You Hold Me Up

We hold each other up, the simple narrative in this Canadian First Nations picture-book informs us, by being kind and sharing with one another, by laughing and learning with one another, and by playing with, and listening to and respecting one another. By doing all these and other things, we embark on what the author describes, in her brief note, as a journey of healing and reconciliation...

Canadian author Monique Gray Smith, of mixed First Nations (Lakota and Cree) and European (Scottish) ancestry, first came to my attention through her lovely board book, My Heart Fills With Happiness, illustrated by the talented Julie Flett. I sought out You Hold Me Up because of my positive experience with that earlier book, and on the whole I found show more it engaging. I certainly appreciate the intent behind the book, which is to provide a template for humane community behavior for the youngest children, and to encourage healing from the trauma inflicted by Canada's residential school system for First Nations peoples. The illustrations here are done by Danielle Daniel, a Canadian artist who is also of mixed First Nations (Anishinaabe) and European (French and Scottish) ancestry, and have an interesting folk art style to them. I've read through the book three times now, and still can't decided if I like them - I don't find them aesthetically appealing, but they draw my eye and keep my attention, all the same - so perhaps I'll have to track down Ms. Daniel's own Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox, for further consideration. I do have a weakness for fox stories, after all. In any case, this is one I would recommend to picture-book readers looking for First Nations/Native American content, as well as to those simply looking for stories to encourage kindness toward all. show less

"Asimple recitation of the ways that people can be supportive of one another.

“This book was written in the spirit of reconciliation and is dedicated to the children, families and staff of Aboriginal Head Start programs.” That is the dedication; at the end, there is a longer note about notorious Indian Residential schools, where, for over 150 years, indigenous children in Canada were humiliated and abused. In between, all the words and art offer a warm and positive message. Simple and pointed phrases are printed boldly on white or pastel backgrounds on half of each double-page spread, with stylized, bright, watercolor illustrations on each opposing page. Each brown- or tan-skinned face has cheeks with outlined, bright pink circles; show more other features are sweetly expressive lines of ink, sometimes including little hearts for mouths. Birds, flowers, and gaily patterned wallpapers add to a feeling of contentment and communal power. The image of an adult and two children, eyes closed, singing outside by moonlight and beating on drums, is especially strong, as is an illustration of two hugging children of different skin colors and hair types. The titular phrase “You hold me up,” followed by simple words such as “when you listen to me,” is used several times until the final pages, where it is replaced by “I hold you up” and “We hold each other up.” A final, multigenerational picnic is lovely.

Calming, positive, and serenely affirmative. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-7)" www.kirkusreviews.com show less

#10 in 365 Kids Books challenge and bid to get back on the Top 100 Readers list for full explanation see my review for [b:101 Amazing Facts about Australia|21332402|101 Amazing Facts about Australia (Countries of the World)|Jack Goldstein|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1394253825l/21332402._SY75_.jpg|25417728]

This is proving to be not just fun, which I anticipated, but also a good stretch. My local libraries hold collection which are in part formed by people at least somewhat like me for a community at least somewhat like me. The pandemic has curtailed in-person browsing, and with adult children I don't follow picture book reviews as I once did.

That whole sentence was just "I don't get out much," show more wasn't it?

Because narrowing my search was hard, I just put anything that looked like it might could be a picture book in my basket. Paw Patrol didn't make the cut, nor that strangely hillbilly family of bears series, but pretty much everything else did. If it's a picture book and I can find it in GRs or Amazon then that's what's next.

Mostly unfiltered then. So much I would possibly have skipped.

This, for example, which is simple and lovely. For some reason I am touched by the pink cheeks in particular, who knows? This goes back to my idea that one of the purposes of picture books is to get adults who might not have a lot of experience or examples of verbally expressing their positive emotions to do it anyway. That reading aloud "I love you and I will always love you no matter what" teaches us to think that way and gives us a script to use comfortably.

Just a thought. But if it is true, this is a really good book to give first time parents.

Library copy show less

This book highlights the importance of respect, empathy, and community. Through short, powerful statements paired with bright illustrations of Indigenous families and communities, the book shows how people “hold each other up” by listening, playing, sharing, comforting, and supporting one another. It is often used to spark conversations about kindness, reconciliation, and the value of caring for others.

People support each other in many ways - learning together, comforting each other, listening to each other, cooking together.

Author is Cree, Lakota, and Scottish descent; the characters in the illustrations are Indigenous.

What does it mean to hold someone up? This book affirms the importance and power of acts of kindness and connection.

Love the detail of some of the characters being in a heart shape at times, like their lips or legs when sitting criss cross apple sauce, it added to this lovey dovey book.