, this is a unique and beautiful book that kids will want to read again and again. With its blue and white color palette combined with pops of yellow, this picture book is perfect for bedtime, story times, and counselors offices.
Ideal for ages 3-7
By using an ice sculpture exhibit as the background, A Little Like Magic cleverly deals with questions of worth and value and longevity. Written in succinct, lyrical, prose from the perspective of a girl in a wheelchair, this is a unique and beautiful book that kids will want to read again and again. With its blue and white color palette combined with pops of yellow, this picture book is perfect for bedtime, story times, and counselors offices.
Ideal for ages 3-7
April 11, 2025
I was attracted to this book for its illustrations, especially the gorgeous two page spread of the ice sculptures lit up at night. But the story itself also proved heartwarming and thoughtful.
I appreciated that the main character is reluctant to go to an event that’s supposed to be fun, and even though she sort of enjoys herself, she ends up losing her toy horse and angrily deciding that it wasn’t worth it. This is way more relatable than the one dimensionality of most picture book characters’ emotions. It’s unusual for easy fiction to spend a few pages suspended in this feeling of ambivalence- things tend to get resolved quickly and neatly- so I appreciated how well the author pulled this off.
I also enjoyed reading about a main character that uses a wheelchair, but it’s never explicitly addressed, let alone made into a plot point about her struggles. She’s just living her life.
Last thing, I am also a public librarian like the author, and I appreciate the note on the copyright page that she had a childhood memory that she tracked down in her library’s newspaper archives. So dope. And I’ve seen plenty of children’s books written by librarians, but this might be the first one also illustrated (beautifully) by a librarian. God is really unfair with the whole distribution of talents thing…
4 / 5 stars.
I appreciated that the main character is reluctant to go to an event that’s supposed to be fun, and even though she sort of enjoys herself, she ends up losing her toy horse and angrily deciding that it wasn’t worth it. This is way more relatable than the one dimensionality of most picture book characters’ emotions. It’s unusual for easy fiction to spend a few pages suspended in this feeling of ambivalence- things tend to get resolved quickly and neatly- so I appreciated how well the author pulled this off.
I also enjoyed reading about a main character that uses a wheelchair, but it’s never explicitly addressed, let alone made into a plot point about her struggles. She’s just living her life.
Last thing, I am also a public librarian like the author, and I appreciate the note on the copyright page that she had a childhood memory that she tracked down in her library’s newspaper archives. So dope. And I’ve seen plenty of children’s books written by librarians, but this might be the first one also illustrated (beautifully) by a librarian. God is really unfair with the whole distribution of talents thing…
4 / 5 stars.
January 30, 2025
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An utterly stunning story of art, beauty, and permanence.
The narrator is not happy about facing the cold weather, uncomfortable winter clothes, crowds, and an unfamiliar setting to attend the winter festival. She doesn't see the point of making ice sculptures that are just going to melt. To make matters worse, on her first visit she loses her comforting horse figurine. But when she and her mother return the next night, her perspective shifts and she recognizes the permanence in the transient.
A well-told tale that is relatable and heartfelt. A great reminder of the importance of trying new things and recognizing small moments of magic.
The artwork is magical and lovely. Kurpiel perfectly captures the beauty of the intermixing of ice and light. I also love how diverse the attendees of the festival are. There are people of different ages, with different skin colors, and different hair styles and textures. There are also multiple characters using wheelchairs, wearing hijab, and wearing hearing aids.
A touching, beautiful, and magical picture book sure to leave a lasting impression.
An utterly stunning story of art, beauty, and permanence.
The narrator is not happy about facing the cold weather, uncomfortable winter clothes, crowds, and an unfamiliar setting to attend the winter festival. She doesn't see the point of making ice sculptures that are just going to melt. To make matters worse, on her first visit she loses her comforting horse figurine. But when she and her mother return the next night, her perspective shifts and she recognizes the permanence in the transient.
A well-told tale that is relatable and heartfelt. A great reminder of the importance of trying new things and recognizing small moments of magic.
The artwork is magical and lovely. Kurpiel perfectly captures the beauty of the intermixing of ice and light. I also love how diverse the attendees of the festival are. There are people of different ages, with different skin colors, and different hair styles and textures. There are also multiple characters using wheelchairs, wearing hijab, and wearing hearing aids.
