Rainbow Hands

Mamta Nainy author Jo Loring-Fisher illustrator

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Lantana Publishing

Published:16th Apr '24

£7.99

Available for immediate dispatch.

This paperback is available in another edition too:

Rainbow Hands cover

KEYWORDS: LGBTQ; queer; identity; growing up; pride; family; diversity; inclusion. A joyful story about a little boy who uses nail polish to express himself. A focus on finding creative ways to express emotions and feelings. A body positive story about celebrating one's identity. A loving family learning to accept and value their son's choices. A main character of colour by an #OwnVoices author.

When a little boy paints his nails with his mum's nail polish, he discovers the most important thing of all: the magic of being his true self.When a little boy paints his nails with his mum's nail polish, he discovers the most important thing of all: the magic of being his true self. As the long Indian summer days stretch ahead of him, a young boy looks forward to his favourite time - painting-your-nails-time. He knows that when he dips his brush into those magical bottles of nail polish, he will find a colour to express his every mood and feeling. Purple is the colour of magic and mystery. White is the colour of endless possibilities. At times, his Papa frowns and says, "What have you done to your nails?" At other times, he says, "Why don't you paint on paper instead?" But the little boy knows that painting his nails makes his hands look beautiful. This colour-filled story celebrates the joy of finding out who you are and embracing the courage to be yourself.

The Guardian, July 22 Book of the Month 2022. Read Across America, Book of the Month 2022; “During the long days of the Indian summer, a little boy paints his nails to match his mood. Sometimes his Papa frowns, but his grandfather knows he will shine bright in this sweet, poetic picture book celebrating self-expression and acceptance.”—The Guardian, July 22 Book of the Month; “Rainbow Hands is a heart-warming, colourful delight. It evokes childhood memories, hopes that children are allowed to fulfil their dreams to be who they are, and above all, the fact that the boy is loved for being himself. Magic!"—Khakan Qureshi BEM, Founder of Birmingham South Asians LGBT-Finding A Voice; “This quiet tale of family life unfolds gently, each mood sympathetically illustrated in soft, fuzzy colours, every page turn bringing a new colour palette. A body positive story about celebrating an individual’s identity.”—Books for Keeps; “Rainbow Hands is a stunning and magnetic picture book cataloguing the different colours a little boy paints his nails in order to express his moods and feelings. Something in the way this book has been crafted stopped me in my tracks. I slowed down to absorb the pages both in terms of the stunning, dappled images and to consider the ideas conjured up by the colours.”—Just Imagine

  • Winner of The Guardian, July 22 Book of the Month 2022
  • Winner of Read Across America, Book of the Month 2022
  • Winner of USBBY Outstanding International Book 2023 (United States)

ISBN: 9781915244277

Dimensions: 260mm x 260mm x 5mm

Weight: 150g

32 pages