Hold This!

by Carolyn Cory Scoppettone, Priscilla Alpaugh (Illustrator)

A girl and her father go for a walk, experiencing all the sights, sounds, smells, and feels of the woods. As Mika asks her father to hold each and every one of her found treasures, he, in turn, urges her to be a big girl and only carry what she is able to. With every step and stumble, Mika finds both the wonders and treasures of nature, and the ability to pick herself up after a fall. But the true discovery for both daughter and parent comes at the end, when they both realize a true treasure is a hand to hold.

Genres: Picture Books, Fiction, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 2015

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The natural world is filled with wonder, and Mika and her father head out to explore some of its delights. At first Mika insists that her father hold onto anything that strikes her fancy until he suggests that she hold onto what she's finding. After all, she's a big girl now. Mika continues to enjoy picking up things, including a large log that is too big for either of them to hold. The illustrations and the simple text capture the bond between a father and his daughter well here, especially in the final scene when she asks if he will hold her hand even though she's a big girl now. The message of acceptance and unconditional love is present here even while Mika's father encourages her to be independent.

[The Library Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet without saccharine. There is a lot going on here-- a funny twist when Dad says "You can't hold all that," and Mika seems to come up with a solution, her enjoyment of different objects through her senses, her use of her imagination to create something with what's on hand. The relationship between Mika and Dad is sweet and loving, but also allows her to experience trying things on her own. My only quibble is the art, which is reminiscent of Lillian Hoban, but makes Dad look kind of squinchy, and not really in proportion to his young child.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dad thinks she is big enough to hold her own items she collects on their forest walk, but she surprises him with the last thing she asks him to hold (no spoilers here!). Simple, staight-forward text holds am important lesson.
Soft, autumn colors show a girl loving everything she sees and not afraid of any creatures. Her facial expressions make me want to go on a walk with her just to enjoy the delights of things adults often overlook.
Bravo to Islandport Press for publishing this!

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's an alright book. I needed a book for my frogs theme and I liked that the girl was holding a frog. It's about this little girl who is walking with her dad and she wants to keep all these things, but she keeps giving it to her dad to hold. The ending is really sweet. The illustrations are okay. I find the cover of the book to be prettier than the inside illustrations.

[Enya Medero · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like the book because it was way off, the way how the story goes and the pictures in the books didn't go with the story, it was all mixed up.. :/

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

About all the treasures that a father and daughter find on a nature walk.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful and fun read aloud. Beautifully illustrated.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A walk in the woods with a repetitive refrain

[Bookreviewer23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super Fun book with great illustrations. Perfect for young audiences.