A touching, beautiful, and magical picture book sure to leave a lasting impression.
December 21, 2024
Beautiful look at an ice sculpture competition through the eyes of a young girl. At first, the thought of putting on all those layers of uncomfortable clothes, trudging through the snow and ice and navigating crowds to go with her mom to see people working on statues that will melt and be gone forever is a burden to her. Returning to see the finished works is equally negative, but when she views the majestic creations, her viewpoint changes completely. Woven into the main storyline is a small horse figure that provides comfort and company to the girl but becomes lost at the competition in the early stages.
Wonderful messages of how differently things can turn out than what we first imagine, the beauty and value of art/sculpture, memories that become a long-lasting source of joy and so much more. Opportunities for basic and higher level questioning abound.
Great choice for libraries serving toddlers through grade 3.
Thanks for the finished copy to review, Penguin Random House/Rocky Pond Books.
Wonderful messages of how differently things can turn out than what we first imagine, the beauty and value of art/sculpture, memories that become a long-lasting source of joy and so much more. Opportunities for basic and higher level questioning abound.
Great choice for libraries serving toddlers through grade 3.
Thanks for the finished copy to review, Penguin Random House/Rocky Pond Books.
July 3, 2025
This is a lovely, empowering picture book so well deserving of a Schnieder Family Book Award that honours an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.
You can immediately tell that the author-illustrator has first-hand experience with using a power wheelchair. I love the accurate representation of the power wheelchair, accessible van, tie-down straps, wheelchair ramp, and accessible parking spot. The realism is refreshing!
“I’m lost in a forest of people”—yes, this is such an authentic experience for a child using a wheelchair. Full marks for diversity of characters with several having disabilities as this reflects our world’s reality of 27% of our population having some form of disability, visible or invisible.
The young narrator discovers that stretching oneself to get out of one’s comfort zone can be worth it—a truth universally applicable. And the next time isn’t nearly as scary and can even be enjoyable.
Highly recommended.
You can immediately tell that the author-illustrator has first-hand experience with using a power wheelchair. I love the accurate representation of the power wheelchair, accessible van, tie-down straps, wheelchair ramp, and accessible parking spot. The realism is refreshing!
“I’m lost in a forest of people”—yes, this is such an authentic experience for a child using a wheelchair. Full marks for diversity of characters with several having disabilities as this reflects our world’s reality of 27% of our population having some form of disability, visible or invisible.
The young narrator discovers that stretching oneself to get out of one’s comfort zone can be worth it—a truth universally applicable. And the next time isn’t nearly as scary and can even be enjoyable.
Highly recommended.
June 23, 2025
*Winner of the 2025 Schneider Family Book Award*
As a youth librarian, I am embarrassed to admit that seeing the turquoise blue shine of the ALA Schneider Award seal on a book's cover has conditioned me to expect a story that highlights one or more disabilities.
Imagine my surprise, then, when I read this sentence about the author/illustrator on the book jacket's back flap:
"Sarah hopes her work brings a bit of happiness into the world--and a bit of disability representation too."
Oh, my! (Yes, I did audibly gasp in the solitude of my home office.)
This story is beautiful on so many different levels, and I am excited to share it with young listeners and readers. I cannot think of another book within our library's collection that features the fleeting beauty of an ice festival, nor the tender messages of making lasting memories and the importance of unique experiences being available to *all*.
Such a powerful story, Sarah...thank you for sharing it with the world.
As a youth librarian, I am embarrassed to admit that seeing the turquoise blue shine of the ALA Schneider Award seal on a book's cover has conditioned me to expect a story that highlights one or more disabilities.
Imagine my surprise, then, when I read this sentence about the author/illustrator on the book jacket's back flap:
"Sarah hopes her work brings a bit of happiness into the world--and a bit of disability representation too."
Oh, my! (Yes, I did audibly gasp in the solitude of my home office.)
This story is beautiful on so many different levels, and I am excited to share it with young listeners and readers. I cannot think of another book within our library's collection that features the fleeting beauty of an ice festival, nor the tender messages of making lasting memories and the importance of unique experiences being available to *all*.
Such a powerful story, Sarah...thank you for sharing it with the world.
