The Colors of Hope: The Memories Yet to Come
Jeimer Ng & Imogen Joy
Category: Children's Picture Book
Hardcover | 40 pages | 979-8-90115-019-1
Trim Size: 8.5” H x 10.3” W
Publication Date: May 5th, 2026
List Price: $18.99 USD
Publisher: Starfish Bay® Publishing
Genre: Social-Emotional Learning / Grief/Loss Literature
Reading Level: Grade 3-4
Interest Level: Grades 2-5
Guided Reading Level: O
Lexile® Measure: 650L
Accelerated Reader® Level/Poin: 3.8/0.5

Nathaniel Pennon’s loved ones must work together after they are washed from his heart in a flood.

Nathaniel Pennon’s heart contains rooms for the people he loves dearly. But one day, a new room appears, and before the residents of Nathaniel’s heart can understand who it is for, a flood of water rushes in, washing them away! Together they must work to stop the flood from devastating Nathaniel’s heart. But what could possibly be strong enough to stop something as destructive as this? This is an imaginative and visually captivating story that explores themes such as heartbreak, grief, and healing. 

Jeimer Ng is an author and occupational therapist from Western Australia with a passion for short forms of fiction. He is also a professional daydreamer and certified sentimentalist in love with the world. You can find him hiking through nature, sipping on hot chocolate no matter the weather, and hunting for the best bakeries in town—mainly so he can claim “writer’s block” while eating pastries.

Imogen Joy is an English illustrator living in Sydney, Australia, with her partner, son, and a very fluffy cat. Her mother encouraged her to draw from childhood, nurturing her love of art and her ability to think creatively. Imogen studied fine arts in England and Australia and was delighted to find her voice through illustration, the perfect way to express her whimsical themes and inner magical world with a wider audience.

Key Features:
  • A poignant and endearing story that explores themes surrounding grief, healing, and heartbreak.
  • An original interpretation of some big emotions readers can experience.
  • Wildly inventive and expressive illustrations that capture the emotional themes and originality of this story perfectly.
Themes:
  • Grief and Loss - Processing the death of loved ones
  • Hope - Finding light in darkness through future possibilities
  • Healing - Recovery is a process, not instant
  • Memory - Honoring the past while creating the future
  • Community and Support - Healing happens with help from loved ones
  • Resilience - Finding strength to continue after loss
  • Love Transcends Death - Relationships continue in our hearts
  • Adaptation - Things change but can still be meaningful (Scruffy's toy)
  • The Power of Imagination - Creating hope through envisioning the future
  • Integration of Loss - Grief becomes part of us, not something to eliminate
  • Intergenerational Wisdom - Learning from others who have experienced loss
  • Creative Problem-Solving - Using art and imagination to heal
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