Hope

By Author / Illustrator

Corrinne Averiss, Sebastien Pelon

Genre

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Age range(s)

Publisher

Aurum Press

ISBN

9780711241732

Format

Hardback

Published

20-08-2019

Synopsis

"Hope is keeping a light on, however dark things seem."

Comet is Finn's dog, and his very best friend. They do everything together. But one day Comet won't get out of his basket - not even for his very favourite things! The vet tells Finn that Comet needs to stay in overnight for an operation. That evening, Finn sits in his den feeling very alone. Dad tells him to keep on hoping. At night, as Finn sleeps, thousand of little lights appear in the sky, each one a hope from a different person in the world. Emotional, funny and uplifting, this beautiful picture book is a pure delight from start to finish. A wonderful story that shows children not to give up hope when times are uncertain.

See the other titles in the trilogy:
JOY by Corrinne Averiss and Isabelle Follath (2018)
LOVE by Corrinne Averiss and Kirsti Beautyman (2020)

Reviews

Hope by Corrinne Averiss and Sebastien Pelon is all about 'Keeping a light on, however dark things seem'. This is a book that contains some humour but also explores the emotions that a child goes through when things are not going well. It teaches children not to give up hope even when times are uncertain: a book that resonates with current times.

The reader is introduced to Comet, Finn's energetic and loving canine best friend, who gets unwell and doesn't seem the same anymore. Comet goes to the vet and needs to stay there because he is so unwell, and no one is sure of his fate. The author and illustrator then engage the audience in a sequence of moving pages which make us relate wholeheartedly to the feelings that Fin is going through. His father offers some advice: Keep the light of hope on as he gives Fin a torch as a physical manifestation of this hope. During this dark and worrying time, Finn does not let the light go out. He keeps the hope for his best friend alive. He sends his hopes into the night sky. Then Dad comes home with some news from the vet...

A wonderful story that was a pleasure to read. This could be an amazing book to share in class with children as a whole class, especially when there might be some children in the class who need to keep hope alive as well. Although it might be beneficial to prepare children for times of uncertainty, too. I have already shared this book with my own class digitally and would recommend the same to other teachers. I recommend this book to be used with children aged 4-10. A lovely read that I am sure will get lots of use in the future.

Picture book / Ages 4-10 years / Reviewed by James Hewish, teacher