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

In this moving picture book, Wallace and Turk limn the life story of artist and entrepreneur Marie Procai (1897–1994), focusing on her devotion to her culture’s credo that “as long as pysanky are decorated, there will be good in the world.” As a child in a Ukrainian village, Procai learns from her grandmother the Easter tradition of creating natural dyes for intricately decorating eggs to express “a story, a wish, a prayer, a gift.” Arriving in the U.S. in 1911, she settles in a Ukrainian community in Minneapolis and carries on the craft, eventually introducing and teaching it to expanding audiences. Melodic prose foregrounds Procai’s tender relationship with her grandmother, love of her native land, and successful endeavors in globally promoting pysanky and other crafts. Grounded in Ukraine’s national colors of yellow and blue, gouache, colored pencil, and resist illustrations are boldly patterned and bright, teaming with the rich narrative to create an immersive tribute to a figure and a traditional art form. Extensive back matter includes an author’s note. Ages 7–10. (Feb.)