Hope

Family

by Matthew Cordell

As a family grows, so does its capacity for love, for dreams, and for hope. Two lions celebrate their grandchild and express all the ways this new life has expanded their world, and the hope they hold for his future. A companion to Matthew Cordell's stunning Wish and Dream, this picture book picks up with a new animal family celebrating their little one.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Love, Death

32 pages, Hardcover

Published February 5, 2019

About the author

Matthew Cordell is the acclaimed author and illustrator of the 2018 Caldecott winner Wolf in the Snow. He is also the author and illustrator of Trouble Gum and the illustrator of If the S in Moose Comes Loose, Toot Toot Zoom!, Mighty Casey, Righty and Lefty, and Toby and the Snowflakes, which was written by his wife. Matthew lives in the suburbs of Chicago with his wife, writer Julie Halpern, and their daughter, Romy.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great bedtime book for grandma/grandpa to read to small children!

[Kathi Rauscher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A love letter to ones grandchildren is what I thought when I read this. I loved Hope. We wonder if what we teach our children stays with them when we are gone. In this it does.

[Raven Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very spiritual Illustrations a little too influenced by Lion King themes.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit long for very young children but sweet

[Laura Aldridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so sweet and emotional. A love letter from grandparents to a grandchild about the hope the child brings and the hopes the grandparents have for the child's future.

It's poignant and so well done. A book that inspires hope, teaches life lessons and builds a relationship between grandparents and grandchild.

I highly recommend this book.

[Meredith Spidel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this sweet tale to help young ones understand and appreciate their family life and growth! Important and lovely! Thanks to Disney Books for sending an ARC my way for review.

[KC · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about a grandparents love for their grandchildren.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful.

[Ryan M. Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations. This would be a great gift/read aloud idea for grandparents.

[Michele Knott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful love letter from grandparents to their grandchildren.

[Dr. Julie Wasmund Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice book about hope addressed, "Dearest Grandchild."

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

If we only teach one thing to our children, it's they are never alone. There will always be someone to support them, guide them and love them. In an ideal world parents will wish for every child born to them and they will dream of a full future with passions pursued for each child. In life we learn other people can step into a child's life to be a parent, uncle or aunt, brother or sister or grandparent, whether they are related or not. It truly takes a village to help a child grow into a successful adult; however success is measured.

We all reach a time in our lives when we look back seeing the significance of those who came before us and the promises they held for us. We understand our purpose as children, parents and grandparents. Above all things we foster a belief, something essential, in our hearts for children. Hope (Disney Hyperion, February 5, 2019) written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell speaks to the importance of the connection between generations. It is a love letter from grandparents to a beloved grandchild.


My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...

[Sandra Vea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this children's book...

[Amy Allgeier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these books. This isn't my all-time favorite (nothing can top WISH), but it's still very good. Great for grandparents to give to a grandchild or even for someone to buy for a grandparent.

[Kaila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I read this at work and I straight up cried. Beautiful book, touching story.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost wish this one wasn't so specific to grandparents talking directly to their grandchild, but had more of a universal feel with the text, as I think this same sentiment could be hoped for by any adults in a child's life.
This companion to Cordell's Wish & Dream brings the love for a child's future full circle. (And, yes, some Lion King circle of life comparisons could be made in this one, & might be by kids). I see this more as a gift for adults in a child's life or for those grandparents to gift a child. For a baby shower or graduation gift or for those who may be grieving the loss of a grandparents, it could be a good fit.

[Bobbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching book every grandparent should have! Two lions explain the world, and the wonderful hopes and dreams they have for their grandchild's future. It's simply and beautifully written and brought me to tears. Lovely illustrations, too.

My thanks to the author and publisher for the ARC. The book will be available on February 5, 2019.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes I read it. Six times. I'll read it a hundred more. Available to the public on February 5th, it is a must read, and a must have. A fabulous graduation gift to your grandchildren.

Read with tissues.

