A children's book lived in my friend's iPhone notes app for over a year. Recently, it went home in Brave Packs to children in Michigan hospitals. The Smallest Spark, our first partnership, is a story about quiet bravery.
Mary Kate Vincent, founder of State of Grace, wrote this story, inspired by her own family's journey. It's for the community of families she serves, the ones navigating a medical diagnosis or a disability. Since 2023, she's delivered 250 Brave Packs to children across pediatric hospitals in Michigan, tote bags filled with comforting activities for children walking through some of their hardest moments.
The Smallest Spark is the story of Lumen, a tiny firefly whose glow feels too small for the world around her, until a storm rolls in and the fireflies need someone to help them find their way home. It's about quiet bravery, the kind that flickers softly but never goes out, the courage that lives inside every child. For the reminder that your spark is still shining, even on days when the world feels heavy.
Wallace Stories is a public benefit corporation, which means our mission is written into how we're built. We're excited to build community partnerships, serving the families who've never had a story that feels like theirs. The Smallest Spark is the first of those books.
Every Wallace storybook gives back. We're committed to setting aside a portion of every book we sell for community organizations we believe in, from disability advocates to children's hospitals. These are the people who show up for the families we build books for. We're choosing our partners now, and we'll share who we support and how much we've given as the program grows.
Visit stateofgrace-mi.com for more on Mary Kate's mission. You can also sponsor a Brave Pack, or send one to a child you know who's facing a hospital stay or diagnosis.