Messages of Hope: April 2025

Here at the Children’s Book Podcast, where we are purveyors of hope and in community with those cultivating hope for children of all ages. In this new miniseries of indefinite length, I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today. 

No matter where you are. No matter what’s going on around you. No matter what is pulling your attention or competing for space in your mind. May these next few minutes offer you rest, peace, and hope.

Hope Ep. 4 - April 5, 2025

Padma Venkatraman (Safe Harbor) shares what is giving her hope today: the nature of hope itself. Even when we’re in dire circumstances, it’s something that keeps us going.

Listen along:

Transcript:

Padma: I think that what gives me hope these days is the nature of hope itself, if that makes any sense.

And in my latest novel, the Safe Harbor, there is a poem, because it's a novel in verse, that is in the voice, as the whole novel is, of this little girl Geeta, who has been brought to America by her mom and doesn't control the fact that she's in America. She cannot control so many things, but she cannot control the fact that her parents are going through a divorce, etc, etc, and yet she continues to hope.

And I think that's wonderful thing about hope is that even when we're in dire circumstances, it is something that keeps us going. And as Geeta says in one of the poems, "I guess hope is a cork that never stops bobbing on the waves of life's ocean."

And that makes me so excited and so happy just that human beings are so resilient. And I think that human beings have this kind of light inside them that no matter what happens to us, we hold on to hope and that keeps us afloat.

For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit https://deepcast.fm/episode/what-gives-padma-venkatraman-hope

Hope Ep. 5 - April 12, 2025

Charles Waters (If I Could Choose a Best Day: Poems of Possibility) shares what is giving him hope today: spending a lot of time in thought and, as much as possible, reading.

Listen along:

Transcript:

Charles: My message to all of you is I hope that no matter what's going on in your life, you read and read and read poems, especially poems for young people.

I call it children's poetry.

But read anything and spend a lot of time in thought.

So I'll leave you with that. Have a wonderful day.

For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit https://deepcast.fm/episode/what-gives-charles-waters-hope

Hope Ep. 6 - April 19, 2025

Natasha Khan Kazi (Lulu in the Spotlight: A South Asian Wedding Story) shares what is giving her hope today: the bravery of everyday people.

Listen along:

Transcript:

Natasha: What is giving me hope today?

I am finding hope in the bravery of everyday people.

Whether it's communities uniting for justice or individuals choosing empathy over division, there is an undeniable power when we work together.

For every loud voice spewing hate, there are a hundred voices sharing love and kindness.

And that fills me with hope.

For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit https://deepcast.fm/episode/what-gives-natasha-khan-kazi-hope

Hope Ep. 7 - April 26, 2025

Lil Miss Hot Mess (Make Your Own Rainbow: A Drag Queen's Guide to Color) shares what is giving her hope today: drag. Drag is all about changing how we look and how we show up in the world as a way of making the world more fabulous and more just and joyful for everyone in it.

Listen along:

Transcript:

Lil Miss Hot Mess: Honestly, the thing that's giving me hope right now is drag.

I know that might sound a little bit cheesy or maybe even self involved because I am a drag queen, but I do this because it is an art form that gives me hope when I'm feeling a little bit down. One of the best ways to pick myself up is to put on something that makes me feel fabulous and stand up in my tallest heels and get ready to march.

And the history of drag is all about standing up for what we believe in. Drag queens and drag kings have been at the forefront of so many different social movements, both leading the charge and also being there to offer comfort to people when they need it. Drag is all about changing how we look and how we show up in the world as a way of making the world more fabulous and more just and joyful for everyone in it.

So if you need a little pick me up, find your local queens, find your local kings, check out a drag story hour, pick up one of my books. I promise we are throwing some great parties and we just want everyone else to show up and be their brightest selves alongside us.

For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit https://deepcast.fm/episode/what-gives-lil-miss-hot-mess-hope

Be well. Read on. And don’t lose hope.