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Tikvah Means Hope
Justine and Duane and their neighbors are happily getting ready for Sukkoth, the Jewish harvest holiday. Suddenly, catastrophe strikes as a fire sweeps through their town. Luckily for everyone, there are still miracles in this world--sometimes in the shape of a little cat. This heartfelt story is a stirring celebration of life, friendship, and--most of all--hope!
48 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1994
About the author
Patricia Polacco
93 books1,024 followersPatricia Polacco is a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator with around seventy beloved and award-winning books to her credit, including The Keeping Quilt, Pink and Say, The Blessing Cup, Chicken Sunday, and Thank You, Mr. Falker. She resides in Michigan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 28, 2009
Well, I sobbed through this one too. Given I’m someone who doesn’t cry easily, Polacco’s books are truly powerful. However, this one touched me because I remember the Oakland Hills Fire. I know two families well who lost their homes and know of many, many others who also lost their homes, friends of friends, acquaintances, etc.
The illustrations here are fabulous. The one that shows the spectacular view from the Oakland Hills got it just right and, as usual, she does cats well. Real photos are included and, given the nature of what happens, are particularly poignant.
This is a story of a cat, Tikvah, and three famiies who are friends, who lose their homes in the infamous Oakland Hills fire in the early 90s.
It’s a wonderful story to read during Sukkah, a Jewish harvest holiday, as the holiday is explained and the Sukkah that’s built has a large role in the story.
Five stars because they’re five star illustrations, the story is lovely, and the Oakland Hills fire came back to me in a flash; she captured all the horror and camaraderie of that day.
The illustrations here are fabulous. The one that shows the spectacular view from the Oakland Hills got it just right and, as usual, she does cats well. Real photos are included and, given the nature of what happens, are particularly poignant.
This is a story of a cat, Tikvah, and three famiies who are friends, who lose their homes in the infamous Oakland Hills fire in the early 90s.
It’s a wonderful story to read during Sukkah, a Jewish harvest holiday, as the holiday is explained and the Sukkah that’s built has a large role in the story.
Five stars because they’re five star illustrations, the story is lovely, and the Oakland Hills fire came back to me in a flash; she captured all the horror and camaraderie of that day.
February 10, 2020
Patricia Polacco strikes again, in this deeply moving picture-book about a group of neighbors caught up in the terrible Oakland Firestorm of 1991, in which twenty-five people perished, and close to 3,400 homes were destroyed. As Mr. and Mrs. Roth prepare for Sukkot - the Jewish harvest festival that usually falls some time in late September, or October - their young neighbors, Justine and Duane, aid them in the building of a sukkah, a temporary hut in which the holiday is celebrated. But when a terrible fire descends upon their neighborhood, destroying everything in its path, it seems as if there is no longer anything for which to give thanks. And then, sifting through the ruins of their homes, an amazing discovery is made! Not only did the sukkah somehow miraculously survive the inferno, but the Roth's cat, Tikvah (which means "hope" in Hebrew) did as well!
I'm somewhat surprised to realize, after taking stock, that Tikvah Means Hope is only the fourteenth Polacco picture-book I've read (she's written fifty-three!), as I feel like a real veteran by now. I'm also surprised, as always, by this author's ability to reduce me to a sniffling mess, since I should - by now - be prepared for the poignancy of her stories! It's a tribute to her skills as a storyteller and illustrator that, despite being forewarned, I was moved to tears, when reading this. Highly recommended to all Polacco fans, as well as to anyone looking for a good picture-book dealing with the Oakland Firestorm, or the holiday of Sukkot.
I'm somewhat surprised to realize, after taking stock, that Tikvah Means Hope is only the fourteenth Polacco picture-book I've read (she's written fifty-three!), as I feel like a real veteran by now. I'm also surprised, as always, by this author's ability to reduce me to a sniffling mess, since I should - by now - be prepared for the poignancy of her stories! It's a tribute to her skills as a storyteller and illustrator that, despite being forewarned, I was moved to tears, when reading this. Highly recommended to all Polacco fans, as well as to anyone looking for a good picture-book dealing with the Oakland Firestorm, or the holiday of Sukkot.
October 25, 2024
By now it’s Simchat Torah instead of Sukkot, but I read this to my cats anyway.
October 18, 2017
Sukkot is here, and Mr. Roth enlists the help of the neighborhood children, Justine and Duane, to build the sukkah in his backyard. Then there is a fire--a real event that took place in Oakland in 1991--that destroys the hills where Mr. Roth, Justine, Duane, and their families live. Homes are destroyed and Mr. Roth's cat, Tikvah, is lost. Is there hope among the ashes?
