Messages of Hope: July 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. 15 - July 5, 2025

Lulu Delacre, author illustrator of Rafi and Rosi: Menu!/Rafi Y Rosi: ¡Menú! (Children's Book Press) shares what is giving her hope today: the laughter of children at the bus stop. The laughter of children reading a book. The laughter of children. Children.

Listen along:

About the Book: Rafi and Rosi: Menu!/Rafi Y Rosi: ¡Menú! by Lulu Delacre. Published by Children's Book Press.

Rafi and Rosi, the curious, fun-loving tree frog siblings, are cooking up a storm with delicious Puerto Rican treats on the menu.

Rafi and his younger sister, Rosi, are excited to help Abuela make her holiday order for sixty pasteles, a traditional Puerto Rican root vegetable dish. When Abuela discovers she is missing one key ingredient, Rafi and Rosi set out to buy it. On the way back they get to make crunchy arañitas and at home they learn Abuela's secret recipe for yummy guava shells in syrup. Later, when their friends can't come to help make the pasteles, Rafi and Rosi save the day, and the best Pasteles Making Party ensues!

Engaging and informative, this book is perfect for newly independent readers. Children will enjoy Rafi and Rosi's explorations of some of their favorite foods.

Check out the other titles in this series:

RAFI AND ROSI - RAFI AND ROSI CARNIVAL! - RAFI AND ROSI PIRATES! - RAFI AND ROSI MUSIC! - RAFI AND ROSI MENU!

Transcript:

Lulu: What gives me hope today is crouching to pick up a dried leaf from my building's lawn to find it unfolds, its wide eyed wings gliding into the breeze... a moth!

Noticing bee and bumblebee feasting tandem on beauty berry and lavender.

The miracle of dried oval seeds that I pushed into moist soil just six days ago, now rise into the sun, a rainbow of celia colors in the making.

And the laughter of children at the bus stop.

The laughter of children reading a book.

The laughter of children.

Children.

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

Hope Ep. 16 - July 12, 2025

Maham Khwaja, author of The Home We Make (Lee & Low Books), illustrated by Daby Zainab Faidhi, shares what is giving her hope today: us, grounded and moving through our lives. Second by second. And day by day.

Listen along:

About the Book: The Home We Make by Maham Khwaja; illustrated by Daby Zainab Faidhi. Published by Lee & Low Books.

A moving story about a young girl and her family who are forced to flee their beloved home after violence erupts all around them, and their journey to make a new sense of home.

One day someone asks me, Where is home? And I don't know what to say.Is home here or there?

Told from the perspective of a young refugee girl, debut children's book author and New Voices winner Maham Khwaja tells the story of a family forced to flee their home due to violence. Emotive illustrations by Daby Zainab Faidhi balance the family's love for one another and hope for the future with the harrowing journey to escape on foot, travel by boat, and then finally resettle in a safe place. Through it all, the young girl tries to hold on to all the pieces of her life before and find a way to rebuild a sense of home.

Transcript:

Maham: I know Emily Dickinson has that beautiful poem about hope being the thing with feathers, but for me, hope is not a feathered thing.

Hope is us grounded and moving through our lives, second by second, day by day.

Hope is the decision to be relentless in our living.

Hope is the little orange flower pushing itself through the window grate in the deep of winter.

Hope is the shared smiles with strangers looking out for one another.

Hope is catching glimpses of the beauty the world lays out for us like a courting bird arranging pieces just so hoping we notice.

Hope is knowing this world is worth staying in and fighting for.

Hope is living in this world.

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

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