Deirdre Sullivan grew up in Buffalo, New York, and graduated from Le Moyne College with a degree in psychology. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts, with her husband, four daughters, and black lab. Maja Lofdahl grew up in Sweden, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom. She studied painting at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with her husband and three daughters.
Sullivan and Lofdahl debut with a cozy portrait of the everyday discoveries and accomplishments that school can bring. Their heroine, with a red jumper and pigtails that stick straight out, dives right in to preschool activities like show-and-tell and, later in the year, making snow angels outside; other things take time (the playground slide is daunting at first). Ming appears to be of Asian descent, and her classmates are from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Sullivan's text offers poetic reflections on school ( It's where magic fairy castles are built from sticks ... and growing up takes time ), which Lofdahl captures in graceful and subdued watercolor scenes of dress-up tea parties, muddy spring explorations, and more. Best of all, Ming exhibits a quiet confidence and independence from start to finish, which ought to prove inspiring to children who are about to trade days spent at home for ones in new territory. --Publishers Weekly, starred review Featuring peeks at common classroom sights and activities, this empathetic tale could also be a discussion starter about growth and readiness. --Kirkus Reviews