Hope (Picture Books) [Hardcover]

Isabell Monk (Author), Janice Lee Porter (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Series: Picture Books

During a visit with her great-aunt, a young girl learns the story behind her name and learns to feel proud of her biracial heritage.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3In this beautifully told and illustrated book, a young girl learns the story behind her name and to be proud of her biracial heritage. When her great-aunt Poogees friend asks if the child is mixed, Poogee says Baby, dont you pay Violet no never mind. But, of course, Hope does. That night at bedtime, Poogee explains to her that she is generations of faith mixed with lots of love. The lively, expressive full-page oil paintings depict Hopes fathers white immigrant ancestors arriving in America and her mothers enslaved ancestors toiling in the cotton fields. As Poogee tells her story, readers see Hopes African-American grandparents marching for equal rights, and her white grandparents, who are teachers. And best of all, they are shown the wedding of Hopes parents with their black and white families and friends celebrating together. A must-have title.Eunice Weech, M. L. King Elementary School, Urbana, IL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Monk takes a didactic tack in presenting one girl's ancestry, weaving into a story of several generations the scene of her African-American mother and Caucasian father's wedding. The stumbling narration establishes that the protagonist is in sixth grade, looking back on a summer weekend before she entered second grade. Her loving Aunt Prudence, known as Aunt Poogee, takes the narrator to an open-air market, where they encounter another relative, Miss Violet. Miss Violet asks outright, ``My goodness, Prudence, is the child mixed?'' The question haunts the girl, whose name is revealed as Hope, until Aunt Poogee steps in with a bedtime story that is overblown, invoking the faith of immigrants and slaves across generations who ``look forward to a future where you will be proud to be part of a race that is simply `human.' '' The sentiments are strong, but the delivery borders on mawkish. Sturdy faces, tender postures, and vibrant backgrounds considerably enliven the bibliotherapeutic proceedings. (Picture book. 4-7) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Carolrhoda Books (March 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157505230X
• ISBN-13: 978-1575052304
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,292,891 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent storey for ALL in this race conscious country., October 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hope (Picture Books) (Hardcover)

Ms. Monk tells a storey (that is beautifully illustrated) about a question that many children ask their parents, relatives, friends and or teachers. What is mixed? She answers it in a positive way fit for 4 to 8 year old readers. The storey might be sweet, sentimental and syrupy to adults; but so what. Adults need to be reminded of the way things SHOULD be. There is no harm in letting a child know (adults most of all)that there is HOPE. FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR AND THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN [Hebrews 11:1].

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Uplifting message using words fit for Martin Luther King, August 20, 2003

By 

brains_and_budget (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hope (Picture Books) (Hardcover)

As the parent of a multirtacial child, this is one of my favorite books about multiracial families. It provides a good children's story as well as a positive multicultural message. I am bored by books that just say the equivalent of "You are special!" "I love you!" with no story behind them. Other reviewers have criticized the book for the larger-than-life language that is used at the end, but I think the words provide more inspiration than everyday words, the same way Martin Luther King and other great speechgivers do.
One minor caveat about the book: several of the characters speak in a more colloquial manner ("Baby, don't pay her no never mind," "She doesn't favor a soul in your family," "mama," "folks.") Since no one in my or my husband's family speaks this way, sometimes it feels stilted rolling off my tongue.
The author of the book is a professional actress in Minneapolis, where I used to live, and this was her first children's book, which may explain the dramatic language. Her second book about the character Hope is called "Family" but isn't nearly as good.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EVERY CHILD SHOULD HAVE THIS BOOK!, February 7, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Hope (Picture Books) (Hardcover)

Every single child should have this book-- it teaches about different cultures and race in a positive way. The different language and sayings teaches us that we are all different, yet the same. Whether you have a multi-racial child, or just child, why not buy this book and enjoy something different. while possibly celebrating the differnces we have in culture, language, color, etc.

One reviewer called the language overly dramatic. I think this just shows how different we are with different backgrounds . Although I have never heard anyone actually speak like this, it doesn't mean someone is less intelligent.

Racism is so sublte and rampant in our society...what better way to start an opening than with a story read to a child??