What do you think?
Rate this book
Hope, Where Are You?
Hope, Where Are You? Is the story of six children around the world who are experiencing school closures because of the Pandemic. Each story follows a similar pattern of frustration/challenge, finding their hope and importantly spreading their hope to others. Along with the six main characters, you will also find the illustrated characters of ‘Hope’ and ‘Germ’ who add a comedic twist.
32 pages, ebook
Published May 1, 2020
63 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 5, 2020
I saw a news story about some children in the United States having to sit in a Taco Bell parking lot because that was the only way to access WiFi for remote learning. Millions of children in Asia have had their education suspended because their families cannot afford electricity, let alone internet connections. And I know of many European families that had to sell off their possessions to have enough money for food and other necessities. You'd think these kinds of stories would make excellent material for a book that discusses the effects of Covid-19 on children, their education and their sense of hope, but oh no, you'd be wrong.
The exploration of socio-economic issues in this book is so superficial, it's a disservice to any child who reads it. The two award-winning educators behind this book really thought to themselves, "We need to represent all walks of life, so showing children living in poverty is essential. But we only need one impoverished child or the book will be too depressing, so... which continent immediately comes to mind when we say "poverty"? Oh, we know! Good old Africa!" Every other child gets yoga classes, 3D printers at home, baking cookies and a neighbourhood jam session on their balconies. What does the African child get? The prospect of unburdening her family by abandoning school and becoming a child bride.
Do families like Mulu's exist in Africa? Yes. Are they every African family's story? Hell no... but the wee kiddies don't need to know that, do they? No, no. Reality isn't important. Perspective isn't important. What IS important is pumping out loads of poverty porn and catering it to as many different age groups as possible so that the pseudo-woke among us can feel like they're REALLY doing something positive for the world. It's honestly surreal that in 2020, people would think it's a brilliant idea to resort to stereotypes this shameful and unintelligent about the lives of Africans vs. everyone else. And this piece of self-gratifying dross is connected to UNICEF? What a fail.
The exploration of socio-economic issues in this book is so superficial, it's a disservice to any child who reads it. The two award-winning educators behind this book really thought to themselves, "We need to represent all walks of life, so showing children living in poverty is essential. But we only need one impoverished child or the book will be too depressing, so... which continent immediately comes to mind when we say "poverty"? Oh, we know! Good old Africa!" Every other child gets yoga classes, 3D printers at home, baking cookies and a neighbourhood jam session on their balconies. What does the African child get? The prospect of unburdening her family by abandoning school and becoming a child bride.
Do families like Mulu's exist in Africa? Yes. Are they every African family's story? Hell no... but the wee kiddies don't need to know that, do they? No, no. Reality isn't important. Perspective isn't important. What IS important is pumping out loads of poverty porn and catering it to as many different age groups as possible so that the pseudo-woke among us can feel like they're REALLY doing something positive for the world. It's honestly surreal that in 2020, people would think it's a brilliant idea to resort to stereotypes this shameful and unintelligent about the lives of Africans vs. everyone else. And this piece of self-gratifying dross is connected to UNICEF? What a fail.
October 4, 2020
Occasionally I will read a children's book; something light and innocent to bring a smile to my face, you know.
This wasn't it.
Firstly, the subject matter is pretty heavy. Which is fine. And actually appropriate, given the times in which we live. The book is 6 stories of kids from around the world who have to deal with various challenges because of school closures and COVID-19.
And that's where I got irritated.
While all the other children struggle with feeling lonely, missing their friends, grieving the loss of grandparents, being bored etc, the African child, Mulu, has to contend with poverty and fearing her dad is going to sell her off as a child bride.
WTF?!
They don't even suggest that the challenges she's facing are due to COVID-19. Its just taken to be the case that her dad cant afford the school fees and to feed 3 young girls.
Also...all the other kids live in houses. Why does our African child have to live in a crowded hut? Mulu also walks 2 hours to school, because God-forbid that we could write about the millions of kids across the continent who are driven to school in cars or use public transport.
In 2020, there really is no excuse for such (racist) stereotypes particularly when writing books for children. This is precisely how ignorance spreads.
Awful, awful book. It was free but didn't justify that price tag.
This wasn't it.
Firstly, the subject matter is pretty heavy. Which is fine. And actually appropriate, given the times in which we live. The book is 6 stories of kids from around the world who have to deal with various challenges because of school closures and COVID-19.
And that's where I got irritated.
While all the other children struggle with feeling lonely, missing their friends, grieving the loss of grandparents, being bored etc, the African child, Mulu, has to contend with poverty and fearing her dad is going to sell her off as a child bride.
WTF?!
They don't even suggest that the challenges she's facing are due to COVID-19. Its just taken to be the case that her dad cant afford the school fees and to feed 3 young girls.
Also...all the other kids live in houses. Why does our African child have to live in a crowded hut? Mulu also walks 2 hours to school, because God-forbid that we could write about the millions of kids across the continent who are driven to school in cars or use public transport.
In 2020, there really is no excuse for such (racist) stereotypes particularly when writing books for children. This is precisely how ignorance spreads.
Awful, awful book. It was free but didn't justify that price tag.
May 27, 2020
Meet Mulu. She is from Africa, so she lives in a hut and is hungrey and walks 2 hours to school each day.
