The Magic Poof

by Stephen Hodges, T. Kyle Gentry (Illustrator)

Overview

Ange-Marie has always felt different. Who wouldn't when your best friend is literally attached to you? The Poof is a great ball of curly hair that sits directly on top of Ange-Marie's head. His magical and playful nature always seems to produce mischief and adventure. In book one of The Magic Poof series, Ange-Marie must decide what to wear for school picture day. But The Poof also wants to look good for picture day! How does Ange-Marie look her best and keep her enchanted and hairy friend a secret? In the end, both The Poof and Ange-Marie find that compromise is the key in any friendship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781483652085
Publisher:	Xlibris US
Publication date:	06/26/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	34
File size:	12 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Stephen Hodges began his creative career in second grade by recording epic stories with his best friend. His love of storytelling and theater carried him to the film industry where he has worked on some of the largest productions in Hollywood including "The Matrix Trilogy" and "Battleship". His producing experience includes documentaries, commercials and corporate work for Fortune 500 companies. Stephen is a graduate of Arizona State University with degrees in Intercultural Communication and Broadcast Journalism. He is hard at work on the next Magic Poof book and animated series as well several other television projects. Stephen currently lives in Los Angeles with his star-in-the making Havanese dog, Buttercup.

Editorial Reviews

2014-03-14
In Hodges' quirky debut children's book, a girl and her animated head of hair battle for the spotlight on picture day. Young Ange-Marie has a secret that makes her unique among other children: Her coiffure has a mind of its own. The great big ball of hair on Ange-Marie's head, affectionately referred to by Ange-Marie as "the Poof," has mischievous ideas and energy. The Poof can change shapes, creating sculptures on Ange-Marie's head—a big cloud, a bird, a flower, a question mark. The Poof is even capable of audibly communicating with Ange-Marie. The two struggle at times with their opposite agendas: When Ange-Marie wants to brush her teeth, the Poof wants to play. When Ange wants to eat breakfast, the Poof wants to fly up to the ceiling. Gentry's colorful, popping images playfully convey the characters' disputes, as bright shades of fuchsia and purple create a vibrant background. When it comes time for picture day at school, Ange-Marie asserts that she will be the one in charge of how she and the Poof are portrayed. Not everyone knows about her magical hair's mind of its own, she says, so it's best that the hair just be hair. However, as usual, the Poof has ideas of its own, and their conflicting plans become a playful battle for artistic control in the school portrait. Hodge's simple sentence structure makes this an accessible story for beginning readers. The short, easy-to-follow story could also be read aloud by caregivers or teachers to younger children. There is no clear, overarching moral, though children may be inspired by Ange-Marie's embracing her individuality, as she tames her quirky side while staying true to herself. In such a whimsical, light story, young children are likely to be amused by the goofiness of hair that lives its own life. A silly, imaginative story about individuality, best enjoyed by beginning readers.

Kirkus Reviews