Read the full review below:

Rating:
Reviewed by: Zahra Syeda Hamdani

When you first grab hold of “The Little Hope Book,” you realize that the 11″ by 12″book is quite large. By the time you finish the book, you’ll agree that its message of believing in your dream is just as huge. The story is based on the book’s illustrator Josh Hunter and his friendship with a childhood cat that readers can deduce played a vital part of his life.

Not coincidentally, the main character and the narrator in “The Little Hope Book” is a young boy named Josh, who owns a black-patch-covered cat named Hope. Josh loves to daydream and draw sketches, habits which get him into trouble with his teacher and his parents. Only Hope provides the boy with comfort and the willpower to continue dreaming. “There was always a Little Hope,” Josh says several times in the story.

Sadly, Hope dies in an accident and Josh seems to lose sight of his dream. Then, four years later, a mysterious woman reminds Josh of how the virtue of hope can never disappear, giving the young man the ability to make his dream become reality. Josh works hard on his dream and eventually gets a job as an artist. At his cabin in the woods, Josh sees an outline of Hope in the sunset, proving that the furry companion is still around to believe in him.

The story is heart-warming because, after Hope dies, Josh matures into a man who still has Hope in his heart. Regardless of how young or not-so-young you are, you will enjoy this book; not only for its storyline and characters, but also for the bold, colorful illustrations. If you look carefully, you will see bits of text within some of the illustrations that will add to your enjoyment. For instance, “always” appears on several pages. Plus, narrative is usually on a black background, giving the story extra depth. “The Little Hope Book” is a great story for reading, just to remind yourself that “a little hope” always exists.

Many thanks to Zahra for sharing these words. If you’re looking for excellent suggestions the next time you want to pick up a book – be sure and head over to bookideas.com for direction.

Dream. Believe. Hope. Always

Josh has always dreamed of becoming an artist. His best friend, a calico cat named Hope, keeps him company as he draws. He relies on her support, since the adults in his life don’t understand his passion. But one tragic day he loses Hope, and almost loses his dream.

Despite losing Hope, Josh keeps trying, and one day he finally succeeds. And just as he thinks he’s created his greatest masterpiece, he realizes Hope never really left him, and she will be with him forever.

Anyone who has ever loved and lost a special pet will relate to Josh’s feelings at losing Hope. And any child or adult with a dream for the future understands how easy it is to let setbacks and criticism deter us from succeeding. In this oversize book with vivid and dramatic illustrations, the authors immerse us in Josh’s world and give us the opportunity to share in his dreams and accomplishments.

The Little Hope Book reminds kids that it’s important to dream big, and to believe in their dreams. If they believe, they can achieve wonderful things.

Dream ~ Believe ~ Hope. You can do it!

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Thanks to Alice for sharing her talents with our project and if you are interested in inspirational children’s literature and you already have The Little Hope Book , then head over to her site where her recommendations can lead you to some very worthy titles.

It has only been a year since we released The Little Hope Book, and what a year its been! We’ve been fortunate enough to present the book in South Africa, Atlanta, Chicago, and our new home, Encinitas, California.

In November, The Little Hope Book was nominated for “Self-Esteem Book of the Year” by the coveted Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards. Well… the results are in, and we’re honored to let you know, The Little Hope Book won this year’s Bronze Medal! Thanks to the Moonbeam Awards Committee for recognizing this project.

Bare with us as we get the new site launched and we will sharing more exciting news soon! Happy Holidays!