Hope Wins : A Collection of Inspiring Stories for Young Readers

Hope Wins: A Collection of Inspiring Stories for Young Readers

Edited by Rose Brock

Philomel, Nonfiction, May 10,2022

Pages: 208

Suitable for ages 8-12

Themes: Hope, Change, Difficulty, Inspiration

Publisher’s Synopsis:

Where does hope live?

In your family?

In your community?

In your school?

In your heart?

From a family restaurant to a hot-dog shaped car, from an empty road on a moonlight night to a classroom holiday celebration, this anthology of personal stories from award-winning and bestselling authors, shows that hope can live everywhere, even—or especially—during the darkest of times.

No matter what happens: Hope wins.

Contributors include: Tom Angleberger, James Bird, Max Brallier, Julie Buxbaum, Pablo Cartaya, J.C. Cervantes, Soman Chainani, Matt de la Peña, Stuart Gibbs, Adam Gidwitz, Karina Yan Glaser, Veera Hiranandani, Hena Khan, Gordon Korman, Janae Marks, Sarah Mlynowski, Rex Ogle, James Ponti, Pam Muñoz Ryan, Ronald L.Smith, Christina Soontornvat, and R.L. Stine.

What I like about this book:

I love that Rose Brock took her book Hope Nation and created a younger version for for middle grade readers. Brock carefully selected a cast of 22 bestselling children’s authors and asked them to share a personal story about what hope meant to them in their youth and its impact on them today

Readers will discover how very different hope is for each author. For me, each offering reads like a letter from a friend. There is something in this book for everyone. Hope is a very personal idea or thought for each of us. How I describe it is different from how you describe it.

Christina Soontornvat shares stories about working in her family’s Asian restaurant and the valuable life lessons she learned working around people that aren’t taught in school. I enjoyed her observation about how we are all “influencers” no matter what we do. Gordon Korman’s shares a story about his 7th grade English teacher asking students to write a novel. Korman’s novel ends up being published when he’s in eighth grade. That experience inspires him to become an author — something he never thought about. Hena Khan shares what it means to feel different in school and how it forms her personality. Suart Gibbs shares his truth about adversity and grief following the death of a loved one. Adam Gidwitz shares his lifelong struggle with “coolness” and he has some interesting insight into how he turns it around. Pablo Cartaya writes a letter to his eighth-grade daughter upon her graduation. R.L. Stine shares his ghostly encounter.

Each tale is heartfelt, moving and filled with encouragement. Hope describe a variety of different experiences. For many it represents inspiration and the possibility of a positive outcome during difficult times. I found it interesting how each author thought about hope. And some didn’t believe in hope and found ways to hope for negativity. I highly recommended for middle grad readers to encourage them to think, dream and discover what hope means in their lives.

And take a moment to admire the gorgeous cover illustration by Vashti Harrison. It is so warm and appealing and will draw readers. And there is a a lovely Introduction to the book by Dr. Rose Brock at the beginning that readers won’t want to miss!

Dr. Rose Brock is a professor and educator at Sam Houston State University who has dedicated her career to turning young people into book lovers. Building relationships with readers through books is her superpower. In addition to her career as a librarian and educator, Dr. Brock is the cofounder of NTTBF, the North Texas Teen Book Festival, the largest library run book festival for young people in the country. Dr. Brock was awarded the Siddie Joe Johnson Award for Outstanding Service to Youth by the Texas Library Association. She is the editor of Hope Nation: Young Adult Authors Share Personal Moments of Inspiration and author of Young Adult Literature in Action: A Librarian’s Guide. Visit her online at drrosebrock.com.

Greg Pattridge hosts Marvelous Middle Grade Monday posts on his wonderful Always in the Middle website. Make sure you check out the many links to see all of the wonderful reviews by KidLit bloggers and authors.

*This book was gifted to me by Greg Pattridge as he knew I was dealing with a lot of personal challenges a few months ago. It is an uplifting read for adults too. Thank you Greg!

