Description
Encourage children to show love and support for each other and to consider each other’s well-being in their everyday actions.
Consultant, international speaker and award-winning author 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 celebrated artist Danielle Daniel, this is a foundational book about building relationships, fostering empathy and encouraging respect between peers, starting with our littlest citizens.
Orca Book Publishers is pleased to offer this bilingual book (full text in both English and Plains Cree) in two accessible editions. The audiobook features alternate text descriptions of images, including the cover. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age:
- 3 to 5
- Grade:
- p to k
- Reading age:
- 3 to 5
Awards
- Commended, TD Summer Reading Club Recommended Reads
- Short-listed, Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award
- Commended, Bank Street College of Education Children's Book Committee Best Children's Books of the Year
- Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens
- Commended, Resource Links, The Year's Best Books
- Commended, American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL) Best Books
- Commended, Quill & Quire's Best Books of the Year
Editorial Reviews
"You Hold Me Up is a gentle but effective way to introduce the topic of Reconciliation to students of all ages."
— ETFO Voice: Magazine of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
“This colourful picture book highlights the important connections that young children make with their friends and family members.”
— Canadian Teacher Magazine
"Ideal for early readers by themselves, for lap-sitting, or as a read-aloud."
— Canadian Literature
"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
"A strong and powerful message that even the youngest reader can understand...Very timely message indeed."
— Youth Services Book Reviews
“Warm illustrations help to expand the brief text.”
— The Horn Book Online
"You Hold Me Up is a welcome addition to the ongoing conversations around healing and rebuilding relationships…Gentle, relevant and never heavy-handed, this book serves both as a quiet lullaby and a starting point for discussions on empathy, community and wellness."
— Canadian Children's Book News
“A lovely meditation on compassion and respect...A strong sense of community runs through the poetic text and is warmly depicted in Daniel’s stunning watercolour paintings.”
— 49th Shelf
