Grandma’s Hands

K-Gr 3–A young brown-skinned boy, meant to be the late Bill Withers in his youth, recounts the many things his grandma’s hands did. They would clap and play the tambourine at church. She would gesture to warn him about snakes in the grass when he was playing. She comforted him and others in the community who needed a shoulder to cry on. The picture book fast-forwards to Withers as a young man when his grandmother passed away. The story concludes with Withers, shown as an older man, plays his guitar and looks forward to the day when he can go to heaven where he’ll be reunited with his grandma’s hands. The iconic song, Grandma’s Hands, comes alive through expressive and textured illustrations. Each colorful spread nearly jumps off the page and beautifully captures young Bill’s adventures with his beloved grandmother watching over him. This picture book is a gorgeous tribute to the song as well as intergenerational love. It’s a tribute to all grandmothers and the irreplaceable spaces they occupy. Listening to the song while engaging with the illustrations will add another level of understanding and connection to the reading experience. A new generation will be introduced to this song and its impact thanks to this picture book. A warning: Some children may be uncomfortable or unfamiliar with some of the situations outlined in the book as there are brief mentions of spanking and the death of a family member.