Book Giveaway: THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOPE by Janet Lawler

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Janet Lawler’s new picture book, THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOPE, illustrated by Tamisha Anthony and published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR). To celebrate Janet is giving us TWO books, so TWO people will be lucky winners. Her hope is that the book winners will give their copy to a special child or donate it to a nonprofit that supports kids facing challenges.

All you have to do to get in the running is leave a comment. Reblog, tweet, or talk about it on Facebook with a link and you will get additional chances to win. Just let me know other things you do to share the good news, so I can put the right amount of tickets in my basket for you. Sharing on Facebook, Twitter, or reblogging really helps spread the word about a new book. So, thanks for helping Janet and Tamisha.

If you have signed up to follow my blog and it is delivered to you every day, please let me know when you leave a comment and I will give you an extra ticket. Thanks!

BOOK DESCRIPTION: 

There’s no place like hope,
where possible lives,
where people are helpful
and everyone gives.

If you’re feeling scared or sad, happy or helpful―hope will guide you. It’s not always easy. And sometimes having hope means being brave, or determined, or kind. At the end of the day, hope is where better will be.

This sweet, rhythmic picture book is a gentle yet powerful exploration of how hope makes us loving, courageous, and connected to one another.

TAMISHA’S BOOK JOURNEY:

When I received the manuscript for “There’s No Place Like Hope” it was early 2021. The pandemic was still going strong and my day-to-day life was still not normal. So when I received this beautiful and inspiring text from my agent, Anne Moore Armstrong, I was delighted and uplifted.  This would be a book I could work on with dedication… and while I was working on the book, the book’s message would work on me. Every night, I would lay my head on my pillow reciting the poem in my head, remembering all the things I was grateful for and what I hoped for in the future. I fell asleep with hope.

Usually, when I get a manuscript, I begin developing the characters first. It’s the part I get most excited by! I am delighted to “meet” my new friends (aka characters) for the next few months. For this particular text there were no described or named characters. I don’t know how other illustrators feel about this, but I am thrilled to receive an open-ended text! My mind took off! I had so many different ideas. Soon I connected with characters I created called “ The Root People”.

Again, it was the pandemic, and like many other people, I started collecting plants. Lots of plants. (I’m still obsessed with plants as I discovered I have a green thumb.) So my imagination dabbled off in this direction because of my new hobby.

 

Also, I was further inspired by these little flower babies I illustrated for fun around early 2021.  There were a few influences in my life to move me in the direction of creating “The Root People”. The main reason being, I think, is when I think I hope, I think of nature first. I think of nature’s renewing presence. I think about how dependent I can be on nature. It is always there. It always welcomes me. The trees and lakes and little birds I watch regularly keep my mind anew and at peace.

Although the root people were adored, they were not quite the right fit for this particular manuscript. There was a desire for something more universal. The amazing art direction team was looking for something that every child could directly see themselves in. After having an inspiring Zoom meeting with the Art Director, Aram Kim, we had a mutual path and I was so excited!     

Again, I love creating characters. And I wanted to represent as many different children as possible. So I came up with this row of character designs:

 

I loved them! The publishing team loved them! We were on a roll! I even was able to draw my little nephew Phineas, aka Finn, into the row of characters.  He is the very first one in the red sweater. He was only 1 year old at the time, so I didn’t know exactly what a 4 ish year old version of him would look like but I think I got pretty close!

As we continued to develop the book we saw that another character was needed.  I wanted this child to be less gender focused. They are the characters in the salmon romper. I especially wanted to give this character some of my anxiety with the bravery and tenacity to keep their hope alive. I am terrified by a LOT of things but I try not to let my fear keep me from living my dreams.

The last variation for the character designs was suggested by my art director and designer. We all wanted to add a little more diversity to this row of children and decided to accomplish that by making Kerry’s skin deeper. She is the character in the blue dress with polka dots. I really love how she turned out throughout the book.

These six little creations were a constant reminder to me to seek hope. Share hope. Live in Hope! I didn’t only need that message in the pandemic, but really, I  need it every day. The author, Janet Lawler’s words are beautiful and inspiring and I feel so blessed to be the illustrator for her text. For times of ease, for times of heartache, and all the moments in between we must live in hope.

JANET’S BIO:

Janet Lawler has published more than 30 fiction and nonfiction picture books and early readers. Her work has appeared in Scholastic Book Clubs and the Children’s Book of the Month Club and has been translated into several languages. She is a Connecticut Book Award finalist, winner of the Connecticut Press Club 1^st place Award for Children’s Books–Fiction, and her work has received starred reviews.

Janet’s recent titles include OCEANS OF LOVE (Viking) – WALRUS SONG (Candlewick, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection) – CELEBRATE!: A Happy Book of Firsts (Feiwel & Friends) – KINDERGARTEN HAT (little bee books) – MIRABEL’S MISSING VALENTINES (Union Square Kids) – WINTER CATS (Albert Whitman & Company) and now THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOPE published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Janet is fascinated by the natural world and finds humor and hope in everyday life. She loves how words make music, and she marvels at the way illustrators add layers to her stories. Learn more at www.janetlawler.com

TAMISHA’S BIO:

Tamisha is an art teacher and illustrator who received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Visual Arts from Rice University and her master’s degree in Computer Art from the School of Visual Arts in New York City.

She maintains her childlike wonder as an educator for the New York Historical Society and Harlem School of the Arts. Whether she is teaching art fundamentals or instructing through stories, songs, and crafts, she finds that educating little ones always inspires her art. She uses Adobe Photoshop to bring her whimsical illustrations to life, but she loves using gouache, watercolor, and colored pencils in her creations. Tamisha also enjoys vintage art, clothes, and jazz swing dancing.

Tamisha is represented by Anne Moore Armstrong

Janet thank you for sharing your book and offering to provide two visitors a chance to win a book. And thank you Tamisha for sharing your journey with the book. I love this book and I’m sure children and their parents will love it, too. The rhyming text is perfect.

Example:

Hope holds your hand
when you are scared and alone
It let’s you be brave
though you’re not fully grown.

What a wonderful way to draw kids in and cause them to want to read more. Tamisha’s illustrations are gorgeous. Colors pop and there is so much movement, detail, and things to discover with every page turned. A true feast for the eyes. Also, I love how you kept the story going with the same wonderful text giving examples of how hope will help children through difficult times, fix things, comfort them, and give them courage. Each page has a wonderful message and image for children. I think you planted a seed that can grow and bloom throughout their life with your words towards the end.

Give hope as a gift 
Like the song of a bird
Your words will have wings
Your voice will be heard.

Good luck with the book.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy