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A review by mshiiken
I Hope / nipakosêyimon by Monique Gray Smith
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
This is an upcoming book, set to be released in September 2022, which I received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The book consists of hopes we have for the children in our lives while asking them what their hopes might be for themselves and those around them.
Well I hope you're happy, Monique Gray Smith, because once again I have cried because of your book. This is another beautiful addition to your bibliography and I'm thrilled for the chance to include it in our library's collection when the time comes around. My other favorite from Gray Smith is My Heart Fills With Happiness (with illustrations by the incomparable Julie Flett), so a similar book talking about looking forward and wishing the best for the children in our lives is a perfect compliment. Let's dive in to what makes it so wonderful.
Often the easiest place to start is with the pictures that accompany the text, so let's dive in to Grimard's work here. It's gorgeous! It's another wonderful, representational effort that helps to show that the hopes in Gray Smith's text are universal for the children we love. Different bodies and activities are represented, and I especially appreciate the inclusion of "Every Child Matters" in the latter pages. The soft colors and gentle, somewhat sketchy linework gives a dreamlike quality that emphasizes the specific hopes that Gray Smith puts forth. There's a sweet simplicity to the artwork that I really appreciate and can't wait to share with my patrons.
Now we get to talk about the text, and what a text it is! The quote at the top of this post is the very first thing that we get to read when coming into this book, and it truly sets the tone and expectation for the rest of the book. The other hopes are similar, sweet things; the best part is that they are universal and not limited to one culture or experience. Without giving the experience away, they are things that we should all wish for the children in our lives and should actively work to ensure they get. Additionally, I'm always thrilled to see Indigenous languages featured in children's books! I'm really happy that I got the chance to review the edition with the Plains Cree translations next to the English. (That said, I'm Odawa, so I hope that there will be a pronunciation guide if I ever have to read this one out loud!)
Genuinely, what a treat to get to read this book. My coworkers may or may not have heard me gasp out loud when I saw it come across my NetGalley Recommends feed, so needless to say I will be pestering our Collections friends the minute it's published. This book is highly recommended.
Well I hope you're happy, Monique Gray Smith, because once again I have cried because of your book. This is another beautiful addition to your bibliography and I'm thrilled for the chance to include it in our library's collection when the time comes around. My other favorite from Gray Smith is My Heart Fills With Happiness (with illustrations by the incomparable Julie Flett), so a similar book talking about looking forward and wishing the best for the children in our lives is a perfect compliment. Let's dive in to what makes it so wonderful.
Often the easiest place to start is with the pictures that accompany the text, so let's dive in to Grimard's work here. It's gorgeous! It's another wonderful, representational effort that helps to show that the hopes in Gray Smith's text are universal for the children we love. Different bodies and activities are represented, and I especially appreciate the inclusion of "Every Child Matters" in the latter pages. The soft colors and gentle, somewhat sketchy linework gives a dreamlike quality that emphasizes the specific hopes that Gray Smith puts forth. There's a sweet simplicity to the artwork that I really appreciate and can't wait to share with my patrons.
Now we get to talk about the text, and what a text it is! The quote at the top of this post is the very first thing that we get to read when coming into this book, and it truly sets the tone and expectation for the rest of the book. The other hopes are similar, sweet things; the best part is that they are universal and not limited to one culture or experience. Without giving the experience away, they are things that we should all wish for the children in our lives and should actively work to ensure they get. Additionally, I'm always thrilled to see Indigenous languages featured in children's books! I'm really happy that I got the chance to review the edition with the Plains Cree translations next to the English. (That said, I'm Odawa, so I hope that there will be a pronunciation guide if I ever have to read this one out loud!)
Genuinely, what a treat to get to read this book. My coworkers may or may not have heard me gasp out loud when I saw it come across my NetGalley Recommends feed, so needless to say I will be pestering our Collections friends the minute it's published. This book is highly recommended.