August 1, 2023
A young girl is embarrassed by her giant green hand. Lenore always realized that she was different; others have green eyes or even green nail polish, but she has a huge pastel-green-hued hand. In an effort to conceal it, Lenore keeps her viridescent appendage tightly wrapped up in a scarf, and she's ready with a list of excuses when people ask her about this. When her family moves to Michigan and Lenore is preparing to conceal her hand for the first day of school, she suddenly hears a voice. Her hand--who introduces himself as Chuck--explains things from his perspective. Soon Lenore begins to perceive her unique hand with more positivity, although scenes in which Chuck drags her around without her consent or knowledge while she sleeps may not sit well with some. Actor Gubler's sophomore offering is a light, easy read, heavily image-based with economical lines of text populating each page. Simply wrought line-based black-and-white illustrations (with occasional greenish-gray splashes) slowly transition throughout the tale into a softly saturated sunset-hued watercolorlike palette. Gubler's quirky, goofy, and easily palatable tale is a little on the nose; it offers an evergreen message that is a staple of children's literature. Lenore appears white. A feel-good read reaffirming the power of empathy. (Illustrated fiction. 7-11)
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August 28, 2023
In this playful graphic novel by actor Gubler (Rumple Buttercup), a girl struggles to accept her physical attributes and learns important lessons about self-perception. Lenore has a secret: she was born with a big, green hand. She keeps it hidden from her classmates by covering it with a handmade scarf from her aunt Nancy, which she even wears during the summer. Lenore is comfortable in her routine until her family moves to Michigan, where she dreads having to attend a new school filled with strangers who will ask questions about her scarf-covered hand. But while wrapping up her appendage on her first day of school, she discovers that her biggest secret has one of its own: the big green hand she’s felt burdened by for her entire life can talk. Spindly, simple b&w line art accompanied by equally fluid handwritten text evokes whimsy and youthfulness, while diffused spot colors in greens and pinks emphasize Lenore’s unusual world. Straightforward prose delivers a heartfelt ode to finding beauty in different perspectives, fostering connection in shared experiences, and approaching others with empathy and kindness. Ages 6–up.
December 22, 2023
K-Gr 2-A young girl learns to embrace her differences in this quirky illustrated book for young readers. As the title suggests, Lenore was born with a big green hand. Embarrassed and frustrated by this oddity, she tries to hide her hand by wrapping it in a scarf, only to get the surprise of her life when the hand starts talking to her. As it turns out, the hand, Chuck, wasn't thrilled to be stuck to a small pink blob, and recounts his adventurous attempt to escape. Ultimately, Chuck and Lenore realize they're in this world together and choose to recognize the value in each other's existence in a conclusion that offers an uplifting message about living with a physical difference or what others may conventionally perceive to be a disability. The surreal tone of this story is sure to elicit giggles from children. At the same time, it may spark important discussions about differences and empathy. Divided into short chapters, each page of this book features just one or two sentences accompanying a single illustration. Expressive pencil drawings mimic the look of children's artwork. Color is used effectively throughout the story: Visuals are initially rendered in gray scale with the occasional pop of green, but as Chuck and Lenore discover the beauty of seeing the world anew, soft pastels bloom on the pages. VERDICT This book is undeniably weird but beautiful, imparting an priceless and enduring message about accepting differences and seeing with others' perspectives.-Allison Tran
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