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Whose Hands Are These?: A Community Helper Guessing Book
If your hands can mix and mash, what job might you have? What if your hands reach, wrench, yank, and crank? The hands in this book--and the people attached to them--do all sorts of helpful work. And together, these helpers make their community a safe and fun place to live. As you read, keep an eye out for community members who make repeat appearances! Can you guess all the jobs based on the actions of these busy hands?
-- "Journal"
-- "Journal"
34 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2016
13 people are currently reading
244 people want to read
About the author
Miranda Paul
18 books151 followersMiranda Paul has worked as a teacher, volunteer zookeeper, and freelance writer--among other things. She is passionate about creating stories for young readers that inspire, entertain, and broaden horizons. Miranda is also a thrill-seeker, and one of her bravest moments involved reciting poetry from inside a crocodile pit. (Yikes!)
In addition to being a picture book author, Miranda is a team member of We Need Diverse Books™ and a volunteer for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Learn more at www.mirandapaul.com.
In addition to being a picture book author, Miranda is a team member of We Need Diverse Books™ and a volunteer for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Learn more at www.mirandapaul.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
March 2, 2021
From farmers to doctors, mechanics to police, the rhyming text in this engaging picture-book asks the young reader to identify the community helper being described. Each helper's activities are depicted through word and illustration on one page, with their identity revealed as one flips to the next page. More information about each helper and what they do is given at the rear...
The format and structure of Whose Hands Are These?: A Community Helper Guessing Book make for an engaging and interactive reading process, as the reader or listener is invited to consider who the book might be describing. I can see this working very well at story-time, as the story leader stops at each helper's description, to allow the child attendees to guess who they are. The accompanying mixed media artwork from expatriate Brazilian illustrator Luciana Navarro Powell is colorful and appealing, capturing the essential goodheartedness of the text and what it is describing. I'd recommend this one to picture-book readers and teachers looking for titles about community helpers, and the different occupations that children might find interesting. It could be paired with Brian Biggs' Tinyville Town: Gets to Work! , which also offers a depiction of the different kinds of worker in a community.
The format and structure of Whose Hands Are These?: A Community Helper Guessing Book make for an engaging and interactive reading process, as the reader or listener is invited to consider who the book might be describing. I can see this working very well at story-time, as the story leader stops at each helper's description, to allow the child attendees to guess who they are. The accompanying mixed media artwork from expatriate Brazilian illustrator Luciana Navarro Powell is colorful and appealing, capturing the essential goodheartedness of the text and what it is describing. I'd recommend this one to picture-book readers and teachers looking for titles about community helpers, and the different occupations that children might find interesting. It could be paired with Brian Biggs' Tinyville Town: Gets to Work! , which also offers a depiction of the different kinds of worker in a community.
May 28, 2024
This is a gorgeous and informative book about community helpers that is set up in a riddle format. I had the privilege of watching the author read this book aloud and interact with children as they responded to the riddles! (Black Creek Village Library, WI on May 6, 2017) Very wonderful and a must have in preschool classes as well as the primary grades. The author's note contains an inspirational sentence, "I've discovered that hands can help our world in many ways and it's OK to be more than one thing." I would pair this book with one of my all time favorites, Lois Ehlert's HANDS.
*Heard Miranda read this again at our library (Muehl Public Library on May 9, 2024!) and this time I learned about how the pictures of the book foreshadow next scenes as well as aftershadow (if that's a word!). I loved looking at all the hidden images. Example: Bulletin board on the scientists' page has a coupon from the pizza restaurant seen before as well as a picture of a dog emblazoned mug that will come up in the potter's page which is next.
*Heard Miranda read this again at our library (Muehl Public Library on May 9, 2024!) and this time I learned about how the pictures of the book foreshadow next scenes as well as aftershadow (if that's a word!). I loved looking at all the hidden images. Example: Bulletin board on the scientists' page has a coupon from the pizza restaurant seen before as well as a picture of a dog emblazoned mug that will come up in the potter's page which is next.
December 9, 2017
Whose Hands are These? is a guessing book written by Miranda Paul. Geared to the younger set of readers, it introduces several careers for them to consider.
As Miranda uses excellent rhyme to tell about each community helper, she lays out clues to describe them, and then allows the reader to guess who she means. The page turn reveals the answer.
The beautiful illustrations in Whose Hands are These? a Community Guessing Book were created by illustrator Luciana Powell. On each page she has perfectly captured the story.
In the back of the book are four pages on which is a description of each community helper mentioned in the story. Beside each paragraph is a lovely illustration. Farmers, cooks, police, scientists, potters, news reporters, mechanics, architects, referees, physicians, teachers. Miranda Paul ends by saying, “Dream big!”
Whose Hands are These? a Community Guessing Book is a beautiful picture book for young children – and older people, too. It’s full of description presented in a fun way with gorgeous illustrations. Very enjoyable.
As Miranda uses excellent rhyme to tell about each community helper, she lays out clues to describe them, and then allows the reader to guess who she means. The page turn reveals the answer.
The beautiful illustrations in Whose Hands are These? a Community Guessing Book were created by illustrator Luciana Powell. On each page she has perfectly captured the story.
In the back of the book are four pages on which is a description of each community helper mentioned in the story. Beside each paragraph is a lovely illustration. Farmers, cooks, police, scientists, potters, news reporters, mechanics, architects, referees, physicians, teachers. Miranda Paul ends by saying, “Dream big!”
Whose Hands are These? a Community Guessing Book is a beautiful picture book for young children – and older people, too. It’s full of description presented in a fun way with gorgeous illustrations. Very enjoyable.
September 30, 2017
Beautiful book, vocabulary above preschool age
April 16, 2019
This book is so cute! I loved reading it. It is a guessing book for community helpers! It talks about the things that the particular "hands" do, and it has you guess which helper it is. Such as, if your hands can mix and mash, what job might you have? What if your hands reach, wrench, yank, and crank? The hands in this book do all sorts of helpful work. These helpers make their community a safe and fun place to live, and that helps children get in tune with their community.
If a teacher is doing a lesson over the community, or helpers, this would be a perfect book to read to them. Or, if a police officer, fireman, etc, comes in to read to the class, this would also be a great book. It opens the eyes to students who did not know that so many helpers are in their world! Five stars.
If a teacher is doing a lesson over the community, or helpers, this would be a perfect book to read to them. Or, if a police officer, fireman, etc, comes in to read to the class, this would also be a great book. It opens the eyes to students who did not know that so many helpers are in their world! Five stars.
June 15, 2017
This surprised me by being extremely well-written and well-illustrated. The rhyming text doesn't have an awkward beat anywhere in it and every line conveys some bit of information about the career being discussed. I borrowed this as an ebook from Hoopla to preview it for my kids, and now I want to run right out and get a library copy so can share it with them. I think it surpasses both Career Day by Anne Rockwell and Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do, which have previously been my go-to books on community helpers.
December 11, 2015
I was lucky enough to read an early copy of this book because the author is a good friend of mine.
This five star rating has nothing to do with that fact.
Innovative and interesting, WHOSE HANDS ARE THESE will captivate readers with lyrical text and beautiful illustrations that avoid cliche. A stellar example of making reading and learning fun through rhyme, art and a guessing game. I loved it!
This five star rating has nothing to do with that fact.
Innovative and interesting, WHOSE HANDS ARE THESE will captivate readers with lyrical text and beautiful illustrations that avoid cliche. A stellar example of making reading and learning fun through rhyme, art and a guessing game. I loved it!
January 23, 2017
Clever idea turns educating about careers into a guessing game for little readers. The the rhyming text does its job and allows readers to fill in the blank before the page turns. Well composed illustrations. A few nit picks about the art.
As a judge for the CYBILS award, I received access to this book for free in return for honest evaluation.
As a judge for the CYBILS award, I received access to this book for free in return for honest evaluation.
January 21, 2020
I borrowed this book from my public library because it immediately made me think about the unit that our 2nd grade classrooms do on Community Helpers. During this unit of study, students learn about all manner of members of the community who help to keep the wheels turning. One year, they also dressed up as their chosen community helper and presented on what they do. How fun is that?!
Whose Hands Are These? A Community Helper Guessing Book would make a great read during our Community Helpers unit. I pulled a good number of informational texts for our classroom teachers to use with their students but I also made sure to include some works of fiction too. This book would be the perfect fit to introduce the unit. Each page gives clues through the rhyming text and helpful illustrations, asking the reader to guess who the community helper is. At the book's end, the reader will find a list of different types of Helping Hands like farmers, cooks, police, scientists, and more, including information about their role and the nature of the work they do. This is definitely one that I will add to our K-5 library collection for our staff and students to enjoy.
