BSEL Library: Fostering Resilience in the face of Dark Clouds with "A Flicker of Hope"

        Depression, despair, and dark clouds are unfortunately a very real experience for many of us. The truth is, even our youngest students can experience dark clouds too. It is so, so incredibly important that we give students the tools they need to reach out for help, foster resilience, and build hope again. 
       A Flicker Of Hope by Julia Cook is a beautiful book that equips educators to do just that. 

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I have not shied away on social media from sharing the dark clouds I've been facing the last few years in my personal life. I mean it when I say this picture book helped me feel seen, heard, understood, and hopeful. It is deeply inspiring, and  I am certain it can inspire our students, too. Here are some things I love about the book, some things to be aware of, and some practical ways to use it in your classroom.

What I love:​​
- A Flicker Of Hope uses personified candles as an analogy for people, creating a child-friendly approach to this difficult topic.
- The book teaches it's readers that the best thing they can do if they are feeling this way is to ask for help. It gives practical language for how to reach out to others and encourages them to continue reaching out even if the first person can't help. 
- It focuses on each person unique light, as a gift that the world needs.
- The book acknowledges that there may be a variety of reasons for a child to feel down or despair, while validating those feelings and helping them find hope again.
- At the end of the book, there is page of Tips for Parents and Educators, with great suggestions for how to use this book and continue the work.

Some things to be aware of:

• Julia Cook doesn't shy away from touching on really tough topics. Without using the scary words themselves, she does touch on bullying, grief, and even suicide in a way that students with those experiences will likely pick up on. However, she does so with gentleness, tact, and age-appropriateness.
• When deciding if this book is a good fit for your student, group, or class, I would focus less on their age and more on their life experiences. The book could be upsetting to some kindergarteners while being hopeful to other five-year-olds. Consider the emotional readiness for these topics when choosing to read it with children, and include a counselor if possible.

How I would use it in the classroom:
Read with an individual student that you know is struggling. If you have a student who has recently experienced a loss or other trauma, it is so important to provide them with the skills to ask for help and find hope. This book could be a great conversation starter, particularly with a counselor involved.
Read with a group or class. This could be done anytime, but it would be especially meaningful after a tragedy or during an event like bullying prevention week. Focus especially on the unique candles and ways to build hope. I recommend having students design their own unique candle on paper and list ways to build hope for others.

I hope this book inspires you and your students to reach out for help when you need it and to be the hope builders for others around you when they need it too.

​We already know books provide opportunities to teach just about any skill, and that includes behavioral, social, and emotional skills, too! Through character, conflict, and more, BSEL skills can be found on nearly every page. A library of BSEL books gives you endless options to incorporate academics as well. Grab some BSEL books and get teaching! ***This post contains affiliate links. Braving BSEL makes a small commission when you purchase using our links. Thank you for your support!***