Wow. What a powerful and meaningful way to explain the plight of refugees to children through the story of a mother deer, Hope, and her fawn, Freckles. I found myself getting emotional when I made the connections between this book and what has been happening with refugees in our world. Younger children will empathize with Hope and Freckles story, while older children should be able to grasp the parallels between the book and reality. Everyone, and everything, on this planet deserves to be together in a place where they feel safe, and this book shows this concept to children in a brilliant way. I would like to thank #NetGalley and #MascotBooks for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I think this book has a great message for younger readers. The pictures were beautifully done and I liked the use of the deer and fawn to convey the message of refugees and asylum. I’m not sure children will figure out the essential meaning of this book without the help of a parent or teacher, but it’s a great usage of characters to convey it.

A beautifully illustrated and beautifully written story that will appeal to children. The main characters are very appealing to young children.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This is such a beautifully written and illustrated book that reflects upon such a recent topic that is occurring in the world today. Hope and Freckles are refugees who seek safety and are fleeing from harmful animals and environments around them. This book was so tenderly done it brought tears to my eyes.
At the end of the book there are discussion questions to talk about the story together too.

Hope and Freckles is a beautiful written story focusing on two deers leaving their home, it is aimed at children, introducing them to the subject of Refugees. It highlights the dangers and troubles of leaving somewhere in search for a safer life, whilst remaining cautious of the audience reading ( It is told in a very simple and innocent manner). The imagery of this book is simply beautiful too.

This endearing story is about a mother (Hope) and her fawn (Freckles) who must leave their home as it is no longer safe. The hunters are hunting, the jaguars and coyotes are hungry and the plants are drying out because the summer is hot, the air is dry, the waterways are drying up. Hope tells Freckles that they must leave their home and they embark on a long journey to safety.

Unfortunately, things are not as they hoped they would be. Hope and Freckles are faced with trying circumstances and fear the worst. Hope is hopeful and Freckles is scared but they are able to withstand the troubles they face.

The illustrations are lovely and they emit a sense of calm despite the turmoil that Hope and Freckles face. There is a cohesiveness between the story and its illustrations, they compliment each other nicely.

The author wrote this book to address the issue relating to the treatment of refugees. Bill has done a fantastic job of addressing the uncomfortable issue at a level that children can relate to. I immediately saw that value of this book through the eyes of a teacher. This book is an excellent way to engage young children and introduce the topic of refugees. The author has even included vocabulary and discussion questions at the end of the book to support an introductory lesson. Also included are resources for both parents and teachers.

Bill thought of everything and in doing so he has made teaching a little bit easier. I’m sure children will appreciate this story too.

"Hope and Freckles" by Bill Kiley is a book that paralleled deer escaping coyotes/dangerous forest to what is going on at the US/Mexico border. I am not sure who the intended audience is for this book. Perhaps it is meant to be used as a conversation piece, but my 10 year old is not familiar with the terms used in this book - refugee, asylum.

My daughter and I read this story together. We both absolutely loved the illustrations, but the first thing she said to me when Hope and Freckles got to the Big Pine Forest was deer can talk? That was a bit unrealistic and perhaps younger children wouldn't notice, but she did. The message around compassion is an excellent one though and if she picked up on anything from this book it was definitely that.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mascot Books for this dARC in exchange for an honest review.

Beautifully illustrated and with an important message, this book just slightly missed the mark for me.

Whilst the overall metaphor of the book was blatantly clear, some of the narrative was a little confusing for me. I acknowledge that I am not the intended audience for this book so it could be that a younger reader has an easier time with this however it could also go the other way and soar over their heads.

I would recommend giving this book a try - especially as it is telling the story that many refugees face - it just wasn't for me.

I love children’s books and especially any that have to do with animals. I thought this was a great read and the illustrations were beautifully done.

Would definitely recommend it.

Wow, a heart-filled need is met with this book! Potential grade school lesson or daycare activity with a compassion and equality centered message, beautiful!

The author had me at "dedicated to asylum seekers..." ... heartstrings tugged, noting our severely changing earth with climate change touching everything and with resource inequities controlling goods and access to safety, to food, to shelter. If we don't yet know of someone fleeing their home because of climate unrest (which begets political unrest which begets power fights which begets...strife...and war...which begets refugees)...we will know someone soon enough.

Here is a book that speaks to this challenge and gives hope to the children in the midst of that turmoil, and teaches our secure children to watch for the hurting and give kindness and open their doors and hearts.

This story seems to echo the outrageous treatment of the immigration over the US-Mexico border, but truly this story could be anywhere on the planet in places of incoming hurting people, places where children are often torn from parents' arms.

It is amazing when a book can inspire more than hope, can inspire aid and hopefully change for the better, can inspire children to grow up wanting to be a part of help to the far-flung without homes, who learn to accept new children into their midst with open arms and play fields. We cannot know what world comes, but we can know it will be different and at times incredibly scary and inequitable and of trial . This book brings hope and widens the view of the child. Why read it to your comfortable child? Because books like this birth heart, compassion, kindness, open mindedness, justice, fairness.

And so much more.

" 'Hello,' said Hope to the guards.
...'Can we come into the
Big Pine Forest?"

'No one is allowed in,' said one..."

The illustrations by Mary Manning are perfect, wonderful forest scenes, a good complement to the text to counter the tough message with hope of better scenery. The text often appears around 75 words per 2-page spread (some far less), but is about 20 pages or so (I am reading an advanced reader digital copy and it shows 19 pages so that could be adjusted), thus it is a quick enough read. At the end is a great question section, meaning this book could become a grade school lesson, and perhaps a powerful one at that.

We need more books like this in fact. Thank you Mr. Kiley for such a diamond. This world staring coming crisis in the face (so much more than current crisis, even pandemics....) shouts to us with Her upheaval: love and care for one another, and for Me.

Highly recommended. Thank you to NetGalley and to Mascot Books for this ARC for review. This is a book I will not forget, and will look to find places to gift its power.

"Hope and Freckles" by Bill Kiley is a story about the refugee experience told through the eyes of a doe and her baby fawn. Hope and Freckles (the deer) find that their home forest has become dangerous and they flee to find a safer place to live. They arrive at their new home to find it gated and guarded by people who won't let them in. Will they be able to enter and live in safety? Will they have to return to their previous home with all of the existing dangers?

This book took us by surprise. We didn't know much about the story before picking it up, so as an adult reading it I was a little nervous about where the story would go. I found myself wishing I had pre-read the book solo before deciding to read it aloud to my kids. However, the book does explain the immigrant experience without outlining any situations that may potentially scare young readers. I do believe it is important to discuss these concepts with children, but the book may be better suited for slightly older kids. If you have young ones, you may want to read through the book first and plan out how you will discuss the book. There is a great section in the back with key terms and definitions that can assist adults with the post book dialogue process. Also to note- the illustrations are great. Our little ones loved the deer and thought they were extremely cute. I think the fact that the story utilized adorable woodland creatures to tell the story makes it more adapted to the younger audience.

Wow. This story really hits deep. It's brilliantly written. Hope & Freckles is a story of two deer immigrating to a safer land. It parallels the lives of so many people coming to the US. It's heartbreaking as an adult to read this because I get how it relates to our world. However, I still believe this tool is a great way to teach children compassion.