Page 1
Ava searched the racks for a winter coat.
“How about this one?” her mother asked.
“No zippers, buttons only.”
Page 3
“This one?”
“The collar scratches me!” Ava said.
Page 4
Ava spotted a big fuzzy coat. It had four sparkly buttons. She rubbed her face against the two fluffy cuffs and then patted the collar, which was as soft as a kitten.
“Mmmh, it's magical. I want this one.”
“It's pretty,” said her mother. “Let's get it!”
Page 5
But it wasn't coat-wearing weather yet.
Summer shorts days followed, and then fall jacket days, and finally a nip-your-nose, freezing cold day.
Page 6
Ava wore her coat to school.
Her classmate Madison said, “I love your coat.”
“Wait until recess,” Ava said. “You'll see--my coat is magical.”
Page 7
At recess, Ava slipped into her coat. She rubbed her face against the two furry cuffs and then patted the collar, which was soft as a kitten. She became a big fuzzy polar bear, sliding on ice.
Page 8
The next day, she was the abominable fuzzy snowman.
Page 9
And then she was a mountain climber chased by snow zombies. She was the fuzzy queen of the swing set!
The magic continued every day until...
Page 10
…the first spring sweater day.
“It's too hot for a coat,” Madison said.
“I have an air-conditioner in my coat,” Ava said. “I'm never hot.”
“Sure...May I see the air-conditioner?” Madison asked.
“My coat is top secret,” Ava said. “I'll call the president and ask.”
“You can't do that!” Madison said.
“I can.” said Ava.
Page 11
“I asked the president, and he said no,” Ava said.
“You're lying.” Madison crossed her arms.
Page 12
The next day was another sweater-but-no-coat day. At recess, Ava wore her coat and sat in the shade.
“You don't have a cell phone to call the president, and you don't have an air-conditioner,” Madison said.
“No,” said Ava. “But there is a top secret.”
Page 13
“Tell me, tell me!” Madison jumped up and down.
“My coat has four sparkly buttons, two fluffy cuffs and a collar as soft as a kitten,” Ava said.
“What kind of secret is that?” Madison asked.
“That's not the secret,” said Ava.
“So what is it?”
Page 14
“My coat lets me be anyone I want.” Ava wiped away a tear. “I love it.”
“You don't have to stop loving it,” said Madison.
Page 15
The next day, Ava put on a jazzy t-shirt and snazzy shorts. Then she pulled on her big fuzzy coat.
“But honey, it's scorching outside,” her mother said.
Page 16
A blast of heat hit Ava's face.
“Oh, no, a shorts-no-coat day!” said Ava.
What to do?
Page 17
She unbuttoned the four sparkly buttons, and then she had an idea! She rubbed her face against the two fluffy cuffs and then patted the collar, which was as soft as a kitten. She did it again. And again. Mmmh, the magic encircled her. "Until next year," she whispered.
Page 18
At school, Madison asked, “Where's your big fuzzy coat?”
Ava smiled. “I lent it to a penguin. It's on a trip to Antarctica, but it will be back next winter recharged with magic.”