Whose Hands Are These? A Community Helper Guessing Book would make a great read during our Community Helpers unit. I pulled a good number of informational texts for our classroom teachers to use with their students but I also made sure to include some works of fiction too. This book would be the perfect fit to introduce the unit. Each page gives clues through the rhyming text and helpful illustrations, asking the reader to guess who the community helper is. At the book's end, the reader will find a list of different types of Helping Hands like farmers, cooks, police, scientists, and more, including information about their role and the nature of the work they do. This is definitely one that I will add to our K-5 library collection for our staff and students to enjoy.
April 15, 2019
1. N/A
2. K-2nd grade
3. This book by Miranda Paul follows the hands of all the people that make up a community. Pairing real life into a guessing book, Paul shows just how many different hands can accompany so many different types of jobs. Showing that it takes a lot of people, but even more hands, to make a community.
4. I think this book is a great to introduce early childhood learners to the concepts of community. It has great life lessons inside, including the concept that it doesn't matter the color, size, or look of your hands but rather how those hands help to the greater good.
5. One activity that can go along with this book it making a map of the town that surrounds the school. The children can then place the occupations that the hands worked at in their town (I.E fire department, grocery store, librarian, gardening store). This could be a great way to demonstrate the notion of a community and also take a look into what makes up a town.
2. K-2nd grade
3. This book by Miranda Paul follows the hands of all the people that make up a community. Pairing real life into a guessing book, Paul shows just how many different hands can accompany so many different types of jobs. Showing that it takes a lot of people, but even more hands, to make a community.
4. I think this book is a great to introduce early childhood learners to the concepts of community. It has great life lessons inside, including the concept that it doesn't matter the color, size, or look of your hands but rather how those hands help to the greater good.
5. One activity that can go along with this book it making a map of the town that surrounds the school. The children can then place the occupations that the hands worked at in their town (I.E fire department, grocery store, librarian, gardening store). This could be a great way to demonstrate the notion of a community and also take a look into what makes up a town.
November 17, 2017
diverse picture book (preschool/kindergarten ages 3 and up; occupations/community helpers).
* Prominently features diverse characters: yes--there are no main characters, but the cast is ethnically diverse and reflected prominently on the cover; the different jobs have a pretty equal representation of women (and older folks); the potter wears a hearing aid; one of the kids in the classroom has a wheelchair.
* Good choice for preschool storytime - large, colorful illustrations; invites audience to participate by filling in the blank occupation after each set of rhyming clues. Some of the vocab will be new/harder to guess, but that's ok.
* Works for "community" theme. Yep, this would totally work for the preschoolers' "community helpers" theme.
* Prominently features diverse characters: yes--there are no main characters, but the cast is ethnically diverse and reflected prominently on the cover; the different jobs have a pretty equal representation of women (and older folks); the potter wears a hearing aid; one of the kids in the classroom has a wheelchair.
* Good choice for preschool storytime - large, colorful illustrations; invites audience to participate by filling in the blank occupation after each set of rhyming clues. Some of the vocab will be new/harder to guess, but that's ok.
* Works for "community" theme. Yep, this would totally work for the preschoolers' "community helpers" theme.
April 24, 2019
This was such a sweet little book! This book is describing different occupations people can or some are even hobbies. The book starts out by describing an occupation and gives examples of what a person might do within that occupation but does not reveal the occupation until the next page. One page leads right into the next ending with a word that will rhyme with the occupation that is on the next page. The illustrations are really neat because they show what the person might do in the occupation or the hobby. They are very colorful and not a lot of them leave a lot white space, but there are a few that do. This book is an easy, simple book that you could read in the classroom to your students to help give them a little overview of the different jobs or hobbies that are available to do.
February 4, 2019
This book would fit in the informational genre. This book would be good for a K-1 classroom because it could be used in a unit where the students are being taught about the importance of keeping our hands to ourselves, but also what cool and important things our hands can do. The book talks about all of the cool things each individual can do with their hands, and how some hands might do different things than another, and it also offers a fun time where students can guess or give other ideas of how to use our hands. One unique thing about this book is that it uses many different hands for students to think about rather than just the hands of their own or ones that look similar to theirs.
