Perseverance in an interesting concept. And within the picture books A Flicker of Hope: A Story of Migration and Rhythm, we see two different ways of obtaining that. Both titles are due mid-February 2024 and were read via an online reader copy.
Cynthia Harmony made a book that has the migration of not only monarchs, but people too, in A Flicker of Hope. When Lucia and her father notice that the monarch butterflies are getting ready for their trip North, they know the journey of her father going North will happen, too. There is no work, so he must go away for many months to try and raise money. The cycle of the butterfly and father plays out on the page, and we see how two people are connected even by thousands of miles, and how that relates to nature as well. There is an afterwards that gives more information on the subject and how you can help the area with donations. The part of the book that really grabbed me was the illustrations by Devon Holzwarth. They are bright, bold, and set the mood. They are shared between father and daughter, and they are set so you can see a lot at once. The details and the festive colors allow seasons, feelings and more come to life. The perseverance here is how the monarchs have the longest migration, and yet generation after generation keep doing it, as well as the family doing what they must to survive their own hard journey.
And the book Rhythm has another form of perseverance, with the changing of the seasons and the loss of things happening within a young girl’s community. As the season changes, and the tree changes (spring, summer, fall, winter, the lost limbs, the holes in it, the buds, and more), the girl changes. Her family must deal with the lost of jobs, the town closing itself up (signs show “Closed” or “For Rent” in the background) and people move away. The letters and cards to friends and family who moved try and keep the connections open. And through it all, they all keep going, keep trying, keep making it until better days are finally there. Jackie Azua Kramer’s story is one that people can relate, too; one that is timeless. And the art of Taia Morley pops off the page. Simpler in details, the colors are not skimped on. They fill the pages with splashes throughout the story. They are their own character and compliment the story. The tree and girl are the two main focuses, but there is a lot in the background that should be paid attention to as well.
While both books can be for the five and up age group, there is a lot that make this not for sensitive or too young child. And in many ways, are better suited for adults.