August 23, 2024
This beautiful book shows children how every good thing they do matters. The author's sweet language and the illustrator's magical illustrations sparkle like the ice sculptures on the pages and makes the book dreamy and hopeful. It brings to light how change brings positivity in the world even change that might seem to not be the right.
I am in love with the illustrations. They are whimsical and dreamy and pull me right in. The words flow effortlessly and by the end of the book, I am hooked and want to read it all over again.
I haven't seen a book on ice sculpting before and feel that it is a great resource for teachers to use to talk about art and science in the classroom.
It's an added bonus to see a child in a wheelchair be the main character and it be normal to be that way.
This is a book that deserves to be on every bookshelf!
I am in love with the illustrations. They are whimsical and dreamy and pull me right in. The words flow effortlessly and by the end of the book, I am hooked and want to read it all over again.
I haven't seen a book on ice sculpting before and feel that it is a great resource for teachers to use to talk about art and science in the classroom.
It's an added bonus to see a child in a wheelchair be the main character and it be normal to be that way.
This is a book that deserves to be on every bookshelf!
December 10, 2024
Simple with a whole lot of feels. One of the reasons I love picture books!
The main character doesn't want to be out in the cold. Doesn't want to go do what mom wants to do. And then making it even worse, she ends up losing something important to her. So they go back - and that's when they see the magic. It's worth it to be there and worth it to be cold, because there is so much beauty. And someone even did something special for her without knowing her.
The main character is in a wheelchair, but this isn't dwelt on in any way in the story. I think it's a good way to show that we're all the same in a lot of ways. (I also get grumpy about going places I don't want to be, especially out in the cold, LOL.)
This book is magic.
The main character doesn't want to be out in the cold. Doesn't want to go do what mom wants to do. And then making it even worse, she ends up losing something important to her. So they go back - and that's when they see the magic. It's worth it to be there and worth it to be cold, because there is so much beauty. And someone even did something special for her without knowing her.
The main character is in a wheelchair, but this isn't dwelt on in any way in the story. I think it's a good way to show that we're all the same in a lot of ways. (I also get grumpy about going places I don't want to be, especially out in the cold, LOL.)
This book is magic.
September 14, 2024
A lovely book about being brave and trying new things. I love that the main character is child in a wheelchair without having to do any explaining in the text. The illustration and words work perfectly together. The color palette enhances the cold outdoor environment and the bold graphic art style is juxtaposed with the beautiful lyrical language of the story. Follow a young girl as she navigates going out in the cold and all the scratchy, itchy, icy things that includes. She attends an ice sculpture competition with her mom and where she learns the importance of art, dreaming and a little bit of magic.
October 31, 2024
A LITTLE LIKE MAGIC is a heartfelt story that drew me in immediately. In it, a young girl reluctantly agrees to join her mom at an ice festival which is new, cold, and where, to the girl’s great dismay, she loses her treasured horse figurine. It’s not until she returns the next night that she discovers how wonderful the unexpected can be. There is so much to love about this book, from the relatable themes, to the incredible illustrations, to the ending that made my heart sing. I have no doubt that both children and adults will treasure this book and look forward to reading it for years to come. Highly recommend!
February 19, 2025
A young child is not happy to be going out into the cold to watch sculptors carving ice. Quite frankly, she doesn't get the point since it's all going to melt. Then to make matters worse, she loses her special toy, a small plastic horse. "I wish we'd never gone. My horse would still be safe at home with me." That night when her mother takes her back to see the finished products, the child is spellbound by the beauty of the sculptures. At night the ice figures look magical and to make the evening even sweeter, she finds her small horse propped up at the base of a ice carved foal. The soft, quiet illustrations and sensitive text work beautifully together. A truly lovely picture book!
March 22, 2025
5 stars (I loved it)
One thing I really love about this book is that the main character is in a wheelchair but it is never remarked upon. It isn't part of the plot. She just exists like any of us.
I love that the girl first thinks that the ice sculptures aren't worth it because they will melt but ends up having a change of heart.
The books feels whimsical and the illustrations are just lovely. There are so many cute little details (like the bag of library books in the car and the dog trying to give the girl their toy when her horse is lost).
One thing I really love about this book is that the main character is in a wheelchair but it is never remarked upon. It isn't part of the plot. She just exists like any of us.
