My Father's Hands

by Joanne Ryder, Mark Graham (Illustrator)

A father makes a green and growing place and finds among the shadows of bushes and flowers hidden treasures. Cupping them in his earth-stained hands, he calls his daughter to come and share his discovery. Each time, she finds a garden creature to marvel over and a delicate pink circle of worm, a beetle in shining gold armor, or a leaf-green mantis who boldly balances upon her own steady and caring fingers. With graceful, loving words and vibrant art, Joanne Ryder and Mark Graham portray a special father who shares what he values most—all the beauty and wonder of the natural world.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Gardening, Poetry, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 15, 1994

About the author

Joanna Ryder is an award-winning author whose books offer a unique blend of poetry and science. Her innovative Just for a Day series invites children into the world of wild animals, ranging from a sea otter to Tyrannosaurus rex. Ms. Ryder says, "Children know that my books often ask them to imagine being a different creature. So they always ask me which animal I would choose to be. I'd be a flying one, I tell them. Or if I could, I'd wish for wings. And I've discovered children would love wings, too. But which ones to choose? I wrote Rainbow Wings to help us decide." Ms. Ryder lives in Pacific Grove, California.

-taken from www.balkinbuddies.com

Reviews

[Sharla Bazen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Genre: Children's Picture Book (MAISA Mentor Text)

Unique feature: The water colors used in the text give a sense of feeling to the pages... This would be a good book for action words and incorporating thought and feeling into our writing.

Grade level suggested 1-2

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for rather a broader view of a father's hands. This one is limited to what a father shows his daughter in the garden. It is a bit lovely, but it is also a bit boring.

[Megan Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A daughter helps and watches her father in their garden. She watches his hands as they dig up the soil in the earth, and then she sees that her father has something in his hands. Her father shows her a pink worm, a gold-armored beetle, a snail that slides over the dark cracks in her father's hands, and a leaf-green mantis. She is fascinated by the insects, and knows that nothing that comes from her father's hands will harm her.
I liked this book! I like the quote on the last page that reads, "No one will ever bring me better treasures than the ones cupped in my father's hands." It is a cute story, and the illustrations are life-like. The cover of the book is especially adorable because the father is holding his daughter's hands in his, while the daughter is holding a snail (which is one of the things that he showed her in the story).
I could use this book in a classroom because many children love to help their fathers (and even mothers) with chores, etc. This book is relatable for children because they most likely know what it's like to help their father in a garden, or other places.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

The oils on paper produce very capable, warm illustrations, but the strength of this book is Ryder's loving verse that captures the physicality, strength, trust and generosity of the father's hands for his daughter. Sharing his love for the earth and introducing nature's treasures to her, the book's greatest surprise for me was his bringing her to a praying mantis. Mantises had a special place in our family when our children were young - this Fall the mantises are back, one outside our home, and yesterday, egg sac and all, another in the hands of a friend at church.

[Taneika Miliam]

Self-to –World Connection or Text-to-Teaching
I enjoyed reading this book. I like how the father does anything to make his daughter happy. They have a really good bond. He has a love for the outside world. He connects his love with nature and applies it to teaching his daughter as well. This story I could use as a Science Lesson on plants and animals. After reading the story, I can point out to the kids the different types of animals that were in the story. We could do a sorting game as a whole group activity.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this quiet story of a father who is a gardener who finds occupants of the garden and shares them with his daughter.

I had some older children for PJ storytime and used this as a quiet story to end our PJ storytime. 6/12/12

Used for a kindergarten class visit. Started them out with this quiet story since the teacher doesn't like them to get to riled.

[Jade Ralston]

This book would be good to read to students. It has nice, warm pictures that illustrate how a father cares for the Earth and shares that love with his daughter. The language used is appropriate in that it teaches children to think. It shows how this father is teaching his daughter to not be afraid of the animals in the garden, but to learn about them.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet book about the relationship between a father and daughter and the time they spend together in the garden. The illustrations are softly rendered and our girls loved the pictures of the praying mantis and other creatures. It's a fun story to read aloud at bedtime.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

My father loves this story and uses it annually to teach some aspect of poetry, but I just enjoy its simple beauty and wonderful phrasing.

[Jodi Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story. Can be read around Father's Day or when starting an expedition with plants and the animals/insects that live with/near/in and help the plants.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Age: 3 years - 1st grade

A simple tale commemorating the wonders that can come from father's hands as he gardens. Great for overcoming fear of bugs and the unknown.

[Lynne Vanderveen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story and sentiment. Enjoyed it.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Father's Hands
Ryder, Joanne
This book is looking at the surprises in nature shared between daughter and father, he showed her the world of wonder in his hands from a worm, to a praying mantis.