School Library Journal Starred Review (Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

K-Gr 2— A yellow hand painted within a green heart on a building wall becomes a touchstone to its diverse community, a spot where you place your hand to feel close to those you miss. It takes Ms. Iris back to her sister's kitchen in her old country. It reminds Devin of his sister who left for college. It makes Amit feel closer to his family who lives on the other side of the sea. Savannah puts her hand on the wall and thinks about her abuela and the jigsaw puzzle they never got to finish. Everyone has someone that they miss, including the unnamed protagonist. In a gentle twist at the end, readers learn why. "A long time ago, I opened the mailbox and found a letter from my mom. When you feel lonely, place your hand here, the letter said. And I did." The text is clear, matter of fact, and reads well aloud. Yamasaki's signature style shines in these illustrations. Using bold colors, a rainbow motif, and a variety of techniques, she clearly depicts reality, plus the longing and love of her characters, with a variety of skin tones and ethnicities, for what or who is missing. Their emotions are deftly shown but aren't overwhelming. The end contains an author's note for adults on incarcerated mothers, the book's inspiration, which expands the reach and meaning of the text. Includes related websites. VERDICT A sweet and relatable story of feeling lonely, missing loved ones, and community; an excellent purchase for libraries.— Catherine Callegari

ALA Booklist (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

A hand-painted image on an apartment building wall is a community touchstone for healing saddened hearts. With clear poetic economy, a young boy explains how the bright yellow handprint inside a green heart "is always there. And it is magic. That hand is a bridge." As neighborhood residents of all ages press their hands to the wall, memories and reflections take center stage and soar. Ms. Iris remembers cooking with her sister in their home country and "smells that remind me of silk thread and red envelopes"; Devin misses his older sister who moved away for college; and Savannah grieves the loss of her abuela. In accomplished muralist Yamasaki's detailed mixed-media illustrations, transformations and interconnections abound. Subtle details in text and artwork reveal the narrator is waiting for his incarcerated mother to come home. An author's note details Yamasaki's art workshop experiences in Mexico working with mothers and children impacted by incarceration. This touching picture book offers a heartening message about the everlasting connections with loved ones.

Kirkus Reviews

Hands are for touching, connecting, and loving-even from far away.A brown-skinned child with dark hair lives in a big apartment building in a busy city. There's a big bright yellow painted handprint set against a heart on one otherwise plain wall of the building. Racially diverse neighbors stop by; pressing their hands against the print, they reconnect with faraway or deceased loved ones as the wall transforms into a poignant remembered scene. Ms. Iris, who presents Asian, recalls cooking with her family back in her home country. Young Savannah, cued Latine, remembers assembling a puzzle with her late abuela, while Amani and Eli are reminded of their father, a migrant worker who went south recently. Yamasaki's spare, expressive text pairs beautifully with lush, vivid scenes full of tiny, discoverable details. Images of people flying off in paper airplanes or walking across a rainbow bridge represent ways to connect with those who aren't present. The protagonist, it turns out, has a story, too, one that inspired the creation of this magical handprint in the hopes a loved one will come home soon. In an author's note, Yamasaki describes how her experiences making art with incarcerated women living in Mexico and the United States inspired this story; she includes a list of organizations that help families affected by incarceration. (This book was reviewed digitally.)Tender, affirming, and relevant for all families and communities. (Picture book. 4-7)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

A “plain, old” hand painted on a building’s “plain, old” wall forms a gateway to loved ones in this connective picture book from muralist Yamasaki (Shapes, Lines, and Light). The title’s narrating protagonist, portrayed with brown skin, details the bridging effect of the yellow handprint, which is painted inside a lime green heart on their grandmother’s building. Upon placing a hand on the mural, neighbor Ms. Iris experiences a return “to my country,/ To my sister’s kitchen.” It reminds the narrator’s friend Devin of his big sister, who left for college two months ago. A cab driver called Amit recalls family who “lives on the other side of the sea.” And another friend remembers her abuela, with whom she used to do puzzles. On their grandmother’s lap, the protagonist reads a letter from their mother: “When you feel lonely, place your hand here,” it says, on the image of a handprint. Inspired, the child paints its likeness on the wall, a compassionate act of creation that eases a wait of their own and provides a public space for longing and love. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. An author’s note discusses families separated by incarceration. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)