Hope and the Sea

Discover the soothing power of the sea in this stirring story of loneliness, friendship, and the power of an open heart.

As Hope huddles on the shore, feeling big feelings of sadness, Sea approaches. First a gentle wave, then a misty spray, followed by the toss of a seashell, and a race along the shoreline. With each overture from Sea, Hope’s heart opens just a bit more, until finally a burst of laughter escapes and her loneliness recedes along with the waves. With its gentle and poetic language, this uplifting story looks at the importance of friendship and encourages children to open their hearts to the world around them.

Andrew Hacket is a writer, second-grade teacher, and father of three. He is also the author of the upcoming Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea and Curlilocks and the Three Hares. Andrew recognizes that being a kid is hard and he writes to create ways for kids to see themselves in stories and characters, to accept and overcome their insecurities, or to escape for just a little while through the power of their imaginations. He and his family live in Massachusetts, where they visit their friend Sea as often as possible.

Svetla Radivoeva was born and raised in Bulgaria and currently lives in California. She’s had a passion for drawing for as long as she can remember. Svetla began her career at a small studio in Bulgaria, before training in 3D animation for video games. After working in feature animation in Belgium, she was hired as a character animator for Walt Disney Animation Studios. With Hope and the Sea, Svetla returns to the art of traditional watercolor illustrations.