Patricia Polacco is an expert at illuminating Jewish holidays in relatable ways. Through Tikvah Means Hope, Sukkot is explored for more than being a harvest celebration. Sukkot is truly a holiday of gratitude. It arrives about two weeks after Rosh Hashana, the New Year, when your fate is decreed for the coming year ("...who by fire") and five days after Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement, which acts as the final moment of repentance before your fate is sealed. Sukkot is observed to give thanks for another harvest, for another year.
Mirroring this are the characters in the story, who lose their shelter, their possessions, and doubt G-d for the tragedy. But out of the rubble, the sukkah--shelter from nature--survives. A miracle. A sign of faith. And yes, hope for the future.
Patricia Polacco is an expert at illuminating Jewish holidays in relatable ways. Through Tikvah Means Hope, Sukkot is explored for more than being a harvest celebration. Sukkot is truly a holiday of gratitude. It arrives about two weeks after Rosh Hashana, the New Year, when your fate is decreed for the coming year ("...who by fire") and five days after Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement, which acts as the final moment of repentance before your fate is sealed. Sukkot is observed to give thanks for another harvest, for another year.
Mirroring this are the characters in the story, who lose their shelter, their possessions, and doubt G-d for the tragedy. But out of the rubble, the sukkah--shelter from nature--survives. A miracle. A sign of faith. And yes, hope for the future.
November 15, 2012
when i lived in america my mother took this book out of the library every succot.this was one of my favorite books as a child;after all it had my name ,Tikvah, in the title!it talks about hope and being jewish.what better a book for a child who is jewish and has a name meaning hope?
April 16, 2023
A beautiful children’s tale! The art is lovely and the meaning of hope and friendship is perfect.
October 15, 2024
Every year at Sukkot, many Jewish families build an open shack, covered in branches and decorated in fruit and gourds These symbolizes the temporary homes that sheltered the Jews during the Exodus from Egypt and the 40 years wandering the desert before they found a homeland. It is also a harvest festival and can be considered a Thanksgiving celebration.
Although this book is set during the Jewish holiday of sukkot, this is not a typical picture bookf for young children. This book, aimed at school age youngsters, is actually an historical fiction about the October 1991 Oakland firestorm that ruined over 1400 homes and killed 25 people. The story begins with two young friends Justine and Duane helping their eldely neighbor build his Sukkah. Every year, Mr and Mrs. Roth celebrate with the two young families near their home. The kids spend the night in the Sukkah and then go shopping with Mr. for the meal the next day when the fire srikes, destroying their homes and all of their belongings. Mr. Roth fears that his cat Tikvah is gone as well. When searching for the cat, they discover that standing alone in the back yard is the untouched Sukkah, as good as new. Just like the Jews of old, these families had no permanant home and neede to seek temporary shelter. The families are devestated but gather in the sukkah for a mea. when the cat shows up, a little worse for wear but otherwise healthy, Roth reminds everyone tha tTikvah means hope, and they must have hope too that hings will get better.
Patricia Polacco tells a touching story of celebration, despair and hope. Her illustrations help tell the story. The pen and ink sketched outlines of the watercolor elements are eyecatching. The realism of the faces compared to the simple art for the items in the interior scenes emphasise the people over the things. In those scenes the many photographs of family members displayed in Justine's home and the posters on Duane's bedroom walls are actual photographs placed within the painted illustrations. The disparity is jaring at the time, but when one reads the ending, it brings home the fact that many people dispared losing phots and memoriblia over any other inanimate things.
When I read this book the first time many years ago, my young daughter had selected it from the temple library because of the cute cat on the cover. This book is a great springboard for discusions of loss, homelessness and hope.
This book has a subtle multicultural theme as well. Although the Roths are Jewish, the other families are not. Justine talks about when her family celebrates Thanksgiving and Duane's family is Aisian.
This book is an ideal piece of Jewish literature for young Jews. But it is also a thoughtful book about a serious topic and can be appropriate for a child of any background. I reccomend it for children eight or above.
