SnowPal Soccer

Lisa Maria Burgess hand-stitches textile art to illustrate her bilingual books for children. While her first language is English, she speaks Spanish and French with fluency, and enjoys learning the basics of any language she has the pleasure of meeting. Lisa currently divides her time between the United States and Bénin, grew up in México, and has lived around the world as a United Nations spouse. She holds a doctorate in English from the University of Pennsylvania, and is a wife and mother.

"With migration, soccer players from across Africa experience (and never quite get used to) snow. This bilingual story will restore humor, fair play, and their beloved football to the long winter months." — I'm Your Neighbor Books "Lisa Maria Burgess has created a gentle story of comradery and childlike goodwill. Her verse wraps itself around the reader with the same comforting pleasure found in the applique illustrations." –Leo Daly, author and illustrator, The Giant and the Olive"A book with a distinctive look – it's all applique fabric – and with a distinctive enough subject matter – a winter solstice night filled with football for two snowmen characters... It's actually about being companionable rather than competitive, and those with Benin heritage will appreciate the creator inserting that half of her family into proceedings." — Theediscerning, Goodreads"The illustrations enhance the story not just as illustrations, but they are unique in their style – each page is a picture created from fabrics, making it seem life-like, but remaining in 2D. They remind me of the illustrations from Lois Ehlert (Leaf Man, Snowballs)" – City Book Review, Kids' BookBuzz“The true highlight of this book is the breathtaking artwork created with hand-stitched textile pieces. Snow falls, and a group of children build snowpeople and dream up a magical game. They ask the moon to let their snowy friends come to life and play soccer, and soon the snowpeople are racing across the field. The true highlight of this book is the breathtaking artwork created with hand-stitched textile pieces. The story appears in both English and French and is fairly lengthy in format. Older children and caregivers will likely appreciate it more than the toddler crowd. A purchase for collections that may end up shelving it with school-age titles.” – Brooke Newberry, School Library Journal“A whimsical picture book tale. In the light of moon and stars, the snowpals come to life to play an epic game of soccer in a unique picture book story of joy and the delight of play for all children. Original, exceptional, and highly recommended, SnowPal Soccer by author and textile artist Lisa Maria Burgess is a ... bilingual (English/French) picture book whose story is laid out visually from start to finish. SnowPal Soccer is unique and unreservedly recommended.”  – Midwest Book Review