Believe in the World by Amy Gash and Elise Howard

BELIEVE IN THE WORLD by Amy Gash and Elise Howard is a surprisingly small book (roughly 5 x 7 or the size of a large greeting card), but it packs a big punch. Touted as “an inspiring and delightful illustrated collection of quotations” and subtitled “Wisdom for Grown-Ups from Children's Books,” this work offers hours of enjoyment and reflection. The authors, an executive editor at Algonquin books and a literary agent, have done an excellent job of updating the earlier collection, What the Dormouse Said. Including “classic” references (e.g., Ramona Forever by Beverly Cleary) as well as more contemporary ones (e.g., All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven and I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai), the authors loosely group the quotes under five headings: How to be Good in the World, How to be Joyful, How to be Strong, How to be at Home, and How to Believe in the World. I love it, I love the quotes, and I love the mentions of favorite titles like Nancy Farmer’s The Sea of Trolls, Mitali Perkins’ You Bring the Distant Near, Christopher Paul Curtis’ Bud, Not Buddy, or Julie Andrews Edwards’ The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles, to name a very few. I could go on and on. Put BELIEVE IN THE WORLD on your book shelf next to works like Matt Haig’s The Comfort Book, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Gmorning, Gnight! and Charlie Mackesy’s The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. Better yet – enjoy searching out and reading the many, many high quality and hopeful children’s books referenced in BELIEVE IN THE WORLD. A new favorite quote: “This day will never, no matter how long you live, happen again. It is exquisitely singular.” ~Naomi Shihab Nye