Although this book is set during the Jewish holiday of sukkot, this is not a typical picture bookf for young children. This book, aimed at school age youngsters, is actually an historical fiction about the October 1991 Oakland firestorm that ruined over 1400 homes and killed 25 people. The story begins with two young friends Justine and Duane helping their eldely neighbor build his Sukkah. Every year, Mr and Mrs. Roth celebrate with the two young families near their home. The kids spend the night in the Sukkah and then go shopping with Mr. for the meal the next day when the fire srikes, destroying their homes and all of their belongings. Mr. Roth fears that his cat Tikvah is gone as well. When searching for the cat, they discover that standing alone in the back yard is the untouched Sukkah, as good as new. Just like the Jews of old, these families had no permanant home and neede to seek temporary shelter. The families are devestated but gather in the sukkah for a mea. when the cat shows up, a little worse for wear but otherwise healthy, Roth reminds everyone tha tTikvah means hope, and they must have hope too that hings will get better.
Patricia Polacco tells a touching story of celebration, despair and hope. Her illustrations help tell the story. The pen and ink sketched outlines of the watercolor elements are eyecatching. The realism of the faces compared to the simple art for the items in the interior scenes emphasise the people over the things. In those scenes the many photographs of family members displayed in Justine's home and the posters on Duane's bedroom walls are actual photographs placed within the painted illustrations. The disparity is jaring at the time, but when one reads the ending, it brings home the fact that many people dispared losing phots and memoriblia over any other inanimate things.
When I read this book the first time many years ago, my young daughter had selected it from the temple library because of the cute cat on the cover. This book is a great springboard for discusions of loss, homelessness and hope.
This book has a subtle multicultural theme as well. Although the Roths are Jewish, the other families are not. Justine talks about when her family celebrates Thanksgiving and Duane's family is Aisian.
This book is an ideal piece of Jewish literature for young Jews. But it is also a thoughtful book about a serious topic and can be appropriate for a child of any background. I reccomend it for children eight or above.
December 1, 2017
A historical fiction book about the celebration of a Jewish holiday suddenly swept up in flames from the Oakland fires. Sukkoth, the Jewish harvest holiday. Luckily for everyone, there are still miracles in this world and sometimes in the shape of a little cat. This amazing story is a stirring celebration of life, friendship, and most of all hope!
The illustrations were not my cup of tea but the plot and meaning that Patrica Polacco used to tell a story about a horrific event are still amazing to read. This is a book that I feel needs the text to tell the story, and the pictures provide a deeper insight of what is happening. The cat in the story really is not the main character or anything which sort of deceived me at the start of the book because I was hoping the cat would be more involved in the story. Overall, it was still a great read and good piece of historical fiction.
The illustrations were not my cup of tea but the plot and meaning that Patrica Polacco used to tell a story about a horrific event are still amazing to read. This is a book that I feel needs the text to tell the story, and the pictures provide a deeper insight of what is happening. The cat in the story really is not the main character or anything which sort of deceived me at the start of the book because I was hoping the cat would be more involved in the story. Overall, it was still a great read and good piece of historical fiction.
December 5, 2014
Devastation and disaster are the words that describe the wildfire in the Oakland Hills of California in 1991. Entire neighborhoods were left homeless and Tikvah Means Hopes is set against this horrifying backdrop. Just as best friends, Justine and Duane are helping their neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Roth build their Sukkah to celebrate the Jewish harvest holiday. Things take a turn for the worst when the wildfire approaches and the worry is etched on their faces.
Although homes and neighborhoods are destroyed, the will to survive and carry on are magnified. A touching story surrounding sorrow...as a beloved family pet kitten was feared lost to fire, only to be happily reunited with its family.
Although homes and neighborhoods are destroyed, the will to survive and carry on are magnified. A touching story surrounding sorrow...as a beloved family pet kitten was feared lost to fire, only to be happily reunited with its family.
November 6, 2008
Once again, Patricia Polacco writes a touching and beautiful story which crosses over ethnic and generational lines and embraces community. The story is based on the firestorms that devastated parts of the hills of Oakland, California in the early 1990's. The illustrations incorporate actual photographs and posters as part of the drawings. The story takes place during Sukkoth, the Jewish Harvest Festival. The explanation given and the comparison to Thanksgiving builds bridges between people and is important for our students to learn. I would use this book as a read aloud beginning in the primary grades. I won't give away the ending, but have kleenex available!
December 26, 2015
I like books that have been based on true bits of history or some sort of legend. This book was based on a very real bit of history, the Oakland Firestorm in October 1992 I believe. I did enjoy the bit of history there and looked it up a bit. I found the book to be long and wordy and didn't really get into it. My daughter who loves cats held out to the end but she didn't realize that I shortened up each page so it would go faster.
