Author: Jesse Joshua Watson
Illustrator:  Jesse Joshua Watson
Publisher:  G.P. Putnum’s Sons 2010

Wow!!! It’s not often that a book like this comes along, and when it does, TREASURE IT!!!  This is an incredibly fantastic book about finding hope amid such deep despair, and always looking forward in a positive way.

This story, set in the aftermath of the quake, is written in first person,  and you’ll be hooked from the first line, “When the earth shook and took away my neighbourhood, I thought I would never be happy again”.  While it does certainly centre around the devastation in Haiti, this book is uplifting and inspirational.

This story accomplishes so many important things. For one, it enables you  to speak to your children in an age appropriate way about the earthquake in Haiti and its everlasting impact.  This book opens up the door for you to talk to your kids about so many important life lessons and concepts; hope, optimism, empathy, coping with tragedy, and the list goes on.

This book is not only important because of the fundamental life lessons it offers, but also from a historical perspective.  What a fabulous way to teach our future generation about finding hope when there seems as though none is to be found.

The illustrations, also done by Watson, aren’t of poverty and despair.  They’re vibrant and beautiful and full of life!  And, as if there weren’t enough good things about this book, a donation from the purchase of each book will be made to the Children’s Haiti Emergency Relief Fund.  I read a lot of books, but this one in particular, I can’t stop thinking about….it truly is a book like no other!

Ideas for Post Reading Discussion

I will only provide ideas for discussion questions based on the book itself.  Anything having to do with the events in Haiti, I will leave for you to discuss (or not discuss) as you wish with your child.

• What did you think about the lady who wanted the children to stop laughing? Why do you think she said that?
• What did you think of the nice man who gave the kids his soccer ball?
• How do you think the children felt about their “new neighbourhood”?
• What do you think he was trying to show the children?
• At the end of the book, do you think the boy was really playing soccer in the stadium?
• What do you think you could do to help the families in Haiti?