Cocoa Magic

Sandra Bradley is 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.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.

Praise for Cocoa Magic2024 Forest of Reading - Blue Spruce Finalist Quill and Quire “2022 Fall Preview: Books for Young People – Picture Books” Feature49th Shelf “New Fall 2022 Books” FeatureThe Children’s Book Council “Hot Off the Press: September 2024” Feature “Setting the tale in the 1920s, the soft, warm-toned illustrations…give this an old-fashioned, historical feel….Delicious endpapers feature 24 unique, beautifully decorated candies….The SEL element is strongly laid out, with a nice twist at the end…”—School Library Journal“Chocolates bring togetherness—and magic—to a 1920s Prince Edward Island school… Bradley crafts a story laced with empathy and kindness. Grimard’s soft, mixed-media illustrations evoke a sense of coziness… Endpapers mimic a box of chocolates—a delicious touch…Sweet as sugar.—Kirkus Reviews“Grimard’s soft, muted artwork captures the old-fashioned feel of the story and its 1920s time period, but its message of giving is timeless. Bradley brings her experience as a social worker to this tale of empathy and kindness.”—Booklist“This is a very sweet story…the message is universal. The illustrations have a glowing warmth that suits the story’s tone….Cocoa Magic has a timeless feel – it could easily have been written anytime in the hundred years between the time it is set and now – and is sure to resonate with kids and their parents.”—Quill & Quire“A nice read-aloud to preschool, kindergarten and first graders depicting the kindness it is possible to create with such little effort.”—Youth Services Book Review“While some children’s books about big topics like empathy miss the mark of a child-friendly vocabulary, this book is well-pitched to reach its intended audience and spark big themes. This could even serve as a good holiday read for young children who might struggle with the joy of gift-giving over merely gift-receiving.”—Children’s Literature“[I]t’s a wholesome story with beautiful illustrations and a lesson that everyone can learn from.”—CM Magazine“[C]ombining a story of kindness and generosity with a fragrant chocolate shop as its homey backdrop makes it hard to picture a more perfect holiday read…using everyone’s favourite indulgence to muse intelligently on how we can witness, help, and support one another…”—Open Book“This charming picture book is…beautifully illustrated, and manages to be both about chocolate and empathy.”—Edible Inland Northwest“A story about doing little things for others to build empathy and compassion, with the most delicious looking end pages I’ve ever seen!”—The International Educator“What a wonderful story of empathy!…There may be magic in the cocoa and the sugar but most of it comes from the empathy demonstrated through the gift giving….that’s the important message to cherish from Cocoa Magic.”—CanLit for LittleCanadians“Sandra Bradley has written a story...as sweet as the treats she writes about that will help young readers realize just how much a small act of kindness can mean to someone. The story is compelling and will keep youngsters engaged throughout.”—Tulsa Book Review “Mixed-media illustrations by Ms. Grimard offer young readers a real feel for this time in history while also showing the emotions felt with such wonderful acts of goodness.”—Sal’s Fiction Addiction“What a beautiful book….you can never go wrong with a book that features chocolate. The fact that chocolate is used as a way to bring a bit of magic and joy into people’s lives makes the book even better….The illustrations are beautiful, as is the story.”—Book Time“5 out of 5 stars…What an adorable book! I love how compassionate and generous Daniel is, and how he inspires others to be kind as well….The illustrations are mouth-wateringly beautiful!” —Luminous Libro“Cocoa Magic is an exceptional picture book about empathy and acts of kindness…[this] is a particularly good book for teachers to share with their students and for parents to read with their children. Highly recommended!”—Simcoe.com“This is the book everyone needs this holiday season (or all year round really)…. A heart-squeezing story of the power of kindness and a reminder that the smallest gestures can often be the most meaningful.”—Charlotte Offsay (Instagram)“[T]his book has a universal everyday message that can be enjoyed year-round.”—Growing Book by Book (Instagram)“What a sweet book to read this holiday season that teaches kids to be kind and thoughtful and to think about others.”—Homeschoolingabhi (Instagram)“A story as sweet as candy…. Bradley, a clinical social worker, imbues the story with thoughtfulness and the spirit of giving in a way sure to prompt reflection and discussion….Grimard’s illustrations lend a timeless atmosphere to the tale….A warm and tender treat.”—Olivia the Librarian (Instagram)