Three Squeezes

PreS-Gr 2–In this poetic journey throughout a boy’s life, from infancy to adulthood, a father uses three squeezes to demonstrate his love and affection. When the boy is an infant, unable to walk or stand, the father gently squeezes his tiny hand, creating a signal and symbol of his love and support. As readers turn the pages, the boy ages, skinning his knees, dropping his ice cream, and even arguing with his father in adolescence. Despite the passage of time, the three squeezes remain a constant. As the boy reaches adulthood, the father asks for three squeezes in return when the time comes that he is too old to walk or stand himself. While this message might be a little heavy for some young readers, it is also an important and powerful one about the cycle of life and the power of a familial bond. Sheban’s soft and delicate images feature golden tones, evoking memory and warmth.