Hoda Kotb and her family endured a health scare when her daughter, 4-year-old Hope Catherine, was hospitalized in the intensive care unit. Fortunately, Hope returned home happy and healthy – and Kotb is using this experience to spread a little hope to others with her very own children’s book, Hope is a Rainbow.
Kotb is the proud mother of daughters Haley Joy and Hope Catherine. Back in March, Kotb returned to her work at Studio 1A and Today after she’d been briefly away tending to a “family health matter.” She revealed at the time “My youngest, Hope, was in the ICU for a few days and in the hospital for a little more than a week.” Since then, the whole experience has inspired her book.
Hoda Kotb announces her children’s book, ‘Hope is a Rainbow’
On the August 2 episode of Today, Kotb revealed the children’s book inspired by her daughter Hope. She adopted Hope back in 2019 with Joel Schiffman, who was her fiancé at the time. Haley was adopted in 2017. The book is about the power of optimism and the importance of staying positive.
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“It was based on my daughter, who, of course, I dreamt of her and hoped for her and her name just fell in,” she revealed. “And it just reminds me, and she reminds me that hope’s around every corner. No matter what you go through, no matter what hardship you endure.”
Inspiring others through ‘Hope is a Rainbow’
Kotb said that Hope had a “longer road” to a full recovery, though has not by time of writing announced what caused her to require hospitalization. But, she added, “She is a rainbow, and so is hope.” The dedication to Hope is a Rainbow even informs that Hope “will always give away her last blueberry” and “sees magic in everything.”
Discussing Hope, she added, “She has taught me that you’re stronger than you think you are. She has that ability to be optimistic and hopeful no matter what kind of challenges lay before you. She’s taught me that resilience comes in all kinds of packages and that kids are incredibly strong. She’s also taught me to find wonder in the smallest things.”
In this way, Hope is symbolic of that colorful display in the sky. “A rainbow to me represents something that you can’t quite touch, but it’s magical and amazing,” Kotb reflected. “So when I thought about how I carry Hope in my heart, I realized, ‘She IS a rainbow.’ She’s this beautiful, magical, incredible child. It just got me thinking about all the things where kids find magic and hope, and this book is full of that.”
This isn’t Kotb’s first foray into publishing, having previously authored I’ve Loved You Since Forever, this one inspired by the experience of welcoming Haley into her heart. Illustrated by Chloe Dominique, Hope is a Rainbow features both Hope and Haley, and will hit shelves on March 5, 2024.
