Hope’s Gift by Kelly Starling Lyons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Best line in a picture book I’ve heard in a long time: “That’s the sound of freedom, Hope…And nothing can keep it from coming.”
When her father answers the call to join the war, he leaves Hope with a beautiful conch shell. Gifts from daddy are priceless. A treasure to have and hold but this gift carries a promise, one that means she will see her father again, one glorious day when freedom comes. A promise she holds onto even when she fears he’ll get caught for running away. Even when seasons come and go and daddy’s still not home. In her greatest times of worry, she prays hard for her father, puts her ear to the shell, and lets the swoosh, swoosh sounds of freedom take her away until that fateful morning her dad returns and they can be a family again.
A powerful and important story that celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. It is a hope-filled and heartwarming read that would make a great addition to every library. You should also add her picture book, Tea Cakes for Tosh too.
Shout-Outs
Kelly Starling Lyons | http://www.kellystarlinglyons.com/
Don Tate | https://dontate.com/
G.P. Putnam’s Sons
A Division of Penguin Young Readers Group
http://www.penguin.com/children/
CeCeLibrarian’s Book Blog 
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