Hope in a Jar

By Deborah Marcero
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2025
Picture Book, 40 Pages, ages 3-7

Llewellyn the bunny is at it again and this time he’s putting all of his dreams and hopes in a jar. He dreams his best dreams during the day and one day he wished for some friends to play with. He wished so hard he put it in a jar.

When he finds two bunnies on the playground they decide to be friends, and, of course, they all decide to collect their hopes and dreams together and keep them in jars. They have big and small dreams, wishes of all kinds, and so many hopes that soon they have jars placed all through the forest.

One day a terrible storm came up and it rained and rained. After the storm the three of them look all through the forest and discover that their collection of hopes, dreams, and wishes was gone. Can they rebuild and start dreaming again?

“When hope is lost can the friends find a way to begin again?”

This sequel to In A Jar, and Out Of A Jar is just a good as the first two. Deborah Marcero writes with succinct text and great character development. While the second book explored struggles with big feelings, this book is about grief and loss, and together finding the hope and strength to begin again. Is it time for new dreams, wishes, and hopes?

I love how this author makes this subject approachable without getting bogged down in many words. Her illustrations say so much in their colorful simplicity and simple expression.

This is another perfect book for bedtime, story time, or any time.

Hope In A Jar by Deborah Marcero gets 5 stars from this reviewer.