When her family must move once more, Ophelia uses her imagination to make magic out of a scary situation.

Giant rabbits with sharp teeth circle the old motel where they are staying. Ophelia can also hear crow-witches cackling from the trees. And when it’s time to go to her new school, she encounters an ogre who blocks the road with his giant ogre laughs. 

But most frightening of all is when Ophelia is left in her new class and realizes that everyone speaks French. Except her. 

The kids stare, and Ophelia feels like a fish in a fishbowl. But equipped with the magic of a sheet of white paper and a rainbow of pencils, she will find a way to cast her own spells over the class. 

Inspired by events from her own childhood, beloved children’s author-illustrator Marie-Louise Gay weaves a wonderful tale of imagination, creativity and resilience as the keys to children’s power in an uncertain world.

Key Text Features

illustrations

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3

With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4

Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.

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Gentle encouragement to embrace life’s inevitable changes.

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An endearing, reassuring picture book for kids facing their own first-day-of-school jitters.

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Gay conveys with perceptive power a contrast between the anxious fantasy of the child’s world and the reality of an adult’s.

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Hopscotch brings to light the incredible capacity for children to use their creativity and imagination to help them through times of uncertainty.

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The use of hopscotch to help Ophelia “hop” through her challenges was creatively used.

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Marie-Louise Gay’s distinctive artwork is a perfect complement to this story about overcoming fears with dreams and creativity.

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Hopscotch is a thoughtful, creative and magical picture book.

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Marie-Louise Gay has amused and enthralled children for over 20 years.