I have read other books by this writer that are fantastic, but this one just didn't do anything for me. Though we both loved that Tikvah was found safe and that her name meant hope, that was pretty cool.
I have read other books by this writer that are fantastic, but this one just didn't do anything for me. Though we both loved that Tikvah was found safe and that her name meant hope, that was pretty cool.
Read
May 2, 2016This story was about a couple of Jewish families that were going to have a sukkah. After they build the sukkah in the backyard they go out for supplies for the big feast, only to come back to a horrible surprise. There is a big fire at the top of the hill where they live. They are able to find the rest of their families and are evacuated. When it is all over nothing remain but the fireplaces in the homes. Surprisingly the Sukkah still stood untouched, that night they all gather together. Tivakah means hope which is the name of the cat found under the grill with just a bit of singed hair.
March 10, 2009
Inspired by fire that raged on a hot October day in Oakland CA. Includes some details on building a Jewish Sukkah and the idea of thankfulness. Great story of community rallying together, comforting one another.
March 26, 2009
This is one of my all time favorite children's books. I read it to my boys when they were little. It is a true story, based on the author's experience as a child when Oakland, CA was on fire. Beautiful story of hope and coming together during a disaster.
July 16, 2014
When this was published in 1994, the 92 Oakland fire represented a terrible calamity. Since then the US has suffered worse. Still, it's a lovely book, and I'm glad to be able to read something to the girls which shows that even when all seems to be lost, there is still some hope to be found.
June 2, 2015
A neighborhood story based on fact surrounding what happened to the people of the community when a sudden fire decimates the area. I love how everyone came together, and how a cat comes to symbolize hope. Beautiful story.
April 7, 2021
didn't know it from the cover but this is a story about the oakland hills fire.
August 29, 2011
I can barely get through this one ... it chokes me up every time even though I know how it ends :>)
September 27, 2011
awesome book. i was cring at the end of the book
October 8, 2012
This book makes me cry. I don't think it did that when I first read it twenty years ago. Oh, little lost kitty cat.
April 27, 2013
I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you: http://www.indiebound.org
September 17, 2013
This is honestly one of my favorite children's books. I plan on sharing this with my family and my children.
June 25, 2019
Patricia Polacco's story drew tears to my eyes, after learning about a devastating rapid firestorm that impacted lives in Oakland. Thousands of homes were destroyed, which left families homeless and with a sense of loss. Though there weere plenty of losses, one thing was gained, which was a sense of hope. That sense of hope was a cat named Tikvah, who brought joy to a couple named Mr. and Mrs. Roth, as well as two young chilren named Justine and Duane, after being found in a Sukkoth home that stood strong. Mr Roth quoted, "Do you know what her name means in Hebrew?...It means hope!" Patricia Polacco used beautiful illustrations to tell the story, but also incorporates realistic pictures as well. There are family photos with real pictures of grandparents as well as sports posters hung in the young boy, Duane's, bedroom.
This story can be used for grades 2-5. After reading this story, it can be used for a compare and contrast writing piece with the idea of hope in "Esperanza Rising" by Pam Munoz Ryan.
This story can be used for grades 2-5. After reading this story, it can be used for a compare and contrast writing piece with the idea of hope in "Esperanza Rising" by Pam Munoz Ryan.
October 20, 2019
A work colleague's daughter offered this lovely children's book to share in my little library. It starts during the fall harvest in Oakland, California with a young girl building a sukkah with her grandfather to give thanks and remember the temporary shelters that the Jewish people often built during their exodus from slavery in Egypt. The excitement of a night under the stars is overtaken by the terror of wildfire that leaves an entire neighbourhood evacuated, their possessions and mementoes gone when their homes are destroyed and countless pets missing and presumably gone forever. This story with its beautiful illustrations is a great to discuss natural disasters with children and how communities come together in tragedy.
September 28, 2024
good: the info about the Oakland, California fire
The first several pages needed a few more words so the story would flow more smoothly. The Jewish faith connection complicated a story that engaging was sufficiently engaging with the fire, the friends, and the cat.
July 9, 2020
This made me cry. I'd heard of this event before, but never read a book about it. It was well done and touching.
February 1, 2021
Touching story about the Oakland firestorm in 1992. Alissa was entranced by the fire and the sights of the destruction afterwards.
February 21, 2021
Another beautiful story by Patricia Polacco. Even though it was written in 1994 and dealing with firest that were happening in California....it still rings true today.
January 24, 2022
Scarier than I expected, having picked it up without knowing anything about it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews