Review Detail

Cocoa Magic

Kids Fiction 1122

Kindness is a Treat

October 12, 2022 (Updated: June 04, 2026)

Overall rating

4.5

Plot

4.0

Characters

5.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

Daniel lives in Charlottestown in the 1920s, and his Uncle Lewis owns a chocolate shop. Daniel loves to help out making chocolates and hanging around the shop. When a new girl starts at his school, she seems lonely and a little scared, so Daniel leaves a small box with his best chocolate in it on her desk secretly. This seems to brighten her day, so he leaves one every day. When he sees another boy notice, he leaves a gift for him as well. This makes a difference in the mood of the classroom, and soon Daniel is supplying the whole class with chocolate. When his uncle needs to shut down the shop for a few days to attend an industry conference, Daniel is himself downcast. His classmates, who were aware of his kind actions, make sure that he knows that he is appreciated by giving him gifts of their own.

Good Points

When my children were at home, I left them every morning with the phrase "Go make the world a better place". It doesn't take that much effort to be kind, and to notice what people need and to take small steps to better their days. Cocoa Magic is unique in that it incorporates an interesting historical setting and a very specific act to making people's days brighter. I wish I had Daniel in my school, and not just for the delicious chocolate!

The illustrations have a sepia tone with a golden glow to it that seems especially apt for the 1920s setting, especially where chocolate is involved. The 1920s clothing is interesting to see, and the end papers look like a box of chocolates!

Children learn what they are taught, and reading books like Zhang's Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome, Miller's Not So Small, Birdsong's How to Spot a Best Friend and Dunrie's Ollie's Hug are a good way to provide concrete examples of how small actions can have big consequences when it comes to treating others with kindness... and unexpected chocolate!