YOU HOLD ME UP is a beautifully written and gorgeously illustrated children's book

Learning empathy is important for all children and even parents can learn (or at least, be reminded) that parents need to have empathy for others as wekl.

This book was easy to rate. It deserves every one of the 5 out