Title: Hand Over Hand
Author: Alma Fullerton Illustrator: Renne Benoit
Interest Level: 5-8
Genre: Realistic Fiction

“A boat is not the place for a girl. Your job is on shore”, says Lolo to Nina when she asks him to allow her to fish with him. Set in a Filipino village, “Hand Over Hand” is the story of a little girl determined to fish and she won’t take no for an answer. Village elder, Lolo, relents and shows her how to bait the hooks, jig to attract fish, and how to set the hook, but after hours of watching Lolo catch fish and not getting one bite, she starts to wonder if the other fisherman were right, “Girls can’t fish” “Posh”, says Lolo impressed by her dedication. “The fish can’t tell you’re a girl” says he. Will Nina catch a fish? Read “Hand Over Hand” to find out!

Curriculum Connection:

Use “Hand Over Hand as an introduction to onomatopoeia. There are several examples throughout the text.

Discuss Lolo’s statement, “The fish can’t tell you’re a girl.”
Show the Phillipines on a map and discuss the geography of the country prior to reading the story.
Pair with a nonfiction book on fishing.

Many cultures have notions of who can do certain jobs. There is a long-standing history of women being expected to be housewives and caretakers. We have seen, however, that many men excel in that role and there have been times when women excel in historically male dominated professions.

In Alma Fullerton's new book, Hand over Hand, we are told a simple story of a young girl who wants to fish with her grandfather, but who is repeatedly told that a fishing boat is no place for a girl.

It is wonderful to see Nina's determination in convincing her grandfather to take her out, even when the whole world seems to be against it. And in the same way, it is great to see her grandfather truly believe in her and give her the ability to believe in herself, to know that she can win the fight if she just takes it step by step.

The story is simple, yet profound. Nina is the embodiment of empowerment and determination when faced with traditions and naysayers who stand in her way. Nina forces people to look at gender roles with the simplicity that only a child can - she isn't asking to consider gender, she just wants to fish. In addition, illustrator Renné Benoit did a wonderful job bringing this story alive with beautiful artwork that helps set the tone.

Hand Over Hand by Alma Fullerton and beautifully illustrated by Renne Benoit stresses gender equality. Girls can do anything boys can do. What a delightful, early reader book.

Nina lives in a Filipino fishing village. Lolo, her grandfather, fishes in an old banca boat. He spends long hours on the water. Her job, like that of other village girls, is to stay on shore.

Nina convinces Lolo to take her fishing arguing that two people can catch twice as many fish as one person fishing alone. She is determined to bait her own hook and remove her own fish. Lolo describes the method of bringing in a fish by using hand over hand. It is very simple story, and beautifully drawn. I love that her grandfather just keeps letting her try, and try until she manages to catch a fish of her own, and prove the others wrong, that girls can't fish.

I received this ARC from Second Story and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hand Over Hand by Alma Fullerton and illustrated by Renné Benoit is a lovely cultural children’s quick reading story. My grandson enjoyed the clear and colorful illustrations with the short text. He is a kindergartener so while there were repetitive expressions such as, “Hand over hand” that he could read, most needed to be read to him.
My grandson did not understand why girls needed to stay on shore; why couldn’t they fish. Perhaps this is because he lives in the US with younger sisters who do just about everything including fishing with his dad and him. He whole heartily understood and agreed the subtle but meaningful idea that the fish couldn’t see who was holding the line; young, old, male, or female. So maybe the lesson is not for the young but for those older like the men who told her Lolo that she couldn’t do what was considered men’s work.

Nina wants to go fishing with Lolo. Everyone including Lolo tells her she is a girl her job is on shore. One day he takes her with him. He tells her she much bait her own hook and teaches her how. He tells her she must pull her own lines and tells her how. Nina waits waits all day to get a bite as Lolo is pulling in fish hand over hand. Then she finally gets a bite, and pulls int he biggest fish of the day.

This was really a nice story. The illustrations were great.. I read it to a 2 and 4 year old and they loved it enough to have me read it a second time.

Nina lives in a Filipino fishing village. Lolo, her grandfather, fishes in an old banca boat. He spends long hours on the water. Her job, like that of other village girls, is to stay on shore.

Nina convinces Lolo to take her fishing arguing that two people can catch twice as many fish as one person fishing alone. She is determined to bait her own hook and remove her own fish. Lolo describes the method of bringing in a fish by using hand over hand. Can Nina succeed?

"Hand Over Hand" by Alma Fullerton and beautifully illustrated by Renne Benoit stresses gender equality. Girls can do anything boys can do. What a delightful,early reader book. A welcome addition to any school or home library.

Thank you Second Story Press and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Hand Over Hand".

Let me just start off by saying I absolutely adore Second Story Press. This is the second book I've had the privilege of reading by them (first being "I Am Not A Number"), and they are just so lovely.

This story of a young Filipino girl and her elderly grandfather was very reminiscent of "The Old Man & The Sea" by Ernest Hemingway for me. Of course, <i>Hand Over Hand</i> succeeds in telling a much more heartwarming version of events than Hemingway's. Fullerton's overall message for this lovely children's book is one we all can benefit from hearing again: <b>Who says girls can't fish?</b>

The strength, fortitude and determination Nina shows to not just simple prove others wrong, but to prove herself to her grandfather, is refreshing and inspirational for readers of all ages. Coupled with Fullerton's simplistic words, repetition and clever dialogue bring about the message that children can achieve their goals, and girls especially can do anything they set their minds to.

Most importantly for me, Fullerton does not abandon the clear cut direction of our elders in her positive girl-power message. The character Iolo proves that Nina shouldn't be afraid to ask for help, and she is much wiser when she does accept Iolo's gentle teaching.

<i>Hand Over Hand</i> is a wonderful read-aloud and read-beside book for individual kids and group of children. To top it all off, the illustrations by Renne Benoit are absolutely stunning. Second Story Press shines brightly, yet again!

A special thank you to the author/publisher for providing me with a review copy via NetGalley.

I received this ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.
Each day Nina asks her grandfather if she can go fishing with him. Each day he tells her, girls belong on land. Eventually, she wears him down, and she is allowed to go, but only if she baits her hook, and bring in her fish. Once the lines are in the water, grandfather begins to catch lots of fish. Nina waits and waits and eventually decides to pull her line in, when suddenly there is a great tug, and hand over hand she draws the line in. At the end of her hook is a giant fish. A story for girls with a great positive message.

Who says girls can't fish? This is a great book for all kids, but especially girls!

I’m sure you have heard it before, but girls can not fish. Or at least that is what people think in Nina’s fishing village. Her Lolo agrees to take her out, and she leans that she can fish if she takes her time and goes hand over hand. Not quite what I thought this book would be, but it is lovely, and it works.

Added Goodreads
Added Litsy

This is a wonderful little book packed with so much within its short story. You have enpowerment for girls, equality, giving someone a chance to prove themselves, multi-cultural, intergenerational along with pure enjoyment.

Nina is a young Philipino girl who wants to go fishing on the banco boat with her Lolo (grandfather). She is told that it is no place for a girl. She continues to ask and tells him she will bait her own hook, and bring in her own catch and he finally relents. Everyone laughs at them and tells him that a girl does not belong on a banco boat, but off they go. He patiently teaches her how to paddle, bait her hook, and bring in the line "hand over hand". She waits and waits as Lolo fills the buckets with fish and she gets nothing on her line until .......

The illustrations are wonderful. They are colourful, simple watercolours that do a wonderful job showing their expressions as well as the scenery. The warmth between Nina and Lolo is quite evident. A great book for family libraries as well as schools, classrooms and public libraries.

Great intergenerational story that shows anyone can do anything they put their mind to.

We need good strong girls in good strong picture books. We also need to have different cultures as well. But, how do you do this, without turning the children reading this book, off?

In this case, we have a little girl, Nina, who has been helping her family with fishing, but never the actual fishing. She feels sure she can do it, and her grandfather says, ok, sure, go ahead.

It is very simple story, and beautifully drawn. I love that her grandfather just keeps letting her try, and try until she manages to catch a fish of her own, and prove the others wrong, that girls can't fish.

The only things I didn't like, and it is a little nit, is that it wasn't written by a filipino. Still it is a good book to have in any library, or any child's shelf.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Wonderful, empowering story! Little anglers of the female sort will enjoy this tale of a little girl accompanying her grandfather on his boat to catch fish for the market. Illustrations a are lovely; tropical beaches on beautiful seas....

I really liked this picture book about a little girl who really wants to be a fisherman(?) even though the people in their community are less than encouraging. The soft watercolor pictures give a real warmth to the story and give you the impression of love between the girl and her grandfather. The girl power and the positive message of persistence make this one a keeper.

5★
Lovely picture book about a little girl who’s tired of being stuck on shore, drying fish (women’s work), when she’s dying to go out fishing! I found that Lolo is Filipino for Grandfather, but it isn’t clarified here whether they are related or whether it's an honorary title, like Uncle or Auntie.

She’s sitting, dejected with racks of fish drying behind her.

“On the shores
of a Filipino fishing village
an old banca boat rocks
as waves lick its keel.
Whoosh
whoosh
whoosh.”


When Lolo comes down to the boat, she helps him load it and asks to go, but Lolo says it’s a long hard day.

“’A boat is not the place for a girl.
Your job is on shore.’

‘But I have no more fish to dry,
and with two of us we can catch
twice as many fish to sell
at the market tomorrow,’ Nina says.

‘You’ll bait your own hook?’ Lolo asks.

‘Yes!’ Nina answers.

‘And remove your own fish?’ Lolo asks.

‘Yes! Yes!’ Nina answers.

‘Okay, we will try it. Just for today.’”


Ah, the persistence of the young! He teaches her how to paddle, how to bait the hook, and how to pull fish in.

“Hand over hand. Fish after fish.”


But . . . it’s Lolo who’s catching all the fish and filling the buckets. Poor little Nina hasn’t had a bite. Will she ever have a chance to try hand over hand?

No luck, until . . . but I shouldn't spoil the story, should I? :)

Trust me, you’ll enjoy the gentle lesson and the lovely illustrations.

[My Goodreads review includes a picture of Nina and Lolo.]

There are simple, repetitive phrases, words that have nice sounds for kids to have fun with, and well placed print that trails along the pictures for easy reading.

Of course, I liked the story! I was a little girl who liked to go fishing, too!

I must say, I was immediately reminded of Ernest Hemingway's famous story The Old Man and the Sea, which I reread recently and enjoyed as much as ever. The Boy couldn't go with the Old Man, but he helped as much as he could. I also reviewed that and recommend it (for other reasons!):

Thanks to NetGalley and Second Story Press for the colourful preview copy from which I’ve copied a few quotes. Delightful addition to bookshelves for multi-cultural and equality stories.

I thought the message in this book was good. Its nice to see children's books like this one that lets young kids know that of course girls can do things that aren't usually considered appropriate for them. I thought the illustrations were absolutely adorable. I would have liked this to have been maybe a bit longer and also to have had a bit more substance. The book is very very simple, too simple in my opinion. I would recommend this though.

*I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In this book, I enjoyed the story itself much more than illustrations. Both were really good though! It was a fun story with a nice moral.

Although I can not speak to the cultural accuracy of this book, I do applaud a book that attempts to represent others. The story foregrounds the strength of a girl determined to be a fisher-person and was a great read that could be used to begin a conversation about gender issues.