I Found Hope in a Cherry Tree

Illustrator: Nathalie Dion
Publisher: Groundwood Books
September 2020

​Where do we find hope in dark times? What do we do with the uncertainties of life?
Inspired by the 2017 Las Vegas shooting and the wisdom of Rebecca Solnit's writing about hope, I Found Hope in a Cherry Tree explores how life can feel unpredictable, confusing, and even scary. But hope is not a state of being, hope is an action, and where better to find the perfect metaphor than in nature. Beautifully illustrated by Nathalie Dion, I Found Hope in a Cherry Tree is published by Groundwood Books.

Order from your favourite independent bookstore!! 
Click here to order directly from Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press.
Also available through: Chapters/Indigo and Amazon.com
Click the "Resource Guide" button to download the PDF file containing lesson plans and resources to accompany I Found Hope in a Cherry Tree. More info here.

For when the world feels unpredictable, confusing, scary...
A Meditation on Hope
How do we move forward in the face of the unknown and unknowable? How do we talk to children about hope? Jean E. Pendziwol reads from her upcoming picture book I Found Hope in a Cherry Tree, illustrated by Nathalie Dion and published by Groundwood Books, August 2020. 

For more, click here.

Comfort Cooking through COVID-19 

I've always enjoyed cooking and often turn to baking as a way to cope with stress. During this time of COVID-19 when so many of us are isolating, spending more time with kids, and baking, I decided to share some of my go-to recipes for comfort foods. You'll find my favourites here, from easy no-knead bread to versatile scones. Enjoy!

Click here for more.

Escape to a remote island on Lake Superior

A Globe and Mail and Toronto Star bestseller!
​Jean's debut adult novel is an affecting story of family, identity, and art that involves a decades-old mystery. Vividly drawn, Lake Superior is almost a character in itself, changeable yet constant, its shores providing both safety and isolation. For more, click here

Listen to an excerpt from the audio book version.

"This is a perfect hammock read for those who love the Bronte sisters and Jodie Picoult in equal measure." -  Publisher's Weekly

"A haunting tale of nostalgia and lost chances that is full of last-minute surprises." - Kirkus

Short-listed for the 2018 HWA Debut Crown
​Winner 2018 Northern Lit Award - Fiction
A BBC Radio 2 Book Club Selection
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Now available!

Perfect for classroom or home use, this Companion Guide is designed for educators, caregivers, parents, homeschoolers and teachers. Building on the story-poem and illustrations from I Found Hope in a Cherry Tree, the guide provides tools for building resilience and emotional literacy with information specific to COVID-19. It also includes lesson plans, activities, experiments and reproducible templates for exploring the science of snowflakes, shadows, the wind and cherry blossoms, as well as art activities, writing prompts, shadow puppet theatre, additional resources and more.

Click here to download file.