Literacy Matters Winter 2022

You Hold Me Up Smith, Monique Gray. (2017). Illus. by Danielle Daniel. Unpaged. Orca Book Publishers. 978-1-4598-1447-9. $19.95 (Primary). —Maggie Schneider “We hold each other

and joy, leaving readers wanting more. Danielle Daniel enhances the story with her beautiful illustrations that do a great job of fostering value in cultural diversity. This book is sturdy with a beautiful dust jacket. It has thick pages with an aesthetically pleasing cover. This book is beautiful to look at and shares a beautiful message. You Hold Me Up shares simplistic ways to convey respect, empathy, and compassion. Monique Gray Smith wrote this book to remind readers of our shared humanity. The style is straightforward and appropriate to the subject. With no character names, You Hold Me Up allows children to place themselves in the story and apply the lessons to their relationships. The book is excellent for young children and seeks to teach them ways to be loving and encouraging. Make sure to add You Hold Me Up to your collection! It might teach you something too!

up.” In the world we are living in, this is a great

reminder! Through a series of vibrant illustrations and simple words, Monique Gray Smith and Danielle Daniel teach children the importance of loving and supporting one another. The colorful, abstract illustrations set this book apart from many others. The illustrations give an overall impression of happiness

Literacy Matters General Articles

| 24 | Literacy Matters | Volume 22 • Winter 2022

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