What do you think?
Rate this book
Hold Hands
NYT Book Review 2019 25 Best Children's Books
In Hold Hands , beloved graphic novelist and children's book author Sara Varon offers a sweet rhyming story for toddlers about friendship and connection.
Hold hands each time you cross the street.
Hold hands on the bus if you don’t have a seat.
Hold hands when you say goodbye.
And also when you’re jumping high.
Everybody holds hands. You can hold hands with your little brother or your best friend. You can hold hands with your classmate or even your favorite doll! Gather up your little ones, hold their hands, and share this heartwarming book.
In Hold Hands , beloved graphic novelist and children's book author Sara Varon offers a sweet rhyming story for toddlers about friendship and connection.
Hold hands each time you cross the street.
Hold hands on the bus if you don’t have a seat.
Hold hands when you say goodbye.
And also when you’re jumping high.
Everybody holds hands. You can hold hands with your little brother or your best friend. You can hold hands with your classmate or even your favorite doll! Gather up your little ones, hold their hands, and share this heartwarming book.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2019
3 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
July 18, 2019
Grrr...uneven rhyming we meet again! Blech! I'll not hold back here; Varon is not one of my favorite illustrators, though I was looking forward to seeing how she would tell about this topic. And NOPE.
I DID like how she put a sort of burst emphasis around the hand-holding to emphasize it; that was fun! I wanted hand-holding to be taken to the next level though, I guess with showing that everyone, anyone can hold hands, and that it's fully okay to hold hands. Bummer. I liked the safety aspects, and the love aspects, and the sweet touches...just wanted a bit more. *sigh*
I DID like how she put a sort of burst emphasis around the hand-holding to emphasize it; that was fun! I wanted hand-holding to be taken to the next level though, I guess with showing that everyone, anyone can hold hands, and that it's fully okay to hold hands. Bummer. I liked the safety aspects, and the love aspects, and the sweet touches...just wanted a bit more. *sigh*
July 7, 2019
I'm not that enamoured with this. It's for very young children, and much of the hand-holding is done from a safety perspective. I was hoping for something that talked a bit about how holding hands is nothing to be ashamed of, but this appears to be aimed at an age group that hasn't reached an age where they might be teased for holding hands.
The illustrations are just okay for me, and the meter is passable. There was something wrong with my e-book copy, though, because blocks of text seemed to be missing in a few places. That's disappointing.
This is probably going to find more fans in the toddler and preschool set. The bright pictures and rhyming text would make it a good choice for storytime. But I'm not sure it's going to have much appeal for older readers.
The illustrations are just okay for me, and the meter is passable. There was something wrong with my e-book copy, though, because blocks of text seemed to be missing in a few places. That's disappointing.
This is probably going to find more fans in the toddler and preschool set. The bright pictures and rhyming text would make it a good choice for storytime. But I'm not sure it's going to have much appeal for older readers.
May 16, 2021
When we're very young, we're asked to hold hands for lots of different reasons: crossing the road, walking with a partner outside of school or even around a busy town with a parent. In a sweet, rhyming sequence, this is what the book is about. It's a colourful, cartoon-like picture book but I felt that the rhyming and poem itself stilted the meaning. Why hold hands going into a car? Or on a bridge? (I'd rather hold the railings). It's a well-intentioned story but it wasn't for me. Also, what if we don't like holding hands?*
*For the record, I am a fan of holding hands.
*For the record, I am a fan of holding hands.
January 31, 2019
3.5 stars, rounded up. This is a very cute book about holding hands. With a rhyming text and delightful illustrations, the author shows the importance of holding hands. Whether it is for safety (crossing the street) for comfort (when someone is sad), for confidence (going down steep stairs) or just for friendship, holding hands is a wonderful thing to do. My only drawback was that occasionally, the pacing and cadence changed and was a bit off for the rhyming patterns. I find that often, little ones don't want to hold hands because they think they are getting too big and grown up, so this would also be a good story to use when you are trying to keep a little one holding on for safety. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
May 22, 2019
It's a day in the life of a preschooler in this adorable graphic novel by award-winning graphic novelist Sara Varon. Her adorable animal characters all hold hands: camels hold hands with giraffes, the sun and the moon share a hand-to-hand clasp as they pass in the sky, cats and dogs walk hand-in-hand, even the title page of the book sports colorful letters with sweet, smiling faces, holding onto one another. The whole day is seen as a series of hand-holding moments: a little bear holds hands with his mother, father, and brother during morning routines and on the way to daycare; holds hands with teachers and friends during the school day; during playdates; on the way home, and during bedtime stories and nighttime routines. The rhyming text is short and sweet, assuring readers that every time is a good time to hold hands: "Hold hands when the day is new, when you need a pal, or when one needs you"; "Hold hands with your buddy when you're on the go, especially if your teacher tells you so". The illustrations are colorful, boldly outlined, and loaded with sweet details, like a father wearing bunny slippers, or a heart charm hanging off a mom's rear view mirror. Sara Varon emphasizes the power of connection by creating little starbursts around each hand-holding relationship.
Hold Hands is perfect for kids in daycare and preschool, and it's an adorable testament to the power of physical contact. A must-have.
Hold Hands is perfect for kids in daycare and preschool, and it's an adorable testament to the power of physical contact. A must-have.
November 11, 2019
I am not even going to go int the art, except that I find it sad that she had a Sendak fellowship, because I'll be kind and agree that the art is "cute," but that's being kind, and as far as I will go.
Now to the text. I have a treasured memory of my youth, when my parents would say (to the point that it turned into a chant for me and my brother): "This is a parking lot, you have to be very careful, you have to hold onto someone's hand." And contrary to what one nice reviewer said here, that's a message for city and suburban kids alike, and I wish more parents would say it in parking lots. So I liked the idea of a book about holding hands, and hoped that it might have that lesson without Berenstaining it up to the point of nausea.
But this is more about holding hands not just for safety but for love, for comfort, for friendship, and all sorts of emotions. And that's fine.
What is NOT fine, and is why this is so lowly rated is that the rhyme works for about 3 sets, then the meter changes and changes, and by the end Varon isn't even bothering with smooth rhythm, or ever words that vaguely rhyme. What the hell was the editor thinking about?
I could use someone to hold MY hand right now to console me for having read this book. Of course, that would have made typing the review difficult....
Now to the text. I have a treasured memory of my youth, when my parents would say (to the point that it turned into a chant for me and my brother): "This is a parking lot, you have to be very careful, you have to hold onto someone's hand." And contrary to what one nice reviewer said here, that's a message for city and suburban kids alike, and I wish more parents would say it in parking lots. So I liked the idea of a book about holding hands, and hoped that it might have that lesson without Berenstaining it up to the point of nausea.
But this is more about holding hands not just for safety but for love, for comfort, for friendship, and all sorts of emotions. And that's fine.
What is NOT fine, and is why this is so lowly rated is that the rhyme works for about 3 sets, then the meter changes and changes, and by the end Varon isn't even bothering with smooth rhythm, or ever words that vaguely rhyme. What the hell was the editor thinking about?
I could use someone to hold MY hand right now to console me for having read this book. Of course, that would have made typing the review difficult....
September 20, 2019
Cute but a rhyme is totally dropped in the middle and the meter is wanting.
March 13, 2019
children's picture book (reviewed by uncorrected galley), ages 2-5
sweet rhyming text and Varon's winning illustrations emphasize staying close to loved ones and helping each other. Sometimes the instances when you'd hold hands are physically awkward (or maybe just look that way in Varon's cartoons) such as when getting into the car, across the table eating cheese, or when getting a goodnight kiss from your parent (I would keep my hands snugly under the blankets, but maybe my drafty house is colder than most), but they are certainly possible, for the most part.
I would like to see more differently-abled characters--a blind man on the bus, a kid in a wheelchair (not necessarily holding hands with anyone) incidentally included in the pictures. That would be nicer.
sweet rhyming text and Varon's winning illustrations emphasize staying close to loved ones and helping each other. Sometimes the instances when you'd hold hands are physically awkward (or maybe just look that way in Varon's cartoons) such as when getting into the car, across the table eating cheese, or when getting a goodnight kiss from your parent (I would keep my hands snugly under the blankets, but maybe my drafty house is colder than most), but they are certainly possible, for the most part.
I would like to see more differently-abled characters--a blind man on the bus, a kid in a wheelchair (not necessarily holding hands with anyone) incidentally included in the pictures. That would be nicer.
May 21, 2019
A rhyming picture book celebration of all the times and situations when it is good to hold hands.
The holding hands situations covered in this book include things like companionship, safety, solidarity, friendship, love, lending bravery, care, and bittersweet moments. It’s a cute picture book with Varon’s signature style of animal characters and kids will likely eat it up. There are lots of picture books about hugs and kisses out there, but I can’t think of another one about holding hands. Kids love these books about everyday acts that show people care. I think this will be quite popular. Varon’s other books are constant favorites in our libraries, and it will be fun to introduce her to a younger set. Highly recommended.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The holding hands situations covered in this book include things like companionship, safety, solidarity, friendship, love, lending bravery, care, and bittersweet moments. It’s a cute picture book with Varon’s signature style of animal characters and kids will likely eat it up. There are lots of picture books about hugs and kisses out there, but I can’t think of another one about holding hands. Kids love these books about everyday acts that show people care. I think this will be quite popular. Varon’s other books are constant favorites in our libraries, and it will be fun to introduce her to a younger set. Highly recommended.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2019
Ideal for sharing with little ones as they learn the many reasons for holding hands with someone, this sweet picture book offers reassurance that holding hands can provide comfort and security when out and about in unfamiliar places. Telling the story in rhyming lines makes it even more relatable for its intended young audience. There are several different animals of various sizes featured in the illustrations, and youngsters will finish it with a new appreciation for why someone might want to hold someone's hand. It has absolutely nothing to do with romance--at least in this book--but everything in the world to do with love and caring and wanting to offer support to someone else.
November 24, 2019
Very simplistic, and while yes it is good to hold hands for safety, there are plenty of books that teach this in a less list-like way. This book felt like a list of times you can hold hand.
I felt like it didnt really cover holding hands just because (for friendship, etc.) very much, it listed times but didn't really explain it, but it also didnt seem to cover that it's okay to not hold hands too.
I felt like it didnt really cover holding hands just because (for friendship, etc.) very much, it listed times but didn't really explain it, but it also didnt seem to cover that it's okay to not hold hands too.
August 3, 2023
Nope. Hard to read aloud, and some situations call for something other than holding hands, and just bleh. I hold hands with my adult son every morning during part of our walk, just for affection, and of course it's important when crossing the street, but while eating cheese?
I'm reading a bunch of Varon. I feel like I should like her work more than I do. But it's all over the place in quality, and my reaction is all over the place, too.
I'm reading a bunch of Varon. I feel like I should like her work more than I do. But it's all over the place in quality, and my reaction is all over the place, too.
June 28, 2019
I am a HUGE Sara Varon fan and this book does not disappoint! Great for all elementary students and perfect for social/emotional learning. Great way to introduce the concept of metaphor to upper elementary students.
January 29, 2024
Grade: Modern Fantasy
Grade: K
This book was good. I liked how there was rhythm and repetition throughout the book to help readers work on prosody and accuracy. I also liked that there is a lesson in this book about the importance of holding hands.
Grade: K
This book was good. I liked how there was rhythm and repetition throughout the book to help readers work on prosody and accuracy. I also liked that there is a lesson in this book about the importance of holding hands.
June 2, 2024
Great book to teach holding hands
Sara Varon’s books are beautifully illustrated and each of her books teaches good moral lessons. They are suitable for children but as an adult and second cousin to Sara I love her books!
Sara Varon’s books are beautifully illustrated and each of her books teaches good moral lessons. They are suitable for children but as an adult and second cousin to Sara I love her books!
October 16, 2025
Lovely book aimed for younger children and teaching them about holding hands. The pictures help children familiarise the contexts being discussed, and educate them about safety whilst showing a close relationship of child and parent the characters have.
December 27, 2018
A sweet and encouraging book for preschoolers.
(Read via e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley).
(Read via e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley).
March 21, 2019
Incredibly sweet 💕
June 23, 2019
A very cute and sing-songy description of many times to hold hands. Not comprehensive, but it makes the point. Holding hands can be for anyone, for many reasons.
June 26, 2019
A cute and colourful rhyming book about holding hands in all sorts of different situations.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2019
This is a really cute story with great illustrations.
July 2, 2019
A charming, simple rhyming story about friendship and connection.
July 8, 2019
Clever story of holding hands in all situations.
Colorful illustrations.
Colorful illustrations.
July 9, 2019
Simple, bold illustrations, and a fun story (and lesson) about holding hands to be safe.
July 13, 2019
Great little read aloud for the toddler set. Cozy and cute. Demonstrates the benefits of holding hands.
July 23, 2019
Sweet.
July 25, 2019
A very sweet story with awesome illustrations!
August 3, 2019
I'm gonna read this to my almost two year old and hope she starts wanting to hold my hand again and stop breaking my heart by saying "no" any time I ask. lol
August 5, 2019
Cute rhyme book that would be good for a storytime
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews