Philip Stead: A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic

Boswell Book Company and Elmbrook Schools present a special evening with Caldecott Medalist Philip Stead who visits with his new book, A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic: Or, Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm. The book is suggested for readers age 10 and older, and the program will be great for families, parents, educators, and librarians. A plucky young goatkeeper sets out on a misadventurous rescue mission in this uproarious debut middle grade novel that's perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo and Lemony Snicket. Stead's novel has earned a trifecta of starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist. Kirkus says: "Exuberant wordplay and a wryly witty narrative distinguish this broadly humorous and endearing fantasy.... Stead’s narrative voice is warm, intimate, and slightly goofy, enveloping the reader in the storytelling process. Running jokes invite giggles, homey adages are sandwiched between tiny goat silhouettes, and Latin phrases (many hilariously misused) and their translations pepper the text. Atmospheric, whimsical drawings enhance this story, which will please fans of Norton Juster and Terry Pratchett.... A perfect amount of magic."