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Kelly Starling Lyons
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Hope's Gift Hardcover – Picture Book, December 27, 2012

by Kelly Starling Lyons (Author), Don Tate (Illustrator)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 18 ratings
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A poignant story celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation

It’s 1862 and the Civil War has turned out to be a long, deadly conflict. Hope’s father can’t stand the waiting a minute longer and decides to join the Union army to fight for freedom. He slips away one tearful night, leaving Hope, who knows she may never see her father again, with only a conch shell for comfort. Its sound, Papa says, echoes the promised song of freedom. It’s a long wait for freedom and on the nights when the cannons roar, Papa seems farther away than ever. But then Lincoln finally does it: on January 1, 1863, he issues the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the slaves, and a joyful Hope finally spies the outline of a familiar man standing on the horizon.

Affectingly written and gorgeously illustrated, Hope’s Gift captures a significant moment in American history with deep emotion and a lot of charm.

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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    6 - 8 years
  2. Print length
    32 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    1 - 3
  5. Dimensions
    8.88 x 0.36 x 10.75 inches
  6. Publisher
    G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
  7. Publication date
    December 27, 2012
  8. ISBN-10
    0399160019
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0399160011
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 1-3-Hope's father flees the plantation where he works for the Master to fight against slavery. He leaves his daughter with a conch shell and tells her to hold it to her ear to hear the sound of freedom, which will come one day. Hope, her brother, and their mother miss Papa terribly. Seasons pass, holidays come and go, but still he has not returned. Life is difficult, particularly working in the cotton fields, and made worse by her worry about her father. One day, she looks up to see him with a troop of Union soldiers marching up the road. Not only is he home at last, but he also brings the promise that freedom is at hand. The author tells a story of sadness, separation, and love; a story of sacrifice and freedom. Readers cannot avoid the parallels between Papa's leaving to fight for freedom and the Master's leaving his young daughter to fight against the emancipation; the separation for each child is equally painful. Illustrations are drawn with simple lines and soft colors, using somewhat exaggerated head sizes, which emphasizes characters' emotions. The most effective scene shows plantation workers singing and praying for their freedom in the woods on New Year's Eve. Bare winter trees are silhouetted against the dark sky, with the gathered individuals shown in expressive poses as they worship. Hope is in the foreground, her arms open wide with anticipation. A general purchase for all collections.-Mary Hazelton, formerly at Warren & Waldoboro Elementary Schools, MEα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

On Christmas night, Papa, a slave, leaves his family and the plantation to join the war. To comfort his children, Hope and Henry, he leaves behind a conch shell filled with “the sound of freedom.” Throughout the long years he is away, Mama holds the family together until word arrives of President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. When the war ends, Papa returns safely, prompting the family to gather their belongings and journey to a new, free life. The author of Ellen’s Broom and Tea Cakes for Tosh (both 2012) here concludes her picture-book series focusing on African American families and freedom. Tate’s large-featured, expressive characters reflect the story’s deep emotions and mesh nicely with the book’s quiet tone. Published in part to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, this makes a good introduction to the concepts of slavery and freedom and their effects on families. Grades 1-3, --Kay Weisman

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers; Illustrated edition (December 27, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0399160019
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0399160011
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 6 - 8 years
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 1 - 3
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.88 x 0.36 x 10.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 18 ratings

About the author

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Kelly Starling Lyons

Kelly Starling Lyons

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Kelly Starling Lyons began her journey to become a children's book author in her hometown of Pittsburgh. She learned the art of storytelling from her mom who took her to productions at a children's theater, wrote plays and made up bedtime tales. Her grandparents, who showed their imagination through cooking and gardening, taught her to honor the magic of history and home. Surrounded by creativity, Lyons began to write.

She curled up near the radiator behind her bedroom door and allowed her pen to take her to other worlds. A canopy of trees transformed into a make-believe fortress, backyards hid treasure and tunnels to faraway lands, bridges that crossed the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio rivers spanned distance and time.

Now a children's book author and teaching artist, her mission is to center Black heroes, celebrate family, friendship and heritage and show all kids the storyteller they hold inside. Many of her books have won accolades including a Caldecott Honor for Going Down Home with Daddy, illustrated by Daniel Minter; Christopher Award for Tiara's Hat Parade, illustrated by Nicole Tadgell; a Geisel Honor for Ty's Travels: Zip, Zoom, illustrated by Nina Mata and Junior Library Guild selection for Dream Builder: The Story of Architect Philip Freelon, illustrated by Laura Freeman. Her latest picture book, My Hands Tell a Story, illustrated by Tonya Engel, earned two starred reviews.

Kelly also writes for chapter book readers. Her Jada Jones series has earned praise for celebrating an African-American girl who loves science, friends and family. The latest is Jada Jones: Nature Lover. In 2022, Kelly's Miles Lewis spin-off series debuted. The first book, Miles Lewis: King of the Ice, is a Junior Library Guild selection. Stay tuned for more easy readers, picture books and chapter books.

Find out more about Kelly at www.kellystarlinglyons.com. Thanks for your support.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
18 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

YRabun
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended by Miles and William Rabun (Young Authors of My Grandma's Backyard)
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2013
Verified Purchase
We loved reading Hope's Gift and highly recommend it for people young or old ! Hope's Gift is a blend of the seriousness of slavery and the innocence of a children's story. It is a great short story for elementary level readers as it gives a glimpse of history that can be understood by young minds. In the story by Ms. Lyons, Hope's father leaves to join the Civil War. Hope, her brother and her mother wait for over a year for him to return home but are constantly consoled by a conch shell that her father left with them. The sound that came from the shell was the sound of freedom. Hope's father eventually returns from the war and there is a happy ending. The Illustrations by Don Tate were very good and enhanced the story because of his attention to detail to the family and the shell.
3 people found this helpful
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DSmith
5.0 out of 5 stars A touching story!
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2019
Verified Purchase
I liked how Kelly has given an historical depiction of slavery from a child's point of view.
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Quail Lady
1.0 out of 5 stars Not a Good Choice For Kindle
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2015
Verified Purchase
This is a wonderful story - beautifully written and illustrated. A wonderful way to help students or your child understand the impact of slavery. The father as a soldier fighting for his family is a unique perspective that is important and often not portrayed in children's literature.
So why one star?
Does not read well on Kindle. Text will not enlarge. There is no screen rotation.
Absolutely recommend but buy the actual book.
One person found this helpful
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Refine98
5.0 out of 5 stars It's become a bedtime favorite!
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2015
Verified Purchase
My four year old daughter absolutely loves this book. It's become a bedtime favorite!
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Alan L. Ghezzo
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book of Not only Hope but Empathy
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2014
I read this book over breakfast and it bought tears to my eyes. I am always inspired by Kelly Starling Lyons ability to show the empathy and humanity even in topics such as reconstruction and slavery. I am so glad I bought an extra copy for my local school. It is a story any child can relate to as they hope for important things.
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