Hand Over Hand

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

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.

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.