NYC Big Book Award: Distinguished Favorite in Children’s Educational Category 2021

MOM's Choice Award Honoring Excellence

When they met, Hope, a sad girl, and Jelly Beans, a captured cheetah, began a lifelong friendship through mutual caring. The power of their surprising partnership—strengthened by empathy—connected them with a new family, the Barabaig tribe. In this highly anticipated sequel, Hope and Jelly Beans use compassionate listening to explore what brought them together. Hope shares memories of the empathy shown by the flight crew on her way to Africa, which inspires an original game called Empathy Airlines.

The two see the value of play, inspiring them to enhance their game with real items from the airplane trip . . . but first they must make a difficult journey to find them. They walk home through the dark, reminded of how the Barabaig girls walked to get clean water for their village every night.

Will their respect for the bravery of the Barabaig girls inspire their own courage? With imagination, empathy, and the power of friendship, Hope and Jelly Beans know, together they can do anything!

SissyMarySue is a lifelong Minnesota educator with an MA in Human Development. During her doctoral studies in education, she was awarded a Fielder Graduate Fellowship through the Marie Fielder Center for Democracy, Leadership, and Education. SissyMarySue is the author of the award-winning, fivestar rated children’s book Jelly Beans the Cheetah and Hope, and the playwright and lyricist of the accompanying children’s musical. The musical was first produced in association with H2O for Life Schools and Children’s Performing Arts of Minnesota at Hanifl Performing Arts Center.