Hope

As he did in Wish and Dream, Cordell imagines a pair of animals—a lion and a lioness this time—celebrating new life. “Dearest Grandchild,” they declare. “You are here.” The two reflect on all they’ve survived as Cordell draws them heading toward a round thatched hut. Inside, a younger pair of lions gazes down at their cub. Rays made up of tiny colorful dots shine forth from the baby, a beam of love and connection that appears throughout the book. The grand-lions’ prayerful words to the cub touch on inheritance (“You will look upon the same stars that we looked upon”), resilience (“The world is not always light”), and change (“We will not always be here”) before they pass on and the narrative begins again in the words of their now-grown grandchild—“Dearest Grandparents,” he declares. Even sweeter than its predecessors, this volume gives words to the joy family members experience when their children start families, and lets grandchildren—and grandparents—know how deeply they’re loved. Ages 3–5. [em]Agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio. (Feb.) [/em]