Hope Is The Thing

Hope Is The Thing

by Johanna Bell and Erica Wagner



A highly original, beautiful and deeply meaningful picture book that sees the marvellous and inspiring world of birds through the eyes of a child and celebrates birds' adaptability and ingenuity.
Hope is a kookaburra singing the sun

Hope is the emu learning to run



Let your imagination soar in this joyful ode to the world of birds and the healing power of nature.



Sparked by the Emily Dickinson poem 'Hope is the thing with feathers', this lyrical text accompanied by glorious mixed media collages reflects and celebrates the diversity, ingenuity and wonder of birds.

Johanna lives in Garramilla / Darwin where she writes fiction and runs a community arts business called StoryProjects. In 2019, she and Erica Wagner co-facilitated a six-month story camp where their mutual love of birds led them towards Hope is the Thing. Johanna is also co-author of Too Many Cheeky Dogs, Go Home Cheeky Animals! and Cheeky Dogs: To Lake Nash and Back, illustrated by Dion Beasley, and The Colour Catchers, illustrated by Laura Stitzel. She is currently working on a verse novel for adults which is also inspired by birds.

Erica Wagner is an artist, publisher and creative consultant to storytellers. Her collages are inspired by the natural world and are made by layering and repurposing discarded paintings and sketches. While Erica has worked as an editor and award-winning publisher of children's books for many years, Hope is the Thing is the first picture book she has illustrated.

Hardback