Soon Your Hands Jonathan Stutzman

Jonathan Stutzman, Illustration. By Elizabeth Lilly. Knopf, $18.99 (48p) ISBN 978-0-593-42707-1

“Tonight,” Stutzman wrote (A mouse carrying a house on its back), channeling monologues from three sets of caregivers. Loose line watercolor and ink art by Lilly (hug catalog), where three families are shown living side by side in a block of light-coloured tenements in the shade of palm trees. In one, a brown-skinned family is preparing for a birthday party. And in the final semi-detached house, a light-skinned child spends his days with an older adult (presumably a grandparent) while a younger adult works the night shift. Each family cherishes its children to savor intimate moments, encourage independence, and dream of their offspring becoming fully realized adults. From decorating her parent’s birthday cake, to braving the vast ocean, to adopting a stray cat while working in her community’s garden, she chronicles children’s challenges to autonomy in empathetic art. increase. By the end of the book, the reader will be invested in each of these families over time and perhaps want to be their next-door neighbor. 3-5 years old. [em]Agent (author and illustrator): Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties. (March)

detailsharebuy this book