Inspirational stories for the IB Festival of Hope Fostering hope, agency and belonging
Create spaces to speak the truth and be heard
Nurture curiosity and encourage thinking boldly
Work together to turn challenges into positivity and hope
collins.co.uk/BigCatFoH
The Festival of Hope is an on-going global IB initiative that creates spaces for young people to come together to make a real change through community and dialogue. Collins Big Cat and the Festival of Hope have collaborated to create 6 beautifully illustrated fiction books for 7–11 year olds covering themes of the festival including hope, belonging, teamwork, agency, acts of kindness and resilience. Every book is inspired by the themes of the Festival of Hope across the globe. They encourage young people to talk about their ideas, exchange diverse views and get empowered to act together during a time when they are confronted with complex challenges both locally and globally.
What is hope?
Lime Band 11
Kwame’s Song
Lime
KwaSomneg’s
Band 11
Author: Lisa Rajan Illustrator: Soumesh Choudhury
A contemporary story
Author: Kereen Getten Illustrator: Fifa Adolgo
A contemporary story
Theme: Hope and acts of kindness Set in: India Band 11 / Lime 978-0-00-883283-4
What is hope?, Amil is keen
he quickly discovers that
nt things to different people.
at?
Theme: Belonging and expression through music Set in: Democratic Republic of the Congo and USA
When Kwame arrives in New York as a refugee, he finds comfort in a drum his father made for him. A drum that will open the door to friendship, belonging and the beginning of a new life.
Kereen Getten
Copper Band 12
TurɃȘȩ
TeȀm TurɃȘȩ
A contemporary story
Band 12 / Copper 978-0-00-883285-8
new ideas.
LisȀ ȤǽȑaȞ
ly Tree
Author: Lisa Rajan Water Man Illustrator: Carlos Vélez Aguilera
Band 12
Topaz
Wate r Man
photographer for the school newspaper. We’re always on the hunt for exciting new stories, and we think we’ve found our biggest one yet!
Zoë Clarke
Fa
Topaz
Author: Bali Rai Illustrator: Weerawan Boonweera
of Us
Theme: Agency and family traditions Set in: Thailand
grandmother’s village, where
er and slower than in lively
Bali Rai
Weerawan Boonweera
Band 12 / Topaz 978-0-00-883286-5
Wall of Us Author: Emily Hibbs Illustrator: Hayeon Pfeiffer
Theme: Connection through art Set in: Republic of Korea Band 13 / Topaz 978-0-00-883288-9
Ji-ho is happiest with his sketchbook, drawing quietly on his own.
earns more about his roots
begins to appreciate the best
Theme: Conservation Set in: Kenya
Wanjira Kinyua
Wall
Band 13 A contempo contemporary story
WALL OF US
BENEATH OUR FAMILY TREE
Be mily Tree
Beneath Our Family Tree Wall of Us
Author: Zoë Clarke Illustrator: Wanjira Kinyua
Band 13 / Copper 978-0-00-883287-2
We are David Odera and Joy Juma – top reporter and
Carȗȡȼ Vélȩɛ AȈɊilȩȸǽ
Our neath
Band 13 A contemporary story
The
A contemporary story
THE WATER MAN
TEAM TURTLE
ed what they want to
everyone has an answer
The Water Man
Copper
The
Theme: Teamwork and connection to nature Set in: México
orgettable trip to a sea
th Our
Team Turtle
Fifa Adoglo
Band 11 / Lime 978-0-00-883284-1
He thinks his doodles don’t matter, until a special art project at school challenges him to think differently. Sometimes, one tiny seed of an idea can start something amazing.
Emily Hibbs
Hayeon Pfeiffer
We are proud to work with brilliant authors and illustrators from around the world. Through their experiences and voices, they bring depth to the narratives they create and build an endless world of storytelling.
Lisa Rajan
Soumesh Choudhury
Lisa aims to challenge gender stereotypes and support mental wellbeing in her writing. Her previous jobs as a scientist, journalist, editor, copywriter and politician transpire through her books, raising children’s aspirations and helping them develop a love of reading.
Soumesh is a visual storyteller who seeks out tales from his childhood and takes inspiration from the people, culture and society around him. As an award-winning illustrator, his distinctive, fluid style captures emotion through a mix of traditional and digital media.
Author, UK
Illustrator, India
Carlos Vélez Aguilera Illustrator, Mexico
Born and based in Mexico City, Carlos is a graduate from the Faculty of Arts and Design at UNAM. He has illustrated children’s books for national and international publishers and his work has earned several awards.
Kereen Getten Author, Jamaica
Kereen grew up in Jamaica, where she would climb fruit trees in the family garden and embrace the nature around her. Now living in England, she writes stories about her childhood experiences.
Zoë Clarke Author, UK
Zoë authors illustrated fiction, picture books and children’s nonfiction readers. With over 150 books published, Zoe’s skills as an author positively compliment her editorial experience.
Bali Rai
Author, UK Bali is a multi award-winning author of young adult, teen and children’s books. His writing is inspired by his working-class, multicultural background, making his books popular in schools across the world.
Emily Hibbs Author, UK
Emily studied English Literature with Creative Writing and spent several years working at children’s book publishers. She now lives in the Oxfordshire countryside and loves to write about the natural world and all the creatures in it.
Fifa Adoglo
Illustrator, Benin Known for her vibrant, pattern-rich character designs inspired by her West African roots, Fifa explores tradition, folklore and social advocacy. She draws inspiration from animation, literature and stories of her home to raise awareness for women’s rights and destigmatise mental health issues.
Wanjira Kinyua Illustrator, Kenya
Nairobi-based illustrator, Wanjira blends heritage, nature and playfulness into distinct visual stories. She creates art that champions environmental conservation and cultural motifs, while infusing her illustrations with a sense of vibrancy.
Weerawan Boonweera Illustrator, Thailand
Weerawan’s art style combines semi-realistic details, fantasy elements and watercolour techniques which resonate with subtle emotions and quiet moments, reflecting his culturally nuanced upbringing in Asia.
Hayeon Pfeiffer
Illustrator, USA & Republic of Korea Growing up between the Republic of Korea and the USA, Hayeon has become known for her rich storytelling and expressive characters. Drawing on her background in animation and her love of childhood stories, she creates warm, atmospheric illustrations full of emotion and narrative.
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