Review: Between My Hands

Written by Mitali Perkins

Illustrated by Naveen Selvanathan

New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux Books for Young Readers, 2024. Picture Book.

Family and community are two of life's greatest treasures. This delightful book highlights the beauty of both of these things. Sweet, young Maya misses her grandfather who is far away in another country. Even though he's not around, his words of wisdom are constantly in Maya's mind. He would often ask her, "What's between your hands when you namaste the world?"

While Maya is missing her grandfather, she is going about her daily life and trying to come up with the answer to her grandfather's question. During the course of her day, a wide variety of people in Maya's community need help from her. She is quite willing to go and help the people around her. During her interactions with these people, she often asks them what is between their hands when they namaste.

She gets lots of different answers from the people in her family and community. Maya is constantly thinking about how she has small hands, but she still wants to offer the world her gifts. I loved the illustrations in this book. I think it would be great for starting conversations with children about the good they can offer their communities. And I truly enjoyed seeing the many connections Maya made with so many people!

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