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Hands Up! by [Breanna J. McDaniel, Shane W. Evans]

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Breanna J. McDaniel

Shane W. Evans

Hands Up! Kindle Edition

by Breanna J. McDaniel (Author), Shane W. Evans (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition

121 ratings

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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.

Reading age

4 - 8 years
Print length

32 pages
Language

English
Grade level

Preschool - 3
Lexile measure

0360
Publisher

Dial Books
Publication date

January 22, 2019
Page Flip

Not Enabled
Word Wise

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Enhanced typesetting

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ISBN-13

978-0525552314
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Hands Up!

"This book turns the phrase [hands up] on its head to give little ones confidence and pride, culminating in activism."
—USA Today

"In dynamic multi-media art, family, friends, and community fill one African-American girl's life with love. . . . Hands Up! can singularly or simultaneous serve as a kid-friendly preview of growing up, as catalyst for a conversation about the dangers of being black in America, and/or as determined reclamation of a loaded phrase."
—San Francisco Chronicle

“The epitome of #blackgirljoy . . . Empowering.”
—Mashable

* “McDaniel’s debut picture book offers a jubilant paean to a universal, everyday occurrence . . . Spare, deeply expressive mixed-media pictures by Evans feature vivid colors and inventive textures, and they underscore the power of helping hands. . . . An uplifting celebration of advocating for oneself, aiding those in need, and connecting with one’s community.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review

* “This successfully delivers a message of everyday celebration in one simple gesture. As an introduction for children to social activism, this book will serve well. A terrific read-aloud for one-on-one and small group sharing.”
—School Library Journal, starred review

* "Sobering and celebratory both, writer and artist triumphantly assure all audiences, especially young black readers, 'You matter.'"
—Shelf Awareness, starred review

“A warm and necessary message of empowerment for black children, helping them see that raising their hands is a celebration of their humanity.”
—Kirkus

“A book that highlights the joys of black and brown childhood while it positions very young children as leaders and agents of change.”
—The Horn Book

About the Author

Breanna J. McDaniel is an author and children's literature scholar. She holds an MA in children's literature from Simmons College and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at Cambridge University, where her research focuses on representations of black children in contemporary picture books. She is originally from Atlanta and currently lives in the United Kingdom. This is her first book.

Shane W. Evans is the author and illustrator of more than thirty books for children, including Chocolate Me!, We March, and Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom, which received the Coretta Scott King Illustration Award. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri, where he runs Dream Studio, a community art space. --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07HLQ1D6D
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dial Books (January 22, 2019)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 22, 2019
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 18517 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
Lending ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #1,420,926 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #563 in Children's Black & African American Stories
- #653 in Children's Prejudice & Racism books
- #2,041 in Children's Health Books

Customer Reviews:
121 ratings

About the authors

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Breanna J. McDaniel
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Shane W. Evans
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Shane Evans is a creative force. He comfortably wears titles
that include artist, author, illustrator, musician, songwriter,
and founder of Dream Studio, a community art space in Kansas
City, Missouri, where he resides. He has more than 30 books
to his credit as an illustrator, including Olu's Dream, which he
also authored. Many of the books have been featured in the
media such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show,
Reading Rainbow, and Late Night with David Letterman. Five
of his books are scheduled for publication in 2010 including
"Chocolate Me" with actor Taye Diggs, "My Brother Charlie"
with actor Holly Robinson Peete, and "Black Jack," with
Coretta Scott King Award winning author Charles Smith. His
portfolio includes the "Shanna Show" (now a Disney animated
short along with the spinoff "Shane's Kindergarten
Countdown"). In addition, he has exhibited, lectured, and
developed art programs for youth in Burkina Faso, Botswana,
Brazil, China, France, Japan, Lesotho, and across the United
States. You can visit him online www.olusdream.com.
See more on the author's page

Customer reviews

5 star		81%
4 star		10%
3 star		3%
2 star		1%
1 star		4%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Top reviews from the United States

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James Roberts

Wonderful, positive message

Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2020

Verified Purchase

Simple book with a powerful message. All the different, and positive ways a young girl puts her "hands up" throughout her day and young life. The book conveys a warm family and community feel. The illustrations are bold and colorful and pair perfectly with the text. This would be great as a bedtime story, but could easily be used in a classroom setting. Heartfelt messages by the author and illustrator at the back of the book.

Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2021

Verified Purchase

Timely book for my granddaughter.

Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2019

Verified Purchase

Fun book for Easter basket

Helpful

Lisa R

A clever, celebratory, and empowering book!

Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2019

Hands Up! Is a clever, celebratory book that affirms all the positive, joyful ways kids can put their hands up (rather than the usual negative association we often make). Playing peek-a-boo, dancing, reaching for books, praying—these are some of the ways kids raise their hands in this affirming book. The illustrations pop with color, vibrancy, and expression. Ultimately, readers come away with an empowering message about speaking up about injustice and adding positive and nuanced meaning to the “hands-up” gesture. This is a book that can be read over and over again to appreciate its many layers.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

viviankirkfield

5-Stars for a Joyful Celebration of Family and Community in the Eyes of a Young Black Girl

Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2019

How many ways can a young child hold up her hands? LOTS of ways! This book is a celebration of how a young black girl holds up her hands for a high five, to get a hug, to hold her baby sister...and finally, to join her parents at a protest rally. What an important book this is...sparse text and fabulous illustration combine to keep listeners engaged and young readers turning the pages.

Helpful

Ashley Brown

I dare you to read this and not smile!

Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2019

A fun to read, simple text with a big message! The warmth and care between the characters jumps off the page, and the larger message that the book ends with---an unexpected treat. Don't worry. I won't spoil it.

Overall, this book puts a positive spin on a phrase often associated with being in some sort of trouble. It's refreshing.

Helpful

Sdsutter

Hands together for this joyful celebration of all things HANDS UP!

Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2019

There are many ways to walk through this world with hands up, at the ready for living a meaningful and engaging life. This book shows us all what that means through the eyes of an active, joyous girl - with colorful illustrations and a beautiful message for all generations to think about well after setting it down.

Helpful

KT

HANDS UP is full of warmth and energy

Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2019

HANDS UP is full of warmth and energy. It spins a phrase that has a negative connotation into one that is empowering and joyful. This book is a powerful celebration of the different ways we put our hands up---in happiness, in helping, in hope. Highly recommend!

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Mat Tobin (@Mat_at_Brookes)

Brimming with hope

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 20, 2019

Verified Purchase

What a 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.

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