"Cocoa Magic" - a bookwrap

 

Unwrapping

Cocoa Magic

Authored by Sandra Bradley

Illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard

Specs

* Reading Age:  4-7 years 

* Grade Level:  K-2

* Hardcover with dust jacket:  32 pages

* Publisher:  Pajama Press

* Pub. Date: Nov. 8, 2022

* ISBN-10:  1772782645

* ISBN-13:  978-1772782646

* Language:  English

Unwrapping Some Illustrations 

The Book

"In a cozy 1920s chocolate shop, the special ingredients

in each perfect treat are empathy, generosity, and thoughtful acts of kindness."

Daniel, an eight-year-old little boy, loves helping his beloved Great-Uncle Lewis in his chocolate shop every morning.  Together they make amazing chocolate creations and his uncle dubs the process magical. 

A new girl named Sarah arrives at his school and she feels shy and lonely.  Daniel takes note of her plight and surreptitiously begins to bring her chocolates which he embeds in tiny golden boxes.  He secretly hides the boxes inside of her desk day after day.  When she discovers his gifts of kindness she progressively gets happier and happier.  

Daniel looks around and discovers his other classmates have difficulties too so he expands his kindness campaign to all the others in his class and even includes his teacher.  How thoughtful and inclusive is that gesture from this special little boy with such a generous heart. Throughout his mission of love Daniel remains anonymous but I'm sure everyone knows who the Super Chocolatier is don't you? 

Then one day Daniel feels sad and alone.  To his great delight he receives a HUGE payback for all his labour of love from those around him.  His spirit is immediately lifted and the wonderful gift giving spirit continues on and on because of Daniel's first small act of kindness.

The illustrations are nostalgic and perfect for that time period.  It is a positive inspiring story about how one simple act can influence others to carry out thoughtful acts also.  I love the story,  I love the illustrations and I love chocolate.  I highly, highly recommend this book. 

Storywraps Rating - 5 HUGS! 

🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

Meet the Author

Sandra Bradley is a chocolate lover, a clinical social worker and therapist, and a children’s book author. Her first picture book, Henry Holton Takes the Ice, was a finalist for the OLA Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Award and the Maine Chickadee Reader’s Choice Award. Born in Toronto, Sandra earned her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and her Master of Arts at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, then earned her Master of Education (Counselling) from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. Today Sandra is back in the Kingston area where she lives on the beautiful Rideau Canal with her New Zealander husband, Grant, and their three teenagers. Sandra has yet to temper chocolate successfully, but she’s finally nailed chocolate brownie pie. 

About the Illustrator

Gabrielle Grimard transformed her love of design into a career in illustration over the course of her studies at Concordia University and the University of Quebec. In 2018, Gabrielle’s picture book Stolen Words won the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award and was a finalist for the TD Canadian Children’s Book Award. Not My Girl was a USBBY Outstanding International Book. Her creativity has been applied to children’s publishing, advertising, and educational contexts.

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