May 28, 2020
A book for teens and older pre-teens on how different children their age from different cultural groups cope with social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is written as if a voice is given to each of these children, but I wonder if real children could have had an imput as they are stereotypical images of the places and cultures that they come from. However, it is a small book covering a very big and very sensitive topic. I look at my grandsons : the eldest was happy to settle into a regime like his normal school day except he would multitask with the television being both an aid and a distraction. The youngest is autistic but functioning in a school setting, found it hard to cope with the new regime of workbooks and video imput. It is a new schedule that he found hard and he found it hard not to be distracted, work only on what he was interested in, and find motivation to finish projects.
The elder found socialisation through the computer as normal. The younger one was isolated and wanted continual reassurance and urging from his mother who was working from home, and had to try and divide her time and energy. I think that it is sad that we are heading back to school before it is fully safe for our children. This book did not cover, except briefly and sadly, this aspect of what is normal life for all children now. I think the children it was aimed at should have been given more credit for their ability to understand. I haven't found, though, anything similar for younger children. And it should be on school reading lists everywhere for right now.
The elder found socialisation through the computer as normal. The younger one was isolated and wanted continual reassurance and urging from his mother who was working from home, and had to try and divide her time and energy. I think that it is sad that we are heading back to school before it is fully safe for our children. This book did not cover, except briefly and sadly, this aspect of what is normal life for all children now. I think the children it was aimed at should have been given more credit for their ability to understand. I haven't found, though, anything similar for younger children. And it should be on school reading lists everywhere for right now.
May 20, 2020
Kali ini Lego Foundation yang membagikan buku gratis sehubungan dengan Pandemi Covid-19.
Hope, Where Are You? bercerita tentang 6 orang anak yang berada di Afrika, Oceana, Amerika Utara, Asia, Amerika Latin dan Eropa. Mereka masing-masing memiliki tantangan yang berbeda, misalkan Mulu yang tak hanya menghadapi pandemi namun juga pernikahan anak, Alessandro yang kehilangan nenek dan tak bisa menghadiri pemakaman sang nenek; atau Bo anak seorang dokter yang terpaksa diasuh tante karena orang tua menjaga jarak demi keselamatan Bo.
Armand Doucet, Elisa Guerra dan Ana RoGu mendedikasikan buku ini bagi komunitas dan persona yang berjuang menjaga cahaya dalam kehidupan anak-anak.
This book is dedicated to every single person who is trying to keep that light shining in our children.
Terima kasih Armand, Ana, Elisa & Lego Foundation.
Hope, Where Are You? bercerita tentang 6 orang anak yang berada di Afrika, Oceana, Amerika Utara, Asia, Amerika Latin dan Eropa. Mereka masing-masing memiliki tantangan yang berbeda, misalkan Mulu yang tak hanya menghadapi pandemi namun juga pernikahan anak, Alessandro yang kehilangan nenek dan tak bisa menghadiri pemakaman sang nenek; atau Bo anak seorang dokter yang terpaksa diasuh tante karena orang tua menjaga jarak demi keselamatan Bo.
Armand Doucet, Elisa Guerra dan Ana RoGu mendedikasikan buku ini bagi komunitas dan persona yang berjuang menjaga cahaya dalam kehidupan anak-anak.
This book is dedicated to every single person who is trying to keep that light shining in our children.
Terima kasih Armand, Ana, Elisa & Lego Foundation.
October 10, 2021
Schools are closed everywhere and the kids were stuck at home. See how kids from all over the world feel about it and what they do to cope. They’re just seeking a little bit of hope.
A nice story, but the pictures could’ve been better and the text should’ve been easier to read.
A nice story, but the pictures could’ve been better and the text should’ve been easier to read.
May 6, 2022
I like the idea of the story and the illustrations. but I think the story seems rushed which makes me as a reader not feel something when reading it. This book is simple, suitable for reading in one sitting.
March 6, 2023
Such a good book to read. Parent-Child recommended.
Thank you for those 6 kids who share their stories.
Here we can learn a lot from other people and what they are experiencing or when they face a challenge. 💪🏻👏🏻 Bravo, Authors! ⭐
Thank you for those 6 kids who share their stories.
Here we can learn a lot from other people and what they are experiencing or when they face a challenge. 💪🏻👏🏻 Bravo, Authors! ⭐
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2020
Excellent book and illustrations, very diverse in stories which gives a lot of material to start important conversations with kids.
December 14, 2020
What a wonderful book that talks about finding peace and how it is different for everyone.
February 16, 2021
*Mexico*
Six kids around the world find ways to continue living through the pandemic.
Six kids around the world find ways to continue living through the pandemic.
March 30, 2021
◾Ojalá y esta Pandemia termine pronto y que cada uno de estos niños sea recompensado con muchos momentos de alegría en el futuro
◾Les ha tocado duro...pero, SIEMPRE HAY ESPERANZA
◾Les ha tocado duro...pero, SIEMPRE HAY ESPERANZA
September 18, 2023
Otro libro bien para mi vocabulario.
February 19, 2025
I read the Spanish edition. Learned some edition vocabulary.
December 21, 2020
Este librito 📖💫 nos trae historias de diferentes niños de otras partes del mundo ☺️ los cuales nos muestran como es que se sienten y ven todo lo que está pasando hoy en día ✨💙 me pareció un libro muy muy bonito para los pequeñitos 💖 ya que los ayuda a saber que no están Pasando esto solos ☁️🌈 si no qué hay millones de niños mas que los entienden 📖💓
May 29, 2020
Beautiful
I will not be ashamed to say that this touched my heart. There are so many affected at the moment and it is so easy to feel lost. There are things you can do to help and make things more bearable. A great book.
I will not be ashamed to say that this touched my heart. There are so many affected at the moment and it is so easy to feel lost. There are things you can do to help and make things more bearable. A great book.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews