Monique Gray Smith was watching her own children when she was inspired to write her newest picture book, I Hope, available September 13.
Smith was on a family vacation with her then 15-year-old twins when inspiration struck. “I kept thinking about all the hopes I had and have for them,” describes Smith. “It made me think of the hopes we have as adults for the children in our lives.”
With children returning to school after a tumultuous and unpredictable couple of years, the transition back to a regular routine is a time to reflect on hopes and dreams for the future. I Hope seeks to remind children and their caregivers of the importance of remaining hopeful. With affirmations about hope, kindness, laughter and more, I Hope will inspire readers to face the new school year with a hopeful and caring mindset.
Award-winning author Smith has teamed up with renowned Quebec-based artist Gabrielle Grimard to deliver a touching message about loving, nurturing and wishing the best for our children.
I Hope is also available in English/Plains Cree (I Hope / nipakosêyimon) and French (J’espère).
Watch Monique Gray Smith introduce I Hope:
About the Author and Illustrator:
Monique Gray Smith is an accomplished consultant, writer and international speaker. Her first novel, Tilly: A Story of Hope and Resilience, won the 2014 Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature. Her books for young readers include When We Are Kind, You Hold Me Up, Speaking Our Truth and My Heart Fills With Happiness, which won the Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize. Monique and her family are blessed to live on Lekwungen territory in Victoria, British Columbia.
Gabrielle Grimard has been drawing since she was young. Her passion for drawing and painting led her to pursue studies in fine arts and arts education at Concordia University. After she had her first child, she began her career as an illustrator. She is the illustrator of The Library Bus, which was a Governor General’s Literary Award finalist, and Stolen Words, which was a Bank Street College Best Book of the Year, a Kirkus Best Picture Book of the Year and the winner of the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award. She lives in Waterville, Quebec, with her family.
Praise for Monique Gray Smith and her books:
“People are moved by her: moved to tears, moved to understanding, moved to action. With every fibre of her being, she advocates for a new narrative for Canada.” —Shelagh Rogers, OC, host of CBC Radio One’s The Next Chapter
“Comforting, encouraging sentiments that adult readers and their little ones will appreciate.”
—Kirkus Reviews
★ “Joyful and tender, this board book celebrates the activities that bring gladness through family and cultural connections…The sweet family story has universal appeal. A first purchase for all libraries.”
—School Library Journal, starred review
“Simple statements have the resonance of affirmations and establish a clear chain of connectedness…A panoply of Indigenous characters is featured in rich detail. A visual feast for families interested in seeing the Native world through small, kind deeds.”
—Kirkus Reviews
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