Hand Book

by Jeff Newman, Jeff Newman (Illustrator)

Overview

Starting with the clap of a baby’s chubby new hands, significant life moments are poignantly depicted with tender illustrations and sparse text in this masterful work from Jeff Newman. Hands wave good-bye as the first trip on the school bus is made; hands toss a cap in the air at college graduation. Shaking hands with someone new marks the start of a career, and, perhaps the most important gesture of all, finding the hand to hold forever ultimately begins the cycle anew. With no more than a few words on each spread and thick black line illustrations with spots of vibrant color, Hand Book is a beautiful testament to the journey of life and makes an ideal gift or keepsake.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442435582
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication date:	08/23/2011
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	3 MB
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Jeff Newman grew up in Ashland, Massachusetts, and attended The Art Institute of Boston. His picture books include Hippo! No, Rhino; The Boys; Hand Book; The Greedy Worm; and Found. He currently lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Editorial Reviews

Newman’s two-word sentences, woven with his spontaneous, expressive drawings, lead to affecting phrasing that’s poignant and stirring.... A lovely tribute to growing up that will endearingly mature with its readers.”— Kirkus, STARRED Review

From the Publisher

Gr 2–4—From toddler hands clapping to a schoolboy's keyboard strokes, graduation-hat tosses and hands crossed in frustration over want ads, Newman spotlights the role of hands throughout life. A simple sentence on each page rhymes with a companion page, but sometimes feels forced: "Hands to eat./Hands (and feet.)" The wide circles creating nearly faceless figures are done in ink and permanent marker, predominantly in orange. Later pages present situations of interest to adults, such as meeting a mate: "Hands shake/and hold/and then,/again…," reinforcing the mature tone. Children originally attracted to the visual simplicity will leave puzzled by the theme.—Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA

School Library Journal