One night Sylvie awakens to an incredible sight: a glowing figure tiptoeing across her floor, with enormous feathery wings wafting from his back. He's muttering to himself, trying to remember his orders, for this is his first flight. Could he really be the same angel she made last winter in the snow? Sylvie's angel says she isn't supposed to see him. He has been sent to save her life, and when the danger is past, she won't remember he was there. But she does remember. She thinks of him every day. And when nothing Sylvie does, no matter how risky, can make him reappear, she realizes he'll always be there unseen when she truly needs him. In a contemporary tale told with humor and warmth, paired with Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini's enchanting artwork, Maggie O'Farrell weaves the story of a spirited girl who finds a way to bring magic into her own house--and enlist it to bring a sense of wonder to those she loves.
Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini studied fine art in Milan and moved to London to study photography. She is the illustrator of The Night I Met Father Christmas by Ben Miller and The Seeing Stick by Jane Yolen, among other picture books. She lives in London.
Using line, color washes, and arresting perspectives, the illustrations in this lengthy picture book deftly convey the realism of Sylvie's world, the wonder of her snow angel, and the sweetness of their bond in scenes of drama as well as stillness. . . . An appealing contemporary fairy tale told with humor and warmth.
--Kirkus Reviews
Graceful ink and watercolor spreads by Terrazzini (The Seeing Stick) give pre-Raphaelite romance to the tall angel and to Sylvie's soulful eyes and honey-colored hair. O'Farrell's lengthy, storybook-style narration and winning dialogue ("I really had no idea that you would be so talkative," the angel sighs) similarly give life to this witty exploration of godlike power and what it's good for.
--Publishers Weekly
A captivating illustrated story. . . hopeful.
--The Wall Street Journal