In Your Hands

 

Title: In Your Hands

Author: Carole Boston Weatherford

Illustrator: Brian Pinkney

Purchase link: https://bookshop.org/p/books/in-your-hands-carole-boston-weatherford/17afba21133bd10c?ean=9781481462938&next=t

Teacher Resource: https://school.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=56531

Summary

    In Your Hands is a poetic picture book where a mother speaks to her newborn son, sharing her love and hopes for his future. She wants him to grow up confident and kind, but also worries about how society might treat him because of his skin color. The book mixes emotions of pride, love, and concern, showing both the beauty and challenges of being Black in America.

Connection to black history

    This book connects to Black history because it shows the experience of a Black mother raising her son in a world where racism still exists. It reflects the fears and hopes that many Black parents have had throughout history, especially during times when their children were not treated equally. The story honors the strength, love, and resilience within Black families and connects to the long history of parents protecting and uplifting the next generation.

Grades 4–8 Lesson Idea

    After reading the book, students can discuss how the story connects to events and figures in Black history, like the Civil Rights Movement or Black Lives Matter. Then, they can write a journal entry or poem about someone in their own life who gives them hope or strength, just like the mother does for her son. Another idea is for students to write about their hopes and dreams for their future. They can then compare how their dreams are similar or different than their classmates.