Book Review of Springtime Miracles and Mud
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The Children’s Book Review
Springtime Miracles and Mud
Written by James Segelstein
Illustrated by Larysa Maliush
Ages: 6+ | 181 Pages
Publisher: James Segelstein (2025) | ISBN: 979-8218526917
A gentle, wonder-filled chapter book about a timid field mouse who discovers the gifts of friendship, curiosity, and his own quiet courage on a wander around the pond.
Leon, the little field mouse, has a lot to learn about the world—and the neighbors who share it with him. When he sets out to explore how the creatures around the pond spend their days, he stumbles into a series of unexpected encounters that include mud-sliding with a muskrat, listening to a mourning dove who sings with her wings, a redwing blackbird with opinions about his dad’s singing lessons, and learning from a toad that every blink reveals a brand-new world.
One by one, each new friend joining the expedition brings a different wonder, and Leon gradually finds that in seeking out others, he has discovered something in himself. When this cheerful, mismatched crew faces a crisis that will test them all, maybe only a field mouse can save the day. The question is whether Leon’s newfound confidence will be enough.
Author James Segelstein’s prose carries the warmth and quiet wisdom of a classic. Readers may find themselves thinking of Charlotte’s Web or Winnie-the-Pooh— not in plot, but in spirit: that same unhurried reverence for small lives and the magic tucked into ordinary moments. His writing is assured enough that even without the helpful character list and map at the book’s opening, readers would find their footing easily; however, those navigational tools are a thoughtful touch, grounding young readers in the world before the journey even begins.
Larysa Maliush’s full-page pencil-colored illustrations arrive like pauses in the story — soft and unhurried. They suit the book’s temperament perfectly, feeling less like decoration and more like breathing room, inviting readers to linger in Leon’s world before turning the page.
Above all, Springtime Miracles and Mud is a gentle reminder to stay curious and look for wonder. It’s the kind of book that settles over you like a quiet afternoon and is likely to resonate most with young readers who are shy about new beginnings, and with the grown-ups who read alongside them.
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About the Author
When James Segelstein’s third-grade teacher told the class that her writer husband sometimes spent an entire day working on a single sentence, James decided that was the career for him.
During his long career as a network news producer, he wrote a great deal. But news scripts demanded rigorous accuracy, so in his free time, he wrote fiction to exercise his quirky humor and his somewhat offbeat imagination.
James met his wife while working on the Foreign Desk at CBS News. After they were married, they moved from New York City to rural Connecticut and, once there, James quickly shed his ‘city boy’ notion that ‘wildlife’ primarily meant pigeons and squirrels. He was thrilled to watch bears, bobcats, porcupines, and woodchucks frequently sauntering across their lawn, and ‘real’ wildlife began to infiltrate his writing.
James and his wife had two children, and as they grew, he was inspired by the way the rules of reality were jettisoned in the books he read to them and the television shows he watched with them. Soon he was writing Springtime Miracles and Mud in which stinkbugs could talk, mourning doves could sing, and woodchucks could revel in life’s more mundane moments.
About the Illustrator
Larysa Maliush is an author and illustrator from Minsk, Belarus, now crafting magical worlds in Berlin. With a knack for breathing life into characters—whether furry, human, or fantastical—she aims to make her stories vibrant, immersive experiences.
Her journey from software engineer to self-taught illustrator reflects her unwavering dedication to her craft. Deeply immersed in the world of storytelling, she draws inspiration from her family—especially her little one, whose boundless curiosity fuels her creativity. She finds solace in creating whimsical tales and illustrations that transport readers to enchanting realms, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and the impossible feels within reach.
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of Springtime Miracles and Mud. Learn more about getting a book review …