May 13, 2021
I use goodreads to track books for my classes, but to use this completely tone deaf book, I had to use wite-out. DO NOT PURCHASE THIS BOOK. It had such glowing reviews. I read through it and I was so completely embarrassed that I even purchased this to use with a self contained special education class. I am in a very diverse school, and the rhyme "These hands help us keep the peace. Hold up yours, its the... Police!" Are you kidding me? I am not reading that to a class of mostly BIPOC students. The publisher should seriously consider a re-write, or pulling this altogether. 0/5
October 2, 2021
Read to consider adding to an elementary library collection knowing young grades have a community helpers unit. I liked the fresh concept, and the illustrations were great and rhyming text was engaging. But the collection of community helpers chosen was strange:
Farmer
Cook
Police
Scientist
Potter
News reporter
Mechanic
Architect
Referee
Physician
Teacher
My 3rd grader truffles to guess potter, scientist, news reporter, architect, and physician, so I doubt a class of kindergartners would feel that successful with it. Still, it’s a fun read aloud. Will consider buying.
Farmer
Cook
Police
Scientist
Potter
News reporter
Mechanic
Architect
Referee
Physician
Teacher
My 3rd grader truffles to guess potter, scientist, news reporter, architect, and physician, so I doubt a class of kindergartners would feel that successful with it. Still, it’s a fun read aloud. Will consider buying.
October 29, 2020
If your hands can mix and mash, what job might you have? What if your hands reach, wrench, yank, and crank? The hands in this book--and the people attached to them--do all sorts of helpful work. And together, these helpers make their community a safe and fun place to live. As you read, keep an eye out for community members who make repeat appearances! Can you guess all the jobs based on the actions of these busy hands?
May 6, 2025
This was fun! We read it as the last book of our Community Helper Storytime. It's a rhyming guessing game. There's a rhyme that sets up what the hands are doing and time for the kids to guess the profession before you turn the page. This would probably be better for kids in 1st-2nd grade because some of the words aren't common, like architect and physician. However, it still works well for a younger crowd because it's fun to read and the pictures are good.
February 3, 2019
Whose Hands are These? is a fun guessing game story that gives readers an insight on the different careers that people are in. This book demonstrates that no matter what career you choose - or whatever you want to be when you grow up - your helping hands will be beneficial to a numerous amount of people. This book is a fun, interactive book that will inspire readers.
February 10, 2020
This book is filled with charming rhymes about adult occupations. However, the rhyme about police officers is absolutely tasteless!
"Stop and go, these hands are waving.
Catch that guy! He's misbehaving!
These hands help us keep the peace.
Hold yours up, it's the...police!"
That's a hard no from me. If I owned this book, I would tear this page out!
"Stop and go, these hands are waving.
Catch that guy! He's misbehaving!
These hands help us keep the peace.
Hold yours up, it's the...police!"
That's a hard no from me. If I owned this book, I would tear this page out!
May 1, 2024
This inspiring book helps kids answer the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Written in rhymes, the story is a joyful celebration of working people engaged in various professions. Dynamic illustrations show that it takes many kinds of helping hands to make a community work. End pages provide more in-depth job descriptions for each field of endeavor.
July 9, 2017
For a fresh perspective, Whose Hands Are These? is an excellent way to introduce some of the helpers of our community.
For the full review: https://twobookwormsblog.wordpress.co...
For the full review: https://twobookwormsblog.wordpress.co...
November 22, 2017
I always grab this one as an opiton for Community Helpers storytime, and each time am struck by some of the strange professions chosen. I feel like I could use this with K-1st, but not with my preschoolers.
April 12, 2018
This is a great book about people in your community. It's a rhyming book with beautiful illustrations and children will love listening to the clues, looking at the pictures and guessing who the hands belong to. Great for learning about the jobs that people do. !
December 11, 2021
Eleven pairs of hands are explored in this rhyming tale of just some of the many professional community helpers that we may come into contact with everyday. Can your hands be a part and lend a helping hand?
January 19, 2022
If you like puzzles you’ll enjoy Whose Hands Are These! I like the way author Paul showed the hands and told us what they do and the readers would have to guess the occupation of the owners. Luciana Navarro Power’s drawings really help solve the puzzle of who the hands belong to.
February 26, 2025
I enjoyed reading this book. This book is a community helper guessing book. On each page, it gives specific clues that can help readers try to figure out what community helper they are trying to describe without giving it away. Along the way, you are learning about all the community helpers that are around you and what they do. This can help students learn about people that contribute to their community around them that keep the community safe.
February 16, 2017
Great Kindergarten read aloud.
June 10, 2017
"what can your hands do?"
January 20, 2018
Fun to read aloud. Engaging and interactive look at our community's helping hands and who they belong to.
April 19, 2018
great book which allows kids to guess, think about all the people in the community
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews