The inspiring story of the woman who kept alive the Ukrainian art of pysanky Easter eggs and brought it to America.
Award-winning creators Sandra Neil Wallace and Evan Turk team up for a richly illustrated picture book biography for kids ages 7–10 who love arts and crafts.
As a new immigrant to America, Marie Procai felt homesick and alone—she missed her homeland, Ukraine. She took comfort in the ancient Ukrainian art of making pysanky, intricately decorated eggs for Easter, an art she’d learned from her grandmother and brought with her to America. Cradling the pysanka in her hands felt like holding a piece of her homeland and giving her Baba a hug.
Making pysanky made Marie feel a little more hopeful when the Russia’s Red Army invaded Ukraine and forbade anyone from speaking Ukrainian or practicing their traditions, pysanky included. It sustained her spirit when her son was off fighting in World War II, and again when she welcomed Ukrainian refugees into her home after the war. A hardworking entrepreneur, Marie founded the Ukrainian Gift Shop in Minneapolis to keep Ukrainian culture alive in America and share it with everyone.
The legend goes that as long as pysanky are decorated, there will be good in the world. Ukrainian-heritage author Sandra Neil Wallace and award-winning illustrator Evan Turk share this hopeful story of the woman who fought to preserve an essential part of Ukrainian culture.
Sandra Neil Wallace had a lengthy career as a news anchor and ESPN sportscaster before writing realistic fiction and nonfiction for young readers. A pioneer in the journalism field, she was the first woman to cover the National Hockey League on network TV. Selected as a promising new voice in children's literature by The Horn Book, Wallace's titles have been named to state and national awards lists including Bank Street College's Best Children's Book of the Year, ALA-YALSA Quick Picks, and Booklist's Top 10 Sports Books for Youth. Visit sandraneilwallace.com.
View titles by Sandra Neil Wallace
Evan Turk is an award-winning author, illustrator, and fine artist. His titles include Muddy by Michael Mahin, which was a New York Times Best illustrated book; The People’s Painter by Cynthia Levinson, which won the Robert F. Sibert Medal; and, most recently, To See Clearly, which received 3 starred reviews. He lives in Riverside, CA. Visit evanturk.squarespace.com.
View titles by Evan Turk
The inspiring story of the woman who kept alive the Ukrainian art of pysanky Easter eggs and brought it to America.
Award-winning creators Sandra Neil Wallace and Evan Turk team up for a richly illustrated picture book biography for kids ages 7–10 who love arts and crafts.
As a new immigrant to America, Marie Procai felt homesick and alone—she missed her homeland, Ukraine. She took comfort in the ancient Ukrainian art of making pysanky, intricately decorated eggs for Easter, an art she’d learned from her grandmother and brought with her to America. Cradling the pysanka in her hands felt like holding a piece of her homeland and giving her Baba a hug.
Making pysanky made Marie feel a little more hopeful when the Russia’s Red Army invaded Ukraine and forbade anyone from speaking Ukrainian or practicing their traditions, pysanky included. It sustained her spirit when her son was off fighting in World War II, and again when she welcomed Ukrainian refugees into her home after the war. A hardworking entrepreneur, Marie founded the Ukrainian Gift Shop in Minneapolis to keep Ukrainian culture alive in America and share it with everyone.
The legend goes that as long as pysanky are decorated, there will be good in the world. Ukrainian-heritage author Sandra Neil Wallace and award-winning illustrator Evan Turk share this hopeful story of the woman who fought to preserve an essential part of Ukrainian culture.
Sandra Neil Wallace had a lengthy career as a news anchor and ESPN sportscaster before writing realistic fiction and nonfiction for young readers. A pioneer in the journalism field, she was the first woman to cover the National Hockey League on network TV. Selected as a promising new voice in children's literature by The Horn Book, Wallace's titles have been named to state and national awards lists including Bank Street College's Best Children's Book of the Year, ALA-YALSA Quick Picks, and Booklist's Top 10 Sports Books for Youth. Visit sandraneilwallace.com.
View titles by Sandra Neil Wallace
Evan Turk is an award-winning author, illustrator, and fine artist. His titles include Muddy by Michael Mahin, which was a New York Times Best illustrated book; The People’s Painter by Cynthia Levinson, which won the Robert F. Sibert Medal; and, most recently, To See Clearly, which received 3 starred reviews. He lives in Riverside, CA. Visit evanturk.squarespace.com.
View titles by Evan Turk
