I Call My Hand Gentle

by Amanda Haan, Marina Sagona (Illustrator)

Look at your hand. It can hit, or it can hug. It can break, or it can tickle. . . . What can you do with your hand? Illuminating this seemingly simple idea with a vibrant palette and bold graphics, a first-time author and illustrator team encourage readers to look at the many things their own two hands are capable of. Touching on themes of peace, violence, and responsibility, this provocative and strikingly-illustrated book sends an upbeat message that readers of all ages will want to pass along.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 12, 2003

Reviews

[Marguarite Markley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautifully illstrated book about what hands are used for...and at the end what they are NOT used for. I think teachers will find this useful to explain keeping our hands to ourselves. Nice book...don't know how I missed this one.

[Olivia McCorrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells a very good lesson on how children should only use their hands for good things, instead of hurting others. I enjoyed the illustrations along with the large text for younger readers.

[Jess Whiting]

Good book to educate and encourage students on how they can use their hands for gentle and positive things rather than for harming or violent things.

[Kate Hastings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hands are wonderful things-- they can catch, write, build. And they don't work without us telling them what to do-- which is why we choose not to hit, punch, steal, etc. Pair with "Hands are Not for Hitting."

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really bright, artistic illustrations and very simple text. This book focuses on the positive things hands can do, spending just one page on the negatives with an emphasis on the control one has over his or her actions.

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bright expressionistic style fits the subject well. Was confused a little with some of the drawings that were paired with the words- some showed the result of the action others described that action.

[Tara Garner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picture Book. Beautiful, colorful illustrations. I loved the message about how we choose our actions, teaches children that they can choose to do good things

[Kklamb Fuller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great idea, but too abstract for my little guy.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

A girl describes how her hands are special and how she chooses to have them do productive and gentle things.
The illustrations are very colorful but not to clear to use in story time

[Erin Banet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book because it talks about all the different things your hands can do. It's a great book to start the year and teach them how to use their hands for good things.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated book that talks about using your hands for positive reasons (e.g. hugging) and not negative ones (e.g. hitting!).

[Jj · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting to read this after reading Sadie and Ratz yesterday. They would be great to pair for a book discussion with early elementary kids.

[Emily Augustus --Louisville KY · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would be a great book for my preschoolers. It would be good to use for discussing positive ways to play and interact with others or with themselves.

[Andrea Thomas, Greenville · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for character building. You choose what your hand can do.