Pear of Hope by Wenda Shurety and Deb Hudson
This book features a young girl who becomes very ill and must learn to cope with new situations and understanding the world around her. Wenda and Deb share their perspectives on this book.
Wenda Shurety – Author
Wenda was born in London and raised in the beautiful county of Norfolk. At school, she excelled at science (not writing) and became a scientist researching cells. Living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) put her on a different career path and she’s now a children’s author who loves to write from the heart about nature and the magical world of the imagination. Wenda’s highlight was when one of her picture books was read out on Play School. Her other passion is archery and she’s a classified para-archer. She lives in Brisbane with her husband, daughter, two rescue dogs and a cat.
What inspired you to write Pear of Hope?
Friends and family members living with serious diseases, such as MS and cancer, have inspired me. Some recovered, some lost their lives and some still live with their condition. In all situations, hope played a vital part in their journey. I realise that hope isn’t a cure but feel it is a vital part of acceptance when living with serious health issues. There are scientific studies describing the positive effects of hope when living with a disease.
What message did you want to send to your readers?
I wrote Pear of Hope to provide comfort and to inspire any children who are struggling to feel positive, whatever journey they may be on. I realised hope has an important role for many people living with difficult circumstances or health conditions. I hope the story is a gentle introduction to building a more positive outlook in the face of any struggle.
Deb Hudson – Illustrator
Deb has been drawing and creating since she was a little girl. She has illustrated several books and a young reader series. Deb is inspired by the joy- and wonder-filled dreamy moments of the everyday. Deb also knows that life is not all fairies and pixies, and was thrilled to be involved in creating a book to help children navigate difficult situations with Hope.
What symbols of hope did you include in your drawings in the book?
I loved the focus of the pear tree throughout the story. I have drawn the tree throughout the seasons; full with leaves in summer, all shades of orange in autumn, naked in the winter, buzzing with bees in blossom in spring. As the time passes a small puppy grows. Anna loses her hair, and as it emerges the new tree shoots up. Spring arrives with new growth, birds lay eggs, flowers blooms, blossoms grow into pears… all showing the annual metamorphosis of ever-changing life. I’ve included butterflies throughout which are not only gorgeous, they also are representations of life and the courage to endure transformation.
What was your favourite page to draw?
My favourite page in the book is the very last one. The celebration of a birthday party under the gorgeous big pear tree. Loads of colour, joy, smiles on happy faces and Anna in surprise to see her birthday cake. Caring family and friends, birds, butterflies, flowers and the now fully grown dog watching on with delighted eyes. I hope as parents and children read through this book, they feel guided and comforted by Anna’s return to health.
About Pear of Hope
9781925820867 | Hardback Picture Book | 215 x 288mm | 32 pages | RRP £10.99 | Ages 5 to 8 | EK Books | Published 11th May 2021
Anna loves the old pear tree that lives at the bottom of the garden. When she becomes seriously ill, her relationship with the tree provides comfort and peace on her journey, particularly when she plants a seed from one of the tree’s pears.
The beautiful story of Pear of Hope and its brave, adventurous and hopeful main character, Anna, will be a crucial step towards children and their carers embracing hope in their lives. With its vibrant images, it is a reminder of the beauty of the world around us and of the fact that, like Anna, with hope you can face any battle!
Can be purchased in most bookshops and from our own website here: https://ekbooks.org/product/pear-of-hope/
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