by Monique Gray Smith, Illustrated by Danielle Daniel
Orca Book Publishers
2/14/2024, board book
SKU: 9781459836389
Encourage children to show love and support for each other and to consider each other's well-being in their everyday actions.
Award-winning author and international speaker Monique Gray Smith wrote You Hold Me Up to prompt a dialogue among young people, their care providers and educators about reconciliation and the importance of the connections children make with others. With vibrant illustrations from award-winning author and illustrator Danielle Daniel, this is a foundational book about building relationships, fostering empathy and encouraging respect between peers, starting with our littlest citizens.
Target age: 0 to 2
Reviews:
"All the words and art offer a warm and positive message. Simple and pointed phrases are printed boldly on white or pastel backgrounds... with stylized, bright, watercolor illustrations on each opposing page... cheeks with outlined, bright pink circles; other features are sweetly expressive lines of ink, sometimes including little heart for mouths. Birds, flowers, and gaily patterned wallpapers add to a feeling of contentment and communal power... Calming, positive, and serenely affirmative." -- Kirkus Reviews
"A seemingly simple picture book that conveys a valuable message for all ages… The distinctive and soft illustrations by Daniel enhance the positive message by Smith about the power of companionship, compassion, respect and togetherness… This quiet book has a deep beauty and a universal message." -- Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award Jury
About the Contributors:
Monique Gray Smith is an award-winning, bestselling author and public speaker. Her books cover a broad spectrum of ages, topics and emotions. Woven into all of Monique's writing and her speaking engagements is the teaching that Love is Medicine. Her books include Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation, My Heart Fills With Happiness, You Hold Me Up, Lucy and Lola, Tilly: A Story of Hope and Resilience, Tilly and the Crazy Eights, When We Are Kind and I Hope. She has also created the young adult adaptation of Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Monique is Cree and Scottish. She lives with her family on the Traditional Territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən and WSÁNEĆ Peoples.
Danielle Daniel is an award-winning author and illustrator of books for children and adults. She holds an MFA from the University of British Columbia and lives on Manitoulin Island with her family.