Published by Reycraft

Summary:  As Zoe and her grandmother make bread together, the girl marvels at her grandmother’s hands and thinks of the stories they tell.  Grandma tells of her young adulthood working in an office and dancing on stage, later on getting married and creating a home and garden.  When Zoe looks at Grandma’s hands, she sees words on them like “mother”, “planter”, and “nurturer.”  She wonders what stories her own hands will tell someday, then realizes that she can already see some there: building, baking, playing clapping games with friends.  Back home, she uses her hands to tap out some of her stories on her computer.  Includes a recipe for Zoe and Grandma’s Cinnamon Bread.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This quiet intergenerational story invites contemplation and could lead to discussions or writings about the stories told by a child’s or an adult’s hands.  The vibrant illustrations perfectly capture the characters, their hands, and their stories.

Cons:  Be careful not to drool on the recipe page.

July 5, 2022 at 07:41PM Janet Dawson