YOUR HAND IN MY HAND
by Mark Sperring ; illustrated by Britta Teckentrup
A caregiver adult mouse and its child mouse enjoy love and support along the path of life.
Passing through all the seasons, readers follow the tale of two mice and how each has one hand in the other’s as they walk along. Adult mouse shows child mouse the wonders of the world and stresses the importance of living life to the fullest when there’s “no time to spare.” The vivid, lyrical description of each season they encounter—“the wind whistles past”; “birds will sing sweetly / and flowers will grow”; “we’ll paddle and splash / in the warm sunny rays”; “when winter takes hold”—showcases how time is the bond of their loving, growing relationship. The story can be read as a tale of parental love, grandparental affection, sibling care, or of any other caregiver love. Sperring effectively uses poetry to gives readers a story of discovering what life's about, what it has to offer, and how real love will hold through this journey. Teckentrup’s sweet, screen-printed illustrations and the matte palette capture the mice’s emotions and connection.
Great either for a bedtime story or to celebrate a newborn; no one can refute the book’s final words: “with your hand in my hand, / we’ll never feel lost.” (Picture book. 3-5)