Cover: Axel Scheiffler
Hopes come . .
Ever since it arrived in this morning’s post, from the wonderful Sam Read Bookshop in Grasmere, I have spend today’s down-time browsing this delightful anthology. It is a true treasure chest, and, quite the opposite of Pandora’s box. Open it and out fly clouds of glowing enchantment: poems, illustrations and short prose passages from many of our very finest children’s writers and book artists. Each, in their own way, brings a warm message of hope, optimism and encouragement. Their multitude of bright colours truly glow in a world that might at present feel particularly dull and bleak.
. . . not single spies . . .
These are little gems for our times, but far more too. The need for hope, comfort and inspiration extends far beyond our current pandemic and I am sure this book will have much to offer to many children (and perhaps others too) in many places, and under many circumstances, for many years to come.
As well as for children themselves, this book is a real gift for parents, carers, grandparents and teachers.The numerous lovely little snippets make it ideal for just picking up, dipping into and sharing at odd moments of time, odd moments of need. And it has more to offer too than just its comfort and encouragement. It will also act as an introduction for children and their adults to many quite wonderful writers and illustrators that they may not yet know, but will surely, after this, want to explore further. Were I still teaching, this book would be always to hand on my desk, ready to pick up and share whenever those few spare minutes arise, precious little oases before the next thing in class life needs to happen.
. . . but in battalions
The lists of ‘Further Reading’ that Katherine Randell has added to the end of the book, are themselves a wonderful source of inspiration. Herself one of our finest contemporary writers for young people, she clearly has extensive awareness of some of the very special books currently around for each age group. Perhaps because it is her own main audience, her suggestions for ‘Older Readers’ (MG) are particularly rich and extensive. I would be surprised if even avid readers don’t find some titles here that they do not yet know and are encouraged to seek out.
It is yet another bonus that proceeds from the sale of this book are supporting ‘NHS Charities Together’. Buy it. Treasure it. Share it. And like the figure on Lauren Child’s brilliantly simple but evocative endpaper, look out to see bright birds of hope.
Lauren Child