These days, it’s hard to turn on the news without being inundated with images of people around the world and in our own neighborhoods who are suffering. Often, it can feel overwhelming, even more so for those entrusted with caring for children, whom we have to equip to venture out into the world and thrive. Below we share a review of a children’s book that can help with this daunting task of raising hopeful kids, by teaching children “hoping skills” that will help them look for the joy in difficult situations.
This review is part of Read Your World Day, a global event taking place on Thursday, January 29, 2026, culminating that evening in a virtual party to celebrate and amplify diverse voices in children’s literature. See below for more details!
Raising Hopeful Kids In Difficult Times
We received a complimentary copy of the book below for review purposes; however, all opinions are our own. This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, Multicultural Kid Blogs receives a small commission at no extra charge to you.
Hope In the Nick of Time is the latest installment in a series of children’s books from Make A Way Media and author Deedee Cummings starring a young Black boy, Nick Saint. In the first book, In the Nick of Time, Nick learns the true meaning of Christmas by helping a classmate whose family is experiencing poverty. In the next book, In the Nick of Time Too, the two boys, now best friends, learn about the magic of Christmas through a surprise visit that teaches them that love comes in many forms and colors.
In this latest book, Hope In the Nick of Time, Nick is back for what he expects to be a fun filled, wintry adventure into New York City. Instead, nothing seems to go right – from slushy snow to spilled gelato, Nick is frustrated and disappointed. And so he reacts just as so many kids (and adults!) would: He wants to go home!
Thankfully, a surprise encounter helps turn Nick’s bad day around, helping him to see the good in bad situations and to help spread joy where he can.
You can tell that this book was written by someone who has a deep understanding of the struggle that kids feel when go wrong. Author Deedee Cummings weaves insights from her years of working as a therapist into her books. Nick is no Pollyanna, with bright-eyed optimism that ignores the bad things that happen. Instead, this book helps children to acknowledge disappointments while not getting bogged down by them. It helps to build children’s resilience by giving them a set of tools to deal with the challenges they will inevitably face.
I love the Cummings’ concept of “hoping skills,” the idea that hope is a practice that can be taught, rather than an emotion that you either feel or you don’t.
I also love how Nick’s character has evolved from one book to the next, amplified by his changing look in the gorgeous illustrations by artist Charlene Mosley.
A highly recommended and entertaining book to help in raising hopeful kids.
Read Your World 2026 (1/29/26) is in its 14th year! Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen founded this non-profit children’s literacy initiative; they are two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural diverse books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.
Read Your World’s mission is to raise awareness of the need to include kids’ books celebrating diversity in homes and school bookshelves. Read about our Mission and history HERE.
Read Your World is honored to be Supported by these Medallion:
FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Pragmaticmom) and Valarie Budayr (Audreypress.com)
🏅 Super Platinum Sponsor: Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media
🏅 Platinum Sponsors: Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 60 Languages and Jeanne Walker Harvey
🏅 Gold Sponsors: Publisher Spotlight
🏅 Silver Sponsors: Red Comet Press
🏅 Silver Corporate Sponsor: Kathy Choi
🏅 Bronze Sponsors: Fabled Films Press
🏅 Corporate Sponsor: Crayola Education
Read Your World is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!
Authors: Audrey Barbakoff, Federico Erebia, Teddi Ahrens, Stephanie M. Wildman, Maritza M. Mejia, Authors J.C. Kato and J.C.², Eugenia Chu, Dorktales Storytime Podcast, Josh Funk, Frances Díaz Evans, Gaia Cornwall, Eric Clock, Maria Wen Adcock, Diana Huang, Gwen Jackson, Gea Meijering, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Ismee Williams, Karin Fisher-Golton, Kathleen Burkinshaw, Tami Lehman-Wilzig, Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, Nancy Tupper Ling, Teresa Robeson, Crystal Z. Lee, Karen Leggett Abouraya, Elly Swartz, Robbin Miller, Shifa Safadi, Tonya Ellis,Lisa Stringfellow, Sylvia Liu, Kimberly Biddle, Robbin Miller, Tonya Ellis, Nadine Pressley, Natahsa Yim Carter, and Lisa Chong.
Read Your World is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts and by our Partner Organizations!
Check out RYW’s Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board!
📌 FREE RESOURCES from Read Your World Day
- FREE RYW2026 Poster
- FREE Building Community with Bilingual Books 2026 Classroom Kit
- FREE Mental Health Support for Stressful Times Classroom Kit
- FREE Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents
- FREE Homeschool Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit
- FREE Teacher Classroom Activism and Activists Kit
- FREE Teacher Classroom Empathy Kit
- FREE Teacher Classroom Kindness Kit
- FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit
- FREE Teacher Classroom Poverty Kit
- Gallery of Our Free Posters
- FREE Diversity Book for Classrooms Program
📌 Register for the Read Your World Virtual Party: https://readyourworld.org/virtualparty
Join us on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at 8 pm EST celebrating 14 years of Read Your World Day Virtual Party! Register here.
This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.
We will be giving away a 10-Book Bundle during the virtual party plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants are welcome. **
Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, and connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. We look forward to seeing you all on January 29, 2026, at our virtual party!
Enter your reviews into the Giant Linky below! Linky opens on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
Leanna
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