I will campaign for it to win whatever award it can win. AMAZING!!!!!!!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in the companion series joining Wish and Dream, this book speaks to grandparents and the joys, hopes, and wonder grandchildren will offer and bring to those that love them.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honest, but too sad to give to a young child.

[Christine D · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was nice but quite somber for a children's picture book.

[Mavis’s Dad · Rating 1 out of 5]

Given as a gift from someone who was not Mavis’s grandparent, Hope was set to be tonight’s read. It looked like a Circle of Life type book with lions and safaris. We got the circle of life alright, up to and including (and I think over focusing on) death. This book is about the special love only grandparents can provide - from earth at first and then from the beyond in spirit. It’s like Coco, except really depressing.

Moral: Your job is to carry on family traditions as grandparents and parents die - and that will happen.

Length: 32 pages - and from about page 3, impending doom drags on and on. By page 16, when you’re looking at a memorial alter for grandpa, you’ll wish you picked out Goodnight Moon again for your bedtime story.

Favorite Line: “And in twilight, we have grown tired.”

Overall impression: We live in strange, often dark, times. Call me an old timer (maybe I was mistaken as a grandparent by the gift provider?) but I think we’ll just talk about death with the little one when the time comes without a Disney Press faux Lion King picture book. I’m banishing this book from our nursery.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book seems especially poignant to me because a few weeks ago my last remaining grandparent passed away at the age of 98. And while my grandmother lived a good, full life, I've really been struck by the passage of time and how I am so very similar to her. The beautifully painted illustrations along with the heartfelt words passed between grandparents and grandchild make this a wonderful book for families to share with each other. It would be wonderful to follow up the sharing of this book with writing letters to the family members that mean so much to us.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pair of lions write five letters to their grandchild about the hope they feel with his birth, hope for the future, and to always look for hope even in difficult times. They also let him know that although they will not be around forever, he will never be alone because "our love for you will shine" and they will bring hope to him. The final letter is from the grandchild, now an adult, to his grandparents and how he knows that his grandparents are in him and all of his children and that all of them shine on. It has all the feels and I got a little weepy.

[Abby Johnson]

Written as a letter from grandparents to a grandchild, this book expresses things that grandparents might want to tell grandchildren. A grandchild brings new hope for the future and for future generations. Honestly, I can't quite figure out the audience or occasion for this book and it reads to me most like something that would be read at a grandparent's funeral or maybe read with a child upon the death of a grandparent? Which is not a bad thing, it just seems oddly specific and yet oddly general at the same time.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this beautiful picture book and immediately had to search my library for other books by Matthew. What a beautiful story with beautiful illustrations all by Matthew! Everyone with children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc. should get a copy of and/or read this book!! I am going to recommend it to a couple of people I know who have just become grandparents. I hope they love it as much as I do!! Kudos Matthew on such a beautiful and heartfelt story, you made me get all misty!!

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just beautiful. As a grandparent, it gave me all the feels.
I planned on reading it to a group of kindergarteners. Before starting it, I asked them what they hoped for. After I finally just asked those who hoped for Pokemon cards to put up their hands, we got on to other hopes. I was honoured by their big wishes for the world, their families and each other. They might be little, but they are a force to be reckoned with.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars -- Any book that depicts lion families and their lifecycle will naturally invite comparisons to "The Lion King." This is a story in which grandparents speak to a new child, sharing their hopes and dreams for the child and the world in which he grows up. The youngster is reminded that the one constant is change, but their love for him will not change, even when they pass away.

[Norkett · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice story for a grandchild and grandparents to share even though you may find it a bit on the depressing side, as the thought of the grandparents passing came to our minds. It had us wondering if this was the story surrounding the new version of The Lion King, especially since it's a Disney publication.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this, it just didn't move me the way I thought it would. I think the story and the imagery are lovely and I think this story holds a special place in storytelling. I think this would be a really powerful thing for families to read together since its message about passing down love and learning through generations is so strong.