Nina Bricko

Author • Editor • Voice Over Artist • DIY'er

Summary:   During the Great Depression, a determined young girl has a Make-Do-Can-Do attitude. With a little help from Momma, Veleta Mae finds the perfect dress for school in an unexpected way – a flour sack.

Veleta Mae is 3 feet 9 inches tall with arms for climbing and toes that walk from end to end of her farm. When she learns that school starts soon, she slumps like a sack of potatoes on her kitchen floor. Her dress is thinner than paper, with a hole in her pocket that drops green beans like it was made of Swiss cheese. With an encouraging smile from her Momma, Veleta doesn’t give up hope. She begins her search to fix her dress. Maybe feathers will work? They look awfully nice on her fluffy chicken, Dorothy. Hmmm…Maybe flowers? Curtains? A tablecloth? Veleta Mae all but gives up when she spots an empty flour sack. Will it make the perfect dress?

The Reviews Are In

“Brimming with folksy language, Flour Sack Girl connects readers to a poignant, resilient time in US history when “making do” was by necessity a national pastime --  and a point of national pride.
 
Inspired by true events, readers will feel Veleta’s worry about attending school in a dress as thin as paper, one with pockets that can’t even hold beans. Rendered in clear colors, the energetic art and text are a lively match.
 
The author’s end-notes, the real Veleta photo, and two activities inspired by the story will engage and encourage curious readers.”
Miriam Busch
Lion, Lion (Balzer & Bray)
“Flour Sack Girl, by Nina Bricko, tells the story of how flour sacks were sewn into dresses during the depression, using her grandmother, Veleta Mae, as the plucky main character.  The adept narrative is layered with themes of friendship, family, resilience, and ingenuity, while the poetic language employs a range of unique and witty similes that will have readers chuckling.”
Lisa Jahn-Clough
Alicia Has a Bad Day (HarperCollins)
"A story of pluck, spunk and invention in the face of adversity. Nina Bricko delights with a good old-fashioned tale of thinking outside the flour sack. The lively text and playful illustrations will appeal to any kid who's had to get creative to realize their dreams."
Peter Pearson
How to Eat an Airplane (HarperCollins)

(photo by Nina. En route to her family’s holiday gathering. Kids, aunties, uncles, and grandparents = her favorite people.)

Nina b. is a Voice Over Artist at Family Handyman, your leading DIY resource for projects, renovations… and so much more. She is the voice of Season 2 of Saturday Morning Projects on the streaming channel “At Home with the Family Handyman.” She is also the Audiobook Producer for Flying Ketchup Press and produces a storytelling podcast for kids called The Story Tree (thestorytree.org). She has an MFA in Creative Writing for Children through YA from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. Her written work has been published in journals and art subscriptions, and performed live. In another life she worked as an Associate Editor for Amazon Crossing (the translation imprint of Amazon Publishing) and as a Production Manager. She is also an English instructor for Madison College, an Environmental Educator, and a mom to two awesome kids.

Stories connect us and show us possibilities. It took some deep breathes and a brave face, but I decided to make stories and words my life. My favorite part of this journey is bringing other writer’s words to life. This is why I dove into creating books, audio book narration, and voice acting. I know that it is a privilege to live this life, so I also want to make sure I create space for others too.

Work With Nina

Nina loves working with writers on their writing journey. She teaches picture book writing workshops for Flying Ketchup Press and Madison College. If you would like to work with her one-on-one, she also provides editorial and coaching services. To learn more check out her Services page or email her at Ninab.storytree@gmail.com

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