Why Am I by Colleen McCarthy-Evans

Why Am I

Colleen McCarthy-Evans, Author

Sarah Dietz, Illustrator

Seven Seas Press, Fiction, Aug. 31, 2020

Suitable for ages: 3 -103

Themes: Love, Respect, Humans, Animals, Nature, Life, Inspirational

Opening: “Why Am I / Said the Boy to the Sky / You bring us great joy / Said the Sky to the Boy”

Amazon Synopsis:

Come along on a journey through a dreamy day in our amazing world, starting in the dewy dawn and ending with a dance by the light of the full moon. We’ll meet charming characters and learn about their purpose and preciousness, through fun and playful rhythm and rhyme. This joyful book is a meditation that reminds us that every person, animal and thing in the world has special qualities we can appreciate, value and love about them. And we are all so much more than we believe we are. For ages 3 to 103.

Why I like this book:

Colleen McCarthy-Evans’s Why Am I, is a captivating ode to the wonder and mystery of our world. “Why Am I” is a universal question that children and adults like to ask and ponder. The lyrical narrative reminds readers that nature, animals and human beings have qualities that we all love, appreciate and respect — from the joy of a child to a kiss from a mother; from the sweetness of a honeybee to cheerful chirp of a bird; and from the motion of the ocean to our trust in the galaxy. The language is easy for little ones to understand and yet appropriate for older children and adults. Readers will learn to love and respect themselves and the wonderful world they live in. This is a very timely picture book.

Why Am I is a perfect quiet time story that will encourage soul-searching conversations between children and parents. The book is a perfect blend of gentle words and Sarah Dietz’s inspiring and beautiful illustrations, which will capture readers imaginations.

The Spanish edition of the book, Por Que Soy / Why Am I, was published on November 9.

Resources: Make sure you read the Author’s Note at the end. The author has also created two pages of Discussion/Activities for parents and teachers to use to spark discussions. For example: Take a walk around your school or neighborhood and name a quality for each person, animal, tree, garden, and park that you see. There are so many ways to use this beautiful book.

Colleen McCarthy-Evans is an award-winning creator of books and board games for children and families. She is the author of The Little Blue Dragon. She’s a co-founder and former Director of Operations of the Santa Barbara Charter School (est. 1993), whose mission is to teach Conflict Resolution along with Academics and the Arts. She lives in Santa Barbara, California with her husband and dogs, loves to practice and teach yoga, and enjoys being in and out of the garden with her two grown sons, extended family and friends.

Every Friday, authors and KidLit bloggers post a favorite picture book. To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books (PPB) with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s website.

*Review copy provided by the author in exchange for a review.

Bunheads by Misty Copeland

Bunheads

Misty Copeland, Author

Setor Fiadzigbey, Illustrator

G.P. Putnam’s Sons, Fiction, Sep. 29, 2020

Suitable for ages: 5-8

Themes: Misty Copeland, Ballet dancing, Coppélia, Inspirational, Diversity

Opening: “When Miss Bradley announced they’d be performing the ballet Coppélia “Co-pay-lee-ah,” for the recital, everyone in Misty’s class shouted excitedly and gathered around to hear their teacher tell the story of Coppélia.”

Synopsis:

From prima ballerina and New York Times bestselling author Misty Copeland comes the story of a young Misty, who discovers her love of dance through the ballet Coppélia–a story about a toymaker who devises a villainous plan to bring a doll to life.

Misty is so captivated by the tale and its heroine, Swanilda, she decides to audition for the role. But she’s never danced ballet before; in fact, this is the very first day of her very first dance class!

Though Misty is excited, she’s also nervous. But as she learns from her fellow bunheads, she makes wonderful friends who encourage her to do her very best. Misty’s nerves quickly fall away, and with a little teamwork, the bunheads put on a show to remember.

Featuring the stunning artwork of newcomer Setor Fiadzigbey, Bunheads is an inspiring tale for anyone looking for the courage to try something new.

Why I like this book:

A magical and inclusive tale, Misty Copeland’s childhood story will undoubtedly inspire a new generation of young aspiring dancers. Misty falls in love with dance at her first ballet class, when Miss Bradley tells the story of a lonely toymaker who makes a beautiful life-size doll named Coppélia. She is so lovely that a boy falls in love with her and the toymaker hopes that love may bring the the doll to life. Misty is mesmerized by the ballet.

