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Marie's Magic Eggs: How Marie Procai Kept the Ukrainian Art of Pysanky Alive

Contributors:

Sandra Neil Wallace (Author)

Evan Turk (Illustrator)

Contributors: Sandra Neil Wallace (Author) ; Evan Turk (Illustrator)

Regular price $18.99 USD
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BISAC categories: Juvenille NonFiction -> Biography & Autobiography -> Art

BISAC categories: Juvenille NonFiction -> Social Topics -> Emigration, Immigration & Refugees

BISAC categories: Juvenille NonFiction -> Holidays & Celebrations -> Easter & Lent

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Product Description

Publishers Weekly, starred review
Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Foreword Reviews, starred review
Booklist, starred review
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

Here is 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 living in Minneapolis, 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 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.
ISBN-10: 1662680694
ISBN-13: 9781662680694
Author: Wallace, Sandra Neil, Turk, Evan
Publisher: Calkins Creek Books

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781662680694

ISBN-10: 1662680694

Publish Date: February 10, 2026

On Sale Date: February 10, 2026

Language: English

Pages: 48

Dimensions: 9.2 × 9.2 × 0.5 in

Weight: 0.95 lbs

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