Johanna Bell (text) and Erica Wagner (illustrator), Hope is the Thing, Allen & Unwin, January 2023, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781761180026
Hope is the thing with feathers and wings.
In this gentle picture book, hope is given the characteristics of a variety of birds. A picture is painted of hope being deeply linked to nature and being attainable if one takes note of the simple things in life.
Lovely lilting rhyme is used throughout the story and parallels nicely with the warm watercolours and collaged images of birds in graceful flight. The artwork is eye-catching and deceptively appears three-dimensional at times, which draws the reader into the text.
When I read this to my children, they enjoyed the different birds mentioned, were excited when they recognised or could relate to familiar birds, such as the magpies chasing bike riders, and were curious when they were introduced to unknown birds like the ‘pardalote harvesting sap’.
The ongoing metaphor of birds as hope is a beautiful concept and it cleverly culminates in the final phrase, Hope is the thing with feathers and wings.
Overall, this is an encouraging book that uses nature to spread hope and an appreciation of for the environment to young readers.
Suitable for 3-5 year olds.
Reviewed by Katie Mineeff
