With My Hands: Poems about Making Things

In a cheery reminder of the pride of creating something and the many forms art can take, VanDerwater uses 26 poems to celebrate drawing, building, and designing, no matter one's preferred medium. Fancher and Johnson use pencil, paint, and snippets of photos and text in their exuberant illustrations. A boy rides a horse with a thumb-print body across a field of photographed clover in the opening poem, "Maker," and corrugated cardboard lends texture to a boy's hideaway in "Fort" ("Make one out of fuzzy blankets./ Make one out of fallen sticks. Make one out of packing snow./ Make one out of mud and bricks"). Every poem is an invitation to get creative--the book is an obvious springboard into collaging, painting, baking, pinata making, and other activities at home or at school. Ages 4-7. Author's agent: Elizabeth Harding, Curtis Brown. (Mar.)

PreS-Gr 2--This is art about art. Mostly rhyming poems present creations meant to inspire readers to make something. "I see spaceships every day/rocketing inside my mind./I would rather build those ships/than make the one this box assigned." From birdhouses to shadow puppets, the variety of projects included are delightful. The accompanying illustrations reflect the subject and medium of the poem. "Maker" is matched with photo cut-outs and thumbprint art. "Painting," "Collage," "Drawing," and "Leaf pictures," feature exact examples. The poems "Boat," "Pinata," and "Origami," are enhanced with a variety of art styles including watercolor and pencil sketches. The illustrations are inclusive and present a subtle challenge to gender norms with boys doing both the knitting and the glitter art. VERDICT An effective medley of concept, poetry, and artwork. Hand this title directly to elementary school art teachers.--Elaine Fultz, Madison Jr. Sr. High School, Middletown, OH

"Poetry sparks an irresistible, primal urge to twist, cut, paint, draw, glue, carve, whittle, daub, tie, hammer, to simply make." — Kirkus Reviews

"An effective medley of concept, poetry, and artwork. Hand this title directly to elementary school art teachers." — School Library Journal

"A cheery reminder of the pride of creating something and the many forms art can take." — Publishers Weekly

"Whether invoking cooking, sewing, tying knots, or other undertakings, this provides an enjoyable springboard for aspiring makers." — Booklist