From School Library Journal
Grade 7 UpAThe ageless, timeless story of caterpillars, Strip and Yellow, unfolds as the author, Trina Paulus, reads it with as much enthusiasm as she had when it was originally published 25 years ago. It is a very simple story of life, death, goals, alternatives, anxiety, hope, and becoming which can be used by students on many levels, with each person gleaning an appropriate moral. Paulus' speech is gentle, and her belief in the story is shown in her very expressive voice. She enunciates very clearly, has good pacing, and changes tone and speech for the different characters. Short, pleasant musical interludes provide appropriate breaks between each chapter and set the mood for upcoming events. On Side 2 Paulus discusses the background for the story from the events in her life and the importance of various symbols used in the plot. Purchase for anyone who has challenges to overcomeAthis story could have as much of an audience as Jonathan Livingston Seagull.Claudia Moore, W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VACopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Woman's Day
A wonderful new myth book.


Coretta Scott King
I read it with deep appreciation for its message and for Trina Paulus' skill in communicating in words and pictures.


Book Description
Hope's theme of life, moving through seeming death to a new and more beautiful life, has touched the hearts of millions of people. Hope for the Flowers is for young and old, lovers, husbands and wives. It's a book to learn to read with, or to comfort those who are dying or grieving. In the tale, the caterpillar heroes, Stripe and Yellow, want something more from life than eating and growing bigger. They get caught up in a "caterpillar pillar," a squirming mass of bodies, each determined to reach a top so far away it can't be seen. Finally disillusioned, they discover that the way for the caterpillars to find their particular "more," who they really are, is to enter the cocoon and "...risk for the butterfly." Hope for the Flowers has helped people gain the courage to leave jobs, change their lives and explore their love for another human being. Two million copies in print.


About the Author
Trina Paulus, already an artist, philosopher, sculptor and community builder when she wrote Hope for the Flowers, has lived an unconventional life including over a decade at Grailville, an educational center and organic farm in Loveland, Ohio. She has spent time abroad with the international Grail Movement in France and Akhmin, Egypt, where she helped start a women’s weaving and embroidery co-op. She is vice-president of Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute and Cornucopia Network of New Jersey. Her home in New Jersey is a hub of environmental action and learning.

ANNOTATION

A best-selling modern-day fable in celebration of hope. Over a million copies in print.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

This classic story is celebrating its 25th anniversary. "Hope for the Flowers" is an inspiring allegory about the realization of one's true destiny as told through the lives of caterpillars Stripe and Yellow, who struggle to "climb to the top" before understanding that they are meant to fly.

SYNOPSIS

Stripe & Yellow & I thank you! Hope is going global! My stars go to the authors of the encouraging reviews? I am moved and inspired to do more with my life because of each of you. I am grateful that you have found more hope with Hope. After 26 years of quiet, steady sales, it seems Hope is suddenly going global! Just this year it's Japanese. Coming soon Korean, Chinese, KiSwahili (East Africa) and Italian. They join Spanish, German and English. For those who love Hope, I think side 2 of the Hope Audio may be of special interest. It's the story behind the book and explores the mystery of life moving through apparent death to new life. This is the continual focus of my past and particularly my present concern for the environment. Just today I built a huge compost pile, and marvel at the almost immediate new life happening as moist old leaves got together with grass clippings and old food scraps. What looks more dead than old leaves? And yet, this is the living food of new life as the grand life cycle continues through the work of the composting microbes. They are so quickly busy they raised the temperature inside my new pile to 138 degrees F. in 8 hours! 'Life is changed, not taken away.' I also raise Monarchs who annually lay their eggs on the milkweed (their caterpillar's only food) planted in my front yard in urban New Jersey. As you have realized, transformation is the key to Hope and for me the answer to most of the world's most vexing problems. Transforming life toward the more local, simple and natural, like eating and growing organically, composting and helping butterflies survive is our millennium task. That is why I am supporting all things organic and struggling mightily against the pollution and control of our food supply by just a few transnational corporations. May we EACH believe in the butterfly ALWAYS. WANT MILKWEED SEEDS?

Also recommended: The Little Prince - St.Exupery, The Reed of God - Houselander, Permaculture - Mollison & others, Against The Grain; Biotechnology & the Corporate Takeover of Your Food -Lappe & Bailey

Trina Paulus (compostgal@aol.com), The author/artist of Hope., May 16, 1999

FROM THE CRITICS

School Library Journal