As the long Indian summer days stretch ahead of him, a young boy looks forward to his favourite time – painting-his-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. 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.
Read Across America Book of the Month, June 2024
Yoto Carnegie Medal nomination 2023
USBBY Outstanding International Book 2023
BookTrust Great Books Guide 2022
The Guardian, Children’s Book of the Month July 2022
Inclusive Books for Children Top Pick
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Mamta is an award-winning author of over thirty books. She is inspired by the unfettered imagination of children and is passionate about stories that are inclusive and empowering. Mamta lives and dreams in New Delhi.
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Jo is an author-illustrator who lives in the beautiful city of Bath, England. She holds an MA in Children’s Book Illustration from the Cambridge School of Art. She is the author and illustrator of Taking Time and illustrator of Maisie’s Scrapbook.
“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
“Softly textured and opalescent, the artwork reflects the boy’s gentle spirit and the loving support he receives from his mother and grandfather. The innocent, gender-stereotype-defying tale joins a modest but growing number of picture books that introduce young people to tolerance for and celebration of the variety of human experience.”
- Booklist, STARRED
“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 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
