HOPE IS A HOP

Eva must find new hope after a furry friend ruins their garden.

The protagonist starts a garden with a heart full of hope. Beginning with several tiny seeds, the child cares for the garden. With the help of a parent, Eva even makes a scarecrow to protect it from a hungry bunny. But when the bunny returns to munch on the garden and the cat chases it away—making a mess in the process—Eva is overcome by anger and sadness, running into the nearby woods. Wrapped up in a hug from a parent, Eva hears a soft heartbeat (that and Eva’s mother’s burgeoning belly are hints of the new sibling we eventually see). Following a trail of petals that the bunny left behind, Eva makes a beautiful discovery—a passel of little bunnies. Filled with forgiveness and new hope, Eva starts the garden again. This charming story is about resilience in the face of challenge. Eva’s experience is a wonderful example of how a change in perspective can offer us renewed hope. The bright, expressive illustrations add context to the lovely, lyrical verse. Eva presents as biracial with light brown skin and curly black hair; one parent presents as Black, with medium brown skin and curly black hair, while Eva’s mother has light skin and straight black hair. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A sweet springtime story of new beginnings.