Follow dragon-expert Miriam and curious Celeste on a magical winter's day walk through their garden, where a snow dragon just might be hiding! Elly MacKay's luminous artwork and sweet sibling story will cast a spell over readers of all ages in this playfully imaginative picture book that’s perfect for fans of Frozen.

On a walk through a snow-covered garden, big sister Miriam claims to hear the sound of a snow dragon. Little sister Celeste has lots of questions: snow dragons are real? Where do they hide? What do they eat? And is that frost on the greenhouse windows or is it . . . frostfire?

Miriam seems to have an answer for everything about snow dragons. But when Celeste wanders off, she has a magical encounter that changes everything she thought she knew.

Told through gently playful dialogue and brought to life with spectacular works of paper diorama art, Elly Mackay's newest picture book is an enchanting wintertime adventure destined to become a classic seasonal fairy tale that readers will enjoy for years to come.
ELLY MACKAY is an acclaimed paper artist and award-winning children’s book maker. She is the author and illustrator of a number of picture books, including Frostfire, In the Clouds and Red Sky at Night, and has illustrated, among others, The Enchanted Symphony by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton and I Am a Meadow Mermaid and The Secret Fawn by Kallie George. Before pursuing a career in picture books, she taught in schools and was an educator in galleries. Elly lives in the winter kingdom of Owen Sound, Ontario, where she and her family often search for snow dragons in the gardens and fields nearby. View titles by Elly MacKay
"As contemplative and lovely as a walk in the snow." —STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews

"This gem of a story is an ideal cold-weather companion, offering wintry wonders and a humorous twist that sweetly shifts the dynamic between the sisters. The gently suspenseful story is satisfying on its own, but the exquisite paper scenes are a wonder as well. . . . An enchanting outing that will have readers longing to wander a winter wonderland." —STARRED REVIEW, Booklist

"Spray paint, watercolor, glitter, fabric, and digital techniques contribute to the soft glow present in MacKay's sparkling photographs of mixed-media paper scenes. Clad in stylish coats, delicate red foxes easily become the focal point of each enchanted spread in this imagination-fueled winter tale." Publishers Weekly

"Frostfire is a winter-tastic picture book for young readers! The illustrations are beautifully done, detailed yet allows readers to get lost in the whimsical winter following sisters in a snowy kingdom. A book for imagination lovers." American Booksellers Association

"Frostfire is a beautifully illustrated book about exploring and imagination and an ideal book to read in the fall and winter." Metroland Media

"Overall, this book is charming, and perfect for the coming (hopefully) cold months." Young Adulting
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo

About

Follow dragon-expert Miriam and curious Celeste on a magical winter's day walk through their garden, where a snow dragon just might be hiding! Elly MacKay's luminous artwork and sweet sibling story will cast a spell over readers of all ages in this playfully imaginative picture book that’s perfect for fans of Frozen.

On a walk through a snow-covered garden, big sister Miriam claims to hear the sound of a snow dragon. Little sister Celeste has lots of questions: snow dragons are real? Where do they hide? What do they eat? And is that frost on the greenhouse windows or is it . . . frostfire?

Miriam seems to have an answer for everything about snow dragons. But when Celeste wanders off, she has a magical encounter that changes everything she thought she knew.

Told through gently playful dialogue and brought to life with spectacular works of paper diorama art, Elly Mackay's newest picture book is an enchanting wintertime adventure destined to become a classic seasonal fairy tale that readers will enjoy for years to come.

Author

ELLY MACKAY is an acclaimed paper artist and award-winning children’s book maker. She is the author and illustrator of a number of picture books, including Frostfire, In the Clouds and Red Sky at Night, and has illustrated, among others, The Enchanted Symphony by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton and I Am a Meadow Mermaid and The Secret Fawn by Kallie George. Before pursuing a career in picture books, she taught in schools and was an educator in galleries. Elly lives in the winter kingdom of Owen Sound, Ontario, where she and her family often search for snow dragons in the gardens and fields nearby. View titles by Elly MacKay

Praise

"As contemplative and lovely as a walk in the snow." —STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews

"This gem of a story is an ideal cold-weather companion, offering wintry wonders and a humorous twist that sweetly shifts the dynamic between the sisters. The gently suspenseful story is satisfying on its own, but the exquisite paper scenes are a wonder as well. . . . An enchanting outing that will have readers longing to wander a winter wonderland." —STARRED REVIEW, Booklist

"Spray paint, watercolor, glitter, fabric, and digital techniques contribute to the soft glow present in MacKay's sparkling photographs of mixed-media paper scenes. Clad in stylish coats, delicate red foxes easily become the focal point of each enchanted spread in this imagination-fueled winter tale." Publishers Weekly

"Frostfire is a winter-tastic picture book for young readers! The illustrations are beautifully done, detailed yet allows readers to get lost in the whimsical winter following sisters in a snowy kingdom. A book for imagination lovers." American Booksellers Association

"Frostfire is a beautifully illustrated book about exploring and imagination and an ideal book to read in the fall and winter." Metroland Media

"Overall, this book is charming, and perfect for the coming (hopefully) cold months." Young Adulting

Photos

additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo

Reading with Purpose Summit Event

On Monday, June 10th, Penguin Random House Education and DK Learning co-hosted a Reading with Purpose Summit Event in collaboration with Molly Ness, PhD. The event took place at Penguin Random House’s NYC headquarters and included sessions featuring leading education experts and a lunchtime author panel. The in-person professional learning event was built to show

Read more

2024 Elementary School Collection

The Penguin Random House Education Elementary School Collection features outstanding fiction, nonfiction, and picture books from Penguin Young Reader’s, Random House Children’s, DK, and Grupo Editorial, as well as children’s publishers distributed by Penguin Random House. Explore online or download this valuable resource to discover great books in specific topic areas such as: Leveled Readers,

Read more

DK Learning Phonic Books Sampler Request

Thank you for your interest in DK Learning | Phonic Books. To download the DK Learning | Phonic Books sampler with four complete readers, please click here and complete the form. Once your information is successfully submitted, a link to download the sampler will be provided on the confirmation screen.   Click here to learn

Read more

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

Translanguaging is a communicative practice of bilinguals and multilinguals, that is, it is a practice whereby bilinguals and multilinguals use their entire linguistic repertoire to communicate and make meaning (García, 2009; García, Ibarra Johnson, & Seltzer, 2017)   It is through that lens that we have partnered with teacher educators and bilingual education experts, Drs.

Read more