I love that the girl first thinks that the ice sculptures aren't worth it because they will melt but ends up having a change of heart.
The books feels whimsical and the illustrations are just lovely. There are so many cute little details (like the bag of library books in the car and the dog trying to give the girl their toy when her horse is lost).
April 1, 2025
2025 Schneider Family Book Award for Younger Children
So many things to like about this book. The story is based on the author/illustrator's own memories of attending an ice festival when she was young. The illustrations are done in a lovely cool palette, very whimsical, and the theme about temporary things not being completely temporary was lovely. I especially appreciate that the main character uses a wheelchair, but the story isn't about the wheelchair or her disability. Will recommend widely.
So many things to like about this book. The story is based on the author/illustrator's own memories of attending an ice festival when she was young. The illustrations are done in a lovely cool palette, very whimsical, and the theme about temporary things not being completely temporary was lovely. I especially appreciate that the main character uses a wheelchair, but the story isn't about the wheelchair or her disability. Will recommend widely.
November 2, 2024
The little girl in this story is very definite about several things. She doesn't like cold and she doesn't think things are worth doing if they don't last. But over the course of this beautifully illustrated book, she changes her mind. Without spoiling the ending, I can definitely say this much - it's all a bit magical! And told with great pacing, perfect word choice and relatable emotions. Highly recommend.
February 11, 2025
This is a fantastic picture book that takes on the question of why make something beautiful if you know it's not going to last. I also appreciate that the protagonist uses a power wheelchair, but the story focused much more on her feelings about the weather and about losing a beloved figurine than on her disability. I really appreciate this kind of representation. All around, really wonderful and I'm happy to have this book on my shelf.
February 22, 2025
A little girl is anxious and resistant about going out in the cold to an unfamiliar place with her mother. But the ice sculptures and even the loss of a beloved toy prove to make the experience almost magically worth it. The little girl happens to be in a wheelchair in lovely, everyday life representation. The predominate blue and white illustrations beautifully bring the winter cold and ice sculptures to life. A wonderful reassuring story about trying new things.
April 4, 2025
4/4/2025 ~ A story of the value of pushing ourselves beyond our comfort zone. I appreciated that the text never mentioned that the main character is in a wheelchair. The text did mention that the child didn't like the hat, big coat, or boots, hinting that child might have some neurodiverse characteristics.
The theme of the value of ephemeral beauty reminds us of the fleeting joy around us.
Winner of the 2025 ALA Schneider Family Award.
The theme of the value of ephemeral beauty reminds us of the fleeting joy around us.
Winner of the 2025 ALA Schneider Family Award.
May 27, 2025
Just awww! A girl does not want to go somewhere where she has to wear a heavy coat, an itchy hat, or boots that don't let her ankles bend, but they are going anyway. Her mom is taking her to an ice carving event, where she loses her toy horse. When they go back to visit the completed sculptures, she has a more positive experience and gains a new appreciation for something, even if it's not permanent. Memories are worth something too.
May 30, 2025
This book made my heart so happy! We can see from the illustrations the girl is in a wheelchair, yet this is not a story about a girl in a wheelchair. It's a story about a young girl who has to go outside of her comfort zone... and learns that sometimes you have to try something and get a little bit outside your comfort zone to learn it is for you! A story about a young girl who loses something but gains so much by the end of the story.
June 30, 2025
I liked this more than I expected to from the cover (don't judge a book by...)
If it were my child, I would have wrapped blankets around her legs because extremities do not get as much circulation so are more affected by the cold, but perhaps it was more difficult to draw that way, or the artist wanted to keep the boots foremost due to the phrase "boots that don't let me bend my ankles." I loved the little plastic horse tidbit, as it is so typical of certain children I know.
If it were my child, I would have wrapped blankets around her legs because extremities do not get as much circulation so are more affected by the cold, but perhaps it was more difficult to draw that way, or the artist wanted to keep the boots foremost due to the phrase "boots that don't let me bend my ankles." I loved the little plastic horse tidbit, as it is so typical of certain children I know.
November 9, 2024
A little girl doesn't like hats or boots, but she endures them to go to an ice sculpting show with her mom. While there, she loses her favorite little plastic horse. The girl and her mom later return and see just how beautiful the ice sculptures look at night. Yay for a story with a very sweet message, and yay for disability representation!
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