Misty is a natural talent and eagerly practices the positions and movements with her class. She quickly picks up the steps, not realizing that Miss Bradley is watching her graceful movements. The teacher pairs Misty with Cat, a very talented dancer who shows her the dance of Coppélia. The two girls become best friends and learn from each other as they continue to dance together. During the auditions Cat wins the lead role Coppélia and Misty wins the part of Swanilda. As they rehearse their roles, they inspire each other.

Setor Fiadzigbey’s illustrations are stunning. He beautifully captures the joy, energy, and strength of the dancers, and the thrilling emotion and spirit of the ballet performance. This is a perfect gift book and a thrilling read for girls who dream of dancing.

Resources: If you your child hasn’t seen a ballet, take them to a live performance like The Nutcracker. But with the many COVID restrictions, you can view many Misty Copeland videos on Youtube.

Misty Copeland made history in 2015 when she was the first black woman to be promoted to principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, one of the most prominent classical ballet companies in the world. She is also the author of the award-winning picture book Firebird. You may visit Misty Copeland online.

*Reviewed from a library book.

Trevor and Me by Yuno Imai

Trevor and Me

Yuno Imai, Author

Liuba Syroliuk, Illustrator

Yumo Imai, Fiction, Jun. 16, 2020

Suitable for ages: 5-9

Themes: Intergenerational friendship, Declining health, Loss, Grief, Inspirational

Opening: “Trevor is my best friend. With a shining smile like the sun, silver curly hair, and a wrinkled face He always wears his favorite red beret.”

Publisher’s Synopsis:

Trevor and Me defies the boundaries of age, gender and race. It is a heartwarming story based on the real-life friendship between an elderly Caucasian man and a young Asian girl. As Trevor’s health starts to decline and he prepares to die, he promises to always be with the girl even after he’s gone. Trevor dies and the girl is filled with grief until one day she begins to receive signs to let her know Trevor is and always will be with her.

Why I like this book:

Trevor and Me is a celebration of life and portrays an afterlife in a non-religious, beautiful and gentle manner. It is an inspirational and poetic journey about the unbreakable friendship between a girl and her special grandfatherly friend, Trevor. They enjoy long walks in the park and stops at a café until one day the girl notices he is growing weak. Trevor begins to prepare the girl for his death and promises to always watch over her.

Trevor and Me is based on the author’s own real-life experience with an elderly gentleman, named Trevor. It is with great love that she turns her experience into such an uplifting story to read and discuss with children who have lost a grandparent or family member. Trevor and Me brings hope and puts a smile on your face. Liuba Syroliuk’s delicate illustrations and beautiful watercolor illustrations evoke emotions of love, grief, and joy. Lovely collaboration.

Resources/Activities: Help children plant a special tree in memory of a loved one. Have them draw or write about special memories they had with the loved one so they won’t forget. Make a memory box where you can put something special the belonged to a loved one side. You may want to add photos, card/letters written to the child by the loved one. This will help a child touch, read and look at the items so they keep their favorite memories alive.

Yuno Imai is a Los Angeles based children’s author, food and travel writer, and copy editor. She is also author of the book, The Last Meal. She is originally from Hamamatsu, Japan, and came to the United States as a high school foreign exchange student in a small Kansas town. After graduating from high school in Japan, she returned to the US to attend San Francisco State University. She graduated with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. She has over 10 years experience as a translator and has work extensively for major American and Japanese companies and celebrity clients. Visit Yuno at her website.

*Review copy provided by the author in exchange for a review.

The Three Sunflowers

The Three Sunflowers

Janet Lucy, Author

Colleen McCarthy-Evans, Illustrator

Publishing by the Seas, Fiction, November 2012

Suitable for Ages: 4 and up

Themes: Sunflowers, Life Cycles, Nature, Courage, Faith, Harmony, Peace, Patience, Wisdom

Opening: “Dawn awoke early one morning washing the summer sky in fresh new shades of pink, orange and lavender.”

