‘The Book of Hopes’ is a free eBook, containing contributions from over 100 children’s authors and illustrators, edited by Katherine Rundell. It is published by Bloomsbury and is hosted on the Family Zone section of the National Literacy Trust website.
The book contains short stories, extracts from tales, poems and illustrations, and has been produced ‘to comfort, inspire and entertain children during lockdown’.
Katherine Rundell is an author and well-known believer in the importance and power of children’s books. Anyone who reads to children, watches kids TV or is interested in writing will be familiar with the authors and illustrators who have contributed to this book at Katherine’s request. Here are pieces from Michael Morpurgo, Jacqueline Wilson, Chris Riddell, Lauren Child and many more who wanted to use their skills to support children through the current situation.
The book begins with a dedication to all those working in hospitals, who are “the stuff that wild, heroic tales are made of”. It continues with pieces about dogs, cats, axolotls (a bravely rhyming poem!) and animals of all other shapes and sizes; nature; magic; birthdays; outer space and just about any other topic you can think of. Some of the pieces will make you snort with laughter, others will make you smile, some will make you think and may even bring a lump to your throat. Each is different, each is magnificent in its on way. The pages are tied together by one golden thread – hope.
Katherine Rundell writes “Real, true hope isn’t the promise that everything is going to be all right – but it’s a belief that the world has so many strangenesses and possibilities that giving up would be a mistake.”
I was going to choose a favourite piece to recommend, but that changes from day-to-day. Instead, I’d rather you read the book to yourself, to your family, to your friends and others over the telephone or internet and decide which piece fills you with the most possibilities. Take care.
Where can I read ‘The Book of Hopes’?
‘The Book of Hopes’ is free to read via this link. Please share the link with friends and family.
The Book of Hopes is currently available to read online only. Bloomsbury intends to publish a gift book based on the project in the autumn in support of NHS Charities Together. Please visit @KidsBloomsbury for further updates on this.
About the Editor
Katherine Rundell (born 1987) is an English author and academic. She is the author of Rooftoppers, which in 2014 won both the overall Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the Blue Peter Book Award for Best Story, and was short-listed for the Carnegie Medal.
Review by: Sharon Corbally
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8 comments
I believe that now more than ever a book that I can give hope to is the reading we need.
I agree with you Cristina, especially for children
What a great idea for an e-book! And it’s amazing that you’ve made it free. Thank you!
The book is free, we are just sharing the review of it Michelle
it seems such a cute initiative for children’s entertainment these day
It is, especially if you kids love reading and have read every single book in your house! (as mine have)
The book of hopes. Titles in itself is so serene. This will surely be a great read. I will share link to friends.
Please do, it is a fun and good read for children, I am reading this with my kids every night