Loved this book, even though it was very short and simple. It had some much meaning behind it. It is about a young boy and his grandfather telling him what he did with his hands throughout his life, meaning how he overcame racism and prejudice. The author wrote the book so short, but it is so meaningful. The author is writing the book to say anything is possible just look at all these things this grandfather has overcame, anything is possible. in the beginning of the book, the boy couldn't tie his shoes, so his grandfather was trying to teach him and while doing that he talked about all the other great things he accomplished in his life. In the end, the boy learned how to tie his shoes and learned many great things along the way about history and his grandfather. It is very symbolic because even though tying shoes doesn't take very long the author took the time to have the grandfather teach him things too, so in the end he learned how to tie his shoes and about much more than just tying shoes. ( )

Margaret H. Mason starts this story with a grandpa sharing his "old talents" with grandson Joseph, admitting he's still not too shabby at those skills. The idea is that even though he's older he is still useful, but when those hands become part of a historical revolution, the story becomes much more impactful. He shares that his hands are good for many fun activities, but his hands were once restricted to what they were allowed to do. Because of grandpas' hands, Joseph has the ability to do whatever he dreams with his hands. When I first started reading, I thought it was a cute story line, but I love how it changed in a direction I was not expecting. ( )

I absolutely love this book! It demonstrates the hardships that African Americans went through during segregation while not making it to serious for young kids. This book does a wonderful job of showing the generational changes that happened within each family. ( )

I didn’t know if I would like this book. However, I loved it after I read it. I like how the book starts off talking about what Joseph’s grandpa hands could do. Then I like how it turns in the story and tells what his grandpa’s hands was restricted to do. I like how the story leads into the civil rights movement and how Joseph’s grandpa fought for his hands to be able to do anything he wanted to do. It touched my heart when Joseph started to say what his hands are capable of doing. I enjoyed the flow of the book while I was reading.I think this would be a good read to children because it teaches a lesson. The lesson is that you are capable to do anything you want to do. The story also teaches children about black history. ( )

We watch Joseph’s grandfather help teach him how to tie his shoelaces, along with other skills. A grandfather shares memories from his past, during a time when African-American hands weren't allowed to touch white bread in the large bread factory where he worked. ( )