This is the touching story of the life of a scarecrow named Hopefully and his friendship with a girl with no name.

He didn't remember how he came into being, but he knew that he was carefully crafted with loving hands and he remembered the first time she placed him on his perch.

-start quote
She set him up straight, stood back, and smiled.
“Hopefully, the scarecrow will keep the birds away,” she’d said.
-end quote

He hadn’t known his name was Hopefully, but he liked it.

He liked stories, though he couldn't read. She could and every day she would bring her favorite books to the garden and read to him. He had many journeys and adventures, learning about courage and hope from her.

When the air became bite-y and the cornstalks turned brown she took him down and placed him gently in the shed. Though it was dark and he was alone, he knew he would be fine through the winter, safe and warm until it was time to go back into the garden.

Year after year she came and spent time with him and year after year she placed him back in his shed, until one spring she didn't return, and, as more time passed, Hopefully grew lonely and fell into disrepair...

I won't spoil the ending by telling you what happens but at this point in the story, my seven-year-old granddaughter Paisley got very concerned and worried about Hopefully. She was invested in the story and couldn't wait to see how it ended.

The illustrations were cute and whimsical and full of color. The story was sweet and touching and Hopefully was a wonderful, imaginative character, full of life. We will happily recommend this book to all those little ones in your life. ~~Dee Astell with input from Paisley Hernandez