Hands Up!

by Breanna J. McDaniel, Shane W. Evans (Illustrator)

This triumphant picture book recasts a charged phrase as part of a black girl's everyday life--hands up for a hug, hands up in class, hands up for a high five--before culminating in a moment of resistance at a protest march.

A young black girl lifts her baby hands up to greet the sun, reaches her hands up for a book on a high shelf, and raises her hands up in praise at a church service. She stretches her hands up high like a plane's wings and whizzes down a hill so fast on her bike with her hands way up. As she grows, she lives through everyday moments of joy, love, and sadness. And when she gets a little older, she joins together with her family and her community in a protest march, where they lift their hands up together in resistance and strength.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, African American, Storytime, Fiction, Social Justice, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 22, 2019

About the author

Top Eight Things to Know About Me:

1) I’m from Atlanta, GA. To be more specific I grew up in College Park and East Point, GA surrounded by my siblings and cousins. While I will always love how vibrant my home community is, it’s changing quite a bit. I just hope some things never change, especially the menu at Big Daddy’s on Old National! Yum!

2) I write children’s books, my favorite genre is picture books and my first picture book,Hands Up!will be published in 2019 by Dial Books for Young Readers.

3) Growing up I dreamed of being a combo archaeologist/lawyer. I would make huge historical finds and then use my law degree to protect the artifacts that I found. My friends who are attorneys now tell me that’s not exactly how it works¯_(ツ)_/¯ Soooo, I am not a lawyer but I do dream of becoming a college professor. And I haven’t completely given up on every part of my dream. When I finally grow up, I will be a professor/author/archaeologist, it’s gonna happen. #NeverStopDreaming

4) Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor, The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas and Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson are three of my favorite books. I try to reread them every year along with A Wrinkle In Time by Madeline L’Engle which is probably number one in my top 5 fav books. Grateful to be alive during a time when Ava Dubernay’s interpretation is in theaters, go see it! Never thought I’d see #AMegLikeMe !

5) Traveling is one of my favorite things to do but vacations kind of stress me out. I always feel like I should be working on a project, reading for my research or doing something that helps build my writing and academic goals BUT when I finally do relax, I’m always excited to try new activities and foods. Adventure is my middle name…Not really, but it should be.

6) Opera is amazing, and a great moment in the history of Bre was feeling goosebumps raise on my arms as Morris Robinson sang out the first line of “Bess You Is My Woman Now” during a concert at Spelman College. My face was WET with tears, it was so incredibly beautiful.

7) The huge amount of concentrated love in the circle of exceptional black women and girls that surround me is magical. I’m blessed by their love, support and prayers.

8) I’m a proud alumna of Simmons College (MA Children’s Literature). In 2017 one of my biggest dreams came true when I accepted a full scholarship to attend the University of Cambridge for my PhD. Go big or go home y’all!

Reviews

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this book shows a little black girl growing up in America. It has her raising her hands up for various things in her life. Greeting the sun, playing peek-a-boo, getting dressed, stretching to reach something on a shelf, using the sink, holding her hair back, swinging on her mom and dad's arms,



raising hands in class, reaching for the book on the high shelf, going into fifth position in ballet, riding a bike with hands in the air,



accepting help when she falls, raising her hands at a concert, in defense playing basketball, raising a trophy in triumph, giving high fives.



This all culminates with her being a teenager and raising her arms in protest.



THE END


THE GOOD

- Love the positive, warm family shown in this book. Grandma doing Viv's hair, mom and dad playing with her.

- I like how it shows strong community.

- I like how it shows different slices and ages of Viv's life.


THE BAD

I'm not sure you can divorce the phrase, "Hands up!" from what is going on in BLM today and the phrase, "Hands up! Don't shoot!" being so prevalent and scary right now. I know what McDaniel is doing,

For many people, the phrase "hands up" brings forward difficult emotions like anger, sadness, frustration and fear. With this story, I wanted to emphasize the ways I've experienced that phrase as part of my everyday life: at home, at play, in church, and at protests with young people leading the way.

I understand what she's saying, but I think it's hard for any adult to read this book to a child without a horrible sinking feeling in their stomach - I know it was in mine. The child won't know anything, but as an adult it's pretty depressing. Something to consider if you are going to be reading this to children.


TL;DR I'll leave it up to you to decide whether this book makes you depressed and if that's a consideration in reading it to children. I couldn't stop thinking about the child(ren) I was reading to growing up and getting shot to death, so... the book wasn't worth that to me.

You could say, "Oh, but that's good you felt that way! People should feel terrified and then do things to change the world!" but I don't need help being terrified for both people now and future generations, so... this is just a little sprinkling of depression I'd rather not have. Just my two cents.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands up! What comes to mind when you hear those two words together? Sadly, for me, I think of apprehension and blue flashing lights and fear. Breanna McDaniel’s Hands Up! takes those words back!

This book uses and says “hands up!” in happy or everyday ways. With a timeline of events from baby to toddler to teen, the words are paired up with peek-a-boo, dancing, unity, and more. These beautiful pages bring the joy back into the words. And puts the joy back in our hands!

“High fives all around, hands up!”

From the first page to the last, I loved this book. The vivid purple opening pages wake you up. The soft yellows and greens in the illustrations soothe and move the reader along. Plus look at the joy on the cat’s face!

I love a book that inspires me to think about words and associations. This book does that and more.

Highly recommended.

[Susan Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is STUNNING. Beautiful, energetic, and joyful.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the idea of the book as outlined in the author's note at the end, but the words and pictures that proceeded that statement just didn't click for me, lying flat on the page.

My tags: not a graphic novel, fiction, children's literature, picture books, African Americans, children, family life, community, protests, resistance, black lives matter

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful and beautifully crafted book that celebrates all the joyful ways to have your Hands Up! This is a much needed reminder (and counter story) to the negative and usually less than nuanced single narrative of the phrase Hands Up!

[Addy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was great until the end. Pretty much ruined it. Could the author not possibly understand that people may find the end offensive? Illegal Immigration historically harms native populations, black Americans the most. So as a black American I found the ending offensive. I miss the days when authors just wrote stories and didn't get political.

[tracy lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is as bright and beautiful as its author.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A positive portrayal of being told to put your "hands up!"--singing in church, getting dressed, fixing hair, 5th position in ballet ("graceful like Ms. Misty"), playing defense in basketball, and high fives. Last page shows everyone with hands up at a rally holding signs that say, "Black Lives Matter," "Water=Life," and "Ningun ser humano es ilegal." Not many words on each page--short and simple. Would be great for reading to a group of children as they could put their hands up for each action. Digital mixed media for the illustrations--looks like boxy, crayon-ish drawings that are bold and simple.

This is perfect for social justice displays for the little ones.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands Up is learning, growing, and reaching. It's praise, it's perseverance, it's love. Wonderful, colorful illustrations with a beautiful depiction of family, achievement, and self-confidence. This picture book has captured my heart, and I can't wait to share it with everybody! Audiences young and old will adore Hands Up.

[Aliza Werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connotations of the phrase “hands up” range from joy and celebration to fear and anger. I loved how the phrase showed how to uplift, especially celebrating a young Black girl. Don’t miss the end note by the author.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is hidden power in this book, reclaiming the act of "hands up" and putting a positive, joyful spin on it.

[Bonnie Grover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lift your hands in joy and celebration! This book helps students see how important their voices and lives are. Its sure to be a favorite for adults and kids. Thank you #BookPosse for the early read.

[Cheryl Gladfelter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shows all the ways a young black girl raises her hands during her life--getting dressed, ballet class, basketball, and protests are some examples. A beautifully illustrated book.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morning comes and young Viv stretches her hands up high to greet the sun, and she continues to put her hands throughout the day. First, getting dressed, then reaching the water running in the sink to wipe up a spill, and later holding her hair up while grandma combs it and puts it in a bun, still later, Viv reaches high in school hoping to be called on by her teacher Ms. B.

In the library, Viv reaches up for a book on a high shelf, and gracefully raises her arms like Misty Copeland in ballet class. At church, hands are raised high in praise and worship, including Viv's. On the basketball court, her hands shoot up to make a basket, and to hold her winning trophy up high for all to see.

And finally, Viv, her family and neighbors hold their hands up high so the world can see the signs they carry, signs of positivity and change, including Black Lives Matter.

Every day, countless times, Viv puts her hands up for different reasons, but it is always done in a positive way, of winning, of succeeding, even of speaking out.

Sadly, for most of us, the expression "hands up" has always been a sign of surrender. Then, in 2014, it became a sign and rallying cry of protest over police violence towards unarmed black men after the shooting death of Michael Brown, 18, in Ferguson, Missouri. In her Notes from the Author, Breanna McDaniel writes that she worries that "this world casts black kids as victims, villains, or simply adults before they're grown up." Hands Up! is her gift to these children, in which she has taken that gesture and turned it into a positive, so that Hands Up! is a book that exudes love, joy, and triumph, a celebration of those everyday moments when young kids, particularly young kids of color, are just kids using this gesture in the best possible way.

Shane Williams' engaging mixed media digitally created illustrations reflect to the story line perfectly, adding emotion and complimenting McDaniel's spare text.

Hands Up! is a triumphant, empowering book that should be shared at home, in school, perhaps even in Sunday School.

This book is recommended for all readers
This book was purchased for my personal library

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m always on the lookout for new books illustrated by Shane W. Evans, one of my favorites. This joyous book for children aged 4-8 shows the different ways in which kids are encouraged to raise their hands from the time they are very little. (For toddlers in my family, it was the prompted response to the question, “How big are you?”)

A young girl is urged by her parents to put up her hands to greet the sun, play peek-a-boo, take a stretch, get a hug, dance, pray, play ball, and make “high fives” with others.

Most of the images reflect the positive aspects of being part of a family and a community. The last of the double-page spreads shows a group of people lifting their hands in advocacy for change, holding signs ranging from “Spread Love,” “Water = Life,” to “Lift Every Voice” and “Black Lives Matter.”

As the author said in an interview, she was disturbed by so many images in the media of black people with their hands raised in situations of violence and surrender; she wanted to show black children there were also many positive aspects of “hands up.” The people depicted this book are enthusiastic, supportive, and loving. A message not stated but nevertheless conveyed is that, no matter what color you are, to paraphrase Tolstoy, all happy families are much alike. If we all focused on those commonalities, the world might be a better place.

Shane Evans uses textured mixed-media watercolor and pencil illustrations in bright pastel hues that convey a mood of happiness and celebration, with a sense of dynamism and buoyancy that will cheer readers.

Evaluation: It is much more common to find books about black children set in times of the severe discrimination of Jim Crow or the horrific circumstances of slavery. Here, the author and illustrator combine to send an affirmative message about a contemporary black family that is loving, strong, and contributes in a positive way to the world around it.

[Shaye Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved how this picture book depicted the numerous ways we raise our hands, whether it’s to stretch, to be called on in class, to select a book off a high shelf, in ballet class, in worship services, and in so many other ways. In the back, McDaniel talks about her niece who she worries cannot always show her full range of emotions and strength because she’s a black girl and will often be seen as a victim or villain. Forgive me while I direct quote a chunk of text, from the Author’s Note:

For many people, the phrase “hands up” brings forward difficult emotions like anger, sadness, frustration, and fear. With this story, I wanted to emphasize the ways I’ve experienced that phrase as part of my everyday life, at home, at play, in church, and at protests with young people leading the way. I want the world to remember that black kids are just that — kids, people with mommas and daddies and teachers and friends, with lives full of happiness and struggle and triumph and even sadness.

Powerful! It’s a beautiful recollection of the many ways we raise our hands, particularly during childhood. The lovely artwork in this picture book was created digitally with mixed media.

For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Celebration, joy, and triumph! Because of who I am I didn't realize that this was reclaiming the phrase "hands up" until I read the author's note at the end. This is such a big world, and so many things I wish and pray for my daughter (and son)...and yet, there are so many things I will never, ever comprehend or ever have to comprehend as a mother, and I humbly acknowledge that. The beauty and grace of this book should be joyful acknowledgement and taking ownership of what has been a hurtful and horrible phrase.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to be as joyous and optimistic as the author. She is amazing and this book does give me hope. But I am not there yet. Hands Up still brings to mind a very different picture for me. I think I spend too much time on social media reading and watching pain and hurt and abuse of power.

But hands CAN be used to uplift. They can be raised in joy and praise and aid. They can be held together in protest for improvement. I want that to be the image in my mind. Thank you for trying to change the narrative, Breanna McDaniel. I'm going to do my part to listen.

[Matt Craft · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters are black, and the book adds poignancy by reclaiming “Hands Up” for common, happy moments at a time when those two words have become charged with difficult connotations. That re-appropriation is subtle enough, though, that the book can be enjoyed even without the subtext and would make a lovely read aloud or lap book for toddlers through pre-K.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Celebrating a different look at this title phrase is a young girl in all her activities. She holds hands up for a hug, hands up in class, hands up for a high five--before culminating in a moment of resistance at a protest march. It is a young black girl who lifts her baby hands up to greet the sun, reaches her hands up for a glass of juice, and her hands up for help after a bike accident. In ballet and in basketball--"Hands up!" and raises her hands up in praise at a church service. Shane W. Evans knows how to show the joy on every page. On one, even the cat leaping, yes, has hands (paws) up! And, it's wonderful as we readers see her growing up, living through daily moments of joy, love, and sadness.

[Isabel B Sanchez]

This book uses the “hands up” presenting it not as a gesture of fear, but of joy and celebration. The story follows a Black girl from babyhood through her childhood, lifting her hands to greet the sun, reaching for a book on a high shelf, raising her hands in worship, stretching her arms like airplane wings, riding her bike, and finally joining a protest march where all hands are raised together. Its a good book to read to kids of color that hands up shouldn't be a fearful thing but it comes with joy. Avoiding to kids things that are fear but turning them into something joyful.

[Great Books]

Bright, colorful illustrations and shorter text depict a happy African-American preschool girl who keeps her hands up to complete everyday activities, receives encouragement from her family during mishaps and strives forward with her best efforts while enjoying childhood.

Reviewer 3

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

All three of my kids loved this book, which uses the phrase "hands up" for a young Black girl from getting dressed in the morning as a toddler to standing up for human rights as a young adult. It's another piece helping my family understand where our country is today.

[KC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple text, bold illustrations, big message

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a while to realize it is the same character throughout. Really liked the idea, but it was the afterword that made me make the connection to the rally cry. Powerful and joyous.

[Kris Dersch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so great! It was always an uplifting and cute story for both parents and kids but the last page and the back matter are everything!

[Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an lovely way to celebrate and value the agency of a child. This book suggests a life of hope, opportunities for success, of friendships and loving families and how we can all come together in celebrating a world with common and kindly aspirations.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this illustrator!

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joyful and lively. Just the story all children need to feel the lightness of possibility.

Parents should be reading this too, as they will grasp the subtext of the titular phrase, "Hands Up!" especially in the wake of the June protests against police brutality.

[Lindsay Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a celebration! HANDS UP! for all the good things, for reaching new heights, for trying but needing help, for protest, for sustenance, for love and respect. And don't miss the author's note at the end. Read it and then reread it.