Hands On, Thumbs Up

Adиle Ashby, a library consultant, is the former editor of Canadian Materials for Schools and Libraries.

Gryski, author of several wonderful books of string games, now tackles
the related topic of hands.

This book is divided into three sections. The first, “Handworks,”
combines information (e.g., the anatomy and physiology of hands) with
games, activities, tricks, jokes, cartoons, superstitions, nursery
rhymes, and stories. We learn that twins are twice as likely to be
left-handed, why “southpaws” are so called, and how to do finger
math. “Handtalk,” the second section, explores gestures, emblems
(using hands to replace words), waving, shaking hands, sign language,
baseball signals, American and Plains Indian sign language, finger
spelling, and mime. It includes a retelling of Cinderella that uses
hand-related phrases—for example, “gave his hand in marriage,”
“time often hung heavy on their hands,” “offhand”—which it
then explains. The third section, “Handplay,” covers fingerprint
art, hand shadows, hand and finger puppets, and a clapping game.

A bibliography and an index complete this fascinating work. Recommended
for every library.