Synopsis: Life in the garden was alive with activity. Gloria, a tall and wise sunflower, sprung up earlier in the season near a pepper tree. She was once a black and white seed in one of the bird feeders. She was dropped by a bird to the ground where she planted herself and grew. Two smaller sunflowers, Sunny and Solita, grew beside Gloria. Their day was peaceful until a hawk swooped down to the feeders and disturbed the tranquility in the garden. The birds flew off. Solita and Sunny were frightened and shouted at the hawk. But, Gloria reminded them “We are sunflowers, golden and radiant.” “Our job is to be loving and peaceful wherever we stand.” Peace returned to the garden, but later that afternoon a thunderstorm darkened the skies and threatened the strength and stability of the sunflowers. Once again Sunny and Solita held on by their roots afraid they might tumble. Gloria reached for their stalks and pulled them close. Their resiliency was tested in the face of a big storm.

Why I like this book: Janet Lucy has created an inspiring book for children with many gentle life lessons about staying centered when turbulence is swirling around you, being who you are supposed to be, living in the moment, being present with those we love and being thankful. These are all concepts children will grasp. There is so much depth to this story and I had to be careful not to give it away. With spring around the corner, it is also a story about life cycles, death, and transformation. Colleen McCarthy-Evans’s watercolor illustrations are exquisite and perfect for the story.

Resources: Sunflowers are an international symbol of Peace. Lucy urges children to plant seeds of peace in their gardens. You only need to visit The Three Sunflowers website to find wonderful resources, activities and a teaching guide to share with children. I was intrigued with how many virtues are included in this story, all great topics for discussion.

Every Friday, authors and KidLit bloggers post a favorite picture book. To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Books.

Because Amelia Smiled

Because Amelia Smiled

David Ezra Stein, author and illustrator

Candlewick Press, Fiction, September 2012

Suitable for: Ages 4 -8

Theme: A child’s smile inspires happiness, kindness and love

Opening/Synopsis: “Because Amelia smiled, coming down the street…Mrs. Higgins smiled, too. She thought of her grandson, Lionel, in Mexico and baked some cookies to send to him.” Lionel shares the cookies with his class and teaches them an English song. His act inspires a student in his class to film her kickboxing skills, who in turn inspires a ballet club in England. These acts of kindness start a ripple effect that takes the reader to England, Israel, Paris, Italy and back to New York City and Amelia. It only takes one big smile from a little girl to ignite a chain reaction from people around the world.

Why I like this book: Stein’s book shows children the power of how we are all connected to people we know and don’t know. Everything thing we do has an impact on someone else. And, with the internet and social media, our actions within our global family becomes even more important. With Amelia her unknowing act of kindness spreads like wildfire around the world. Too often we see the negative and it is an inspiring message to share with children and adults. And Stein urges readers of his book to “Pass it on.” The illustrations are very detailed and done with pencil, water-soluble crayons, and watercolor. Stein is the author-illustrator of Interrupting Chicken, which was awarded a Caldecott Honor.

Resources: This picture book alone stands as a powerful tool for parents and teachers to encourage children to do acts of kindness at home, school, and in their neighborhoods and communities. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is a great resource for classroom activities. Candlewick has a page about the story behind the book.

The Dot — International Dot Day

The Dot

Peter H. Reynolds, author and illustrator

Candlewick Press, Fiction, Sep. 15, 2003

Suitable for: Ages 5 and up

Themes: Art, Imagination, Self-Confidence, Inspiration

Opening/Synopsis: “Art class was over, but Vashti sat glued to her chair. Her paper was empty. Vashti’s teacher leaned over the blank paper. ‘Ah! A polar bear in a snow storm,’ she said. ‘ ‘Very funny! said Vashti. ‘I just can’t draw!” Her teacher asks Vashti to just make a mark. Vashti angrily gives the paper a jab. She asks Vashti to sign it. One morning Vashti walks into art class and sees her signed “dot” hanging in a frame behind the teacher’s desk. She decides she can make a better dot and begins to paint dots of all colors and sizes.

Why I love this book: Peter Reynolds has written and illustrated an inspirational book that encourages children of all ages to be brave and “make their mark.” There is no right or wrong way. He wants kids of all ages to imagine, dream and create. And this week over 500,000 children in all 50 states and around the globe will be participating in International Dot Day, whether in their classrooms or at home. Many kidlit bloggers will be making their dots this week. My dot is below.

Resources: Create your own dot. Visit http://www.thedotclub.org/dotday/ to learn more about International Dot Day, activity suggestions, resources, a global map showing participants and a peek at the dots being created by celebrities. There also is a Facebook page devoted to International Dot Day with frequent updates. There also is a teacher’s resource guide for Reynold’s The Dot and Ish. Below is the dot I created on my iPad with ArtRage. Check out the dot made by my colleague Beth Stilborn , who also encouraged bloggers to post their dots.

To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Books.

My Dot

Patricia Howe Tilton 2012

The Next Place – Grief

The Next Place

Warren Hanson, Author and Illustrator

Waldman House Press, Fiction, 1997

Suitable for: Ages 5 and Up

Theme: Grief and Bereavement, Celebration of Life

Opening and Synopsis: “The next place I go will be as peaceful and familiar as a sleepy summer Sunday and a sweet, untroubled mind. And yet…it won’t be anything like any place I’ve ever been…or seen… or even dreamed of in the place I leave behind. I won’t know where I’m going, and I won’t know where I’ve been as I tumble through the always and look back toward the when.” This is a beautiful picture book for children and adults about letting go to a place where light and love will shine forever. After 9/11, a grassroots effort formed called “The Next Place Network, and this book was given to surviving families.

Says Warren Hanson about his book: ““The Next Place is a peaceful, comforting, quiet and hopeful book for times when we face the loss of someone we love. Or for when we face the reality of our own certain death. It is very deliberately not a traditionally religious look at death and the hereafter. We live in a world of many beliefs and backgrounds. I did not want the book to leave anyone out of its message of comfort. So I created the words and the illustrations in such a way that I hoped the reader would bring his or her own faith to it. Since the book came out, it has been embraced by people of many different religions and beliefs.”

Why I like this book: Warren Hanson’s book is a celebration of life and portrays an afterlife in a non-religious, beautiful and soft way. It is an inspirational and poetic journey about death. The illustrations are gorgeous. This is a book I would give to a family that is dealing with the loss of a loved one. It is an uplifting book to read and discuss with children when they have lost a member of a family through war, an illness, an accident. It would also be helpful to share if you have a family will soon making a transition. This book brings hope and puts a smile on your face. Kids will be so much more open to talking and asking questions.

Activities: Have children plant a special tree in memory of a loved one. Have them draw or write about special memories so they won’t forget. Make a memory box where you can put something special that belonged to a loved one inside. You may want to add photos, cards/letters written to the child by the loved one. That way kids can touch, read, and look at the items, and keep their memories alive.

Bucketfilling — Family and Classroom Books Encourage Positive Behavior

I stumbled upon two very similar books based on a concept I admit I was not familiar with, bucketfilling, designed to help parents and teachers focus on building character in pre-school and elementary school children. I did further research and discovered that there is a programs for teachers to use the concept in their classrooms — and there are examples of how it is being used in schools. Since I just wrote a post July 5 on The Family Virtue Guide, I thought this would be a nice companion. It essentially works with many virtues/values we hope to instill in children. This is a great school project!

Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids, is written by Carol McCloud and illustrated by David Messing for pre-schoolers to age 8 years. Actually the author says that filling the bucket begins at birth when parents love, hold, touch, care, play, and read to their children. You are filling an invisible bucket for your child as well as your own. As children grow, it is important that they are also taught to love, be kind, helpful, unselfish and respectful of others. McCloud wrote this book and designed a program to teach the daily practice of bucketfilling. David Messing’s illustrations are colorful, bold and captivating and support the message. The characters are multi-cultural and have disabilities. There also is a companion guide for young children, Fill a Bucket.

This book visually conveys a very simple but profound message children will understand — and it’s fun because the illustrations speak to you! Everyday people from all over the world, walk around carrying an invisible bucket. You can’t see it, but it’s there. That means children, parents, siblings, grandparents, friends, neighbors, classmates and people you don’t even know, all have an invisible bucket. There is only one purpose for the bucket — to hold your good thoughts and feelings about yourself. You fill your bucket when you are kind to someone, smile, give someone a hug, listen when they are sad, run an errand or say hello to a stranger. You fill someone else’s bucket, but you also fill your own bucket. When you feel sad, upset and lonely your bucket is empty. It also can be empty when you are mean or hurtful to someone. That’s called “bucket dipping.” Then everyone’s bucket is empty. But, when you are a bucket filler, you make your home, school, community and world a better place to be.

How Full is Your Bucket? For Kids, is written by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer, Ph.D. and illustrated by Maurie J. Manning. Rath co-wrote the book with the late Dr. Donald O. Clifton, who has shared his “bucket” story since the 1960s. The original book was an adult non-fiction, which became the basis for this children’s story book. Reckmeyer is Executive Director of the Donald O. Clifton Child Development Center for 25 years, and has helped thousands of kids build lives around their strengths. The authors have written this book in story form.

Felix is building a block tower and his persistent little sister wants to help. He repeatedly tells her NO! Fed up, feisty Anna grabs her doll and takes a big whack at the tower and it tumbles. Felix yells for Grandpa, who begins to tell Felix about the invisible buckets that everyone has over their heads. He tells Felix he just emptied his sister’s bucket with his actions. The next morning Felix wakes up and sees a small bucket floating above his head. The bucket is full and as he goes through his day, he begins to see how his interactions with other kids, empty and fill his bucket, drop by drop. He wonders what it feels like when you have an empty bucket. Once he learns how easy it is to be helpful to his classmates and his sister, he is excited and happy. As Felix realizes that every drop he helped put into someone else’s bucket, he felt a drop in his own bucket.

Unstoppable Me! and No Excuses! Mental Health Awareness Month

Unstoppable Me! 10 Ways to Soar Through Life, is written by Dr. Wayne Dyer, with Kristina Tracy, and is published by Hay House, Inc. The illustrations by Stacy Heller Budnick, are colorful and enchanting. Although Dr. Dyer would like the concepts in his books introduced to children as early as two years of age, I believe kids ages 4 to 8 years, benefit most– and parents. This book is based on Dr. Dyer’s adult book What Do You Really Want for Your Children?

Dr. Dyer has effectively used rhyme in a fun way to communicate the 10 concepts in his book. It is a heartwarming book that encourages kids to become the most that they can be. He begins with “You’re great-no matter what, persistence pays off, welcome to the unknown, you have a choice, farewell to worry, peace begins with you, enjoy the here-and-now, healthy me, creativity is the key, and what can you give.” Dyer’s messages build such positive self-esteem for children, in ways that a child will easily and eagerly understand. For example he says, “change is a good thing and if you embrace it instead of fear it, life will always be an adventure.” His challenge to children is to think about what “you can give and not what you can get.” At the end of the book is a very important section where children and parents can answer questions about how they might handle a situation. A great way for a parent to learn about what is on their child’s mind.

No Excuses!: How What You Can Say Can Get in Your Way is another book written by Dr. Wayne Dyer with Kristina Tracy and illustrated by Stacy Heller Budnick. It is for children 4 to 8 years of age.

This is a story about a boy who loves turtles and wants to become a marine biologist, but isn’t supported and encouraged by those around him. He begins to doubt himself and gives up on his dream saying “I’m not smart enough…it’s too hard…it will take too long and cost too much .” While visiting an aquarium, the boy meets a marine biologist who changes his life, and gives him the first encouragement he needs to begin to work through his excuses and gain self-confidence. This book delivers a powerful message. It’s well-suited for parents and teachers to use with children, to help them name the excuses they make that prevent them from reaching their full potential. As with all Dr. Dyer’s books, there is a list and a quiz at the end where kids can discuss whether a sentence is an excuse.

I believe we are undergoing a major paradigm shift in how we teach our children. Children are so open and receptive to new thoughts and ideas. Dr. Dyer’s book would be great tools for teachers to use with pre-schoolers through elementary. After giving this more thought, it would be good for parents to start introducing his books at age two, and continue to read them repeatedly through elementary school. What better way to affirm your child’s greatness, encourage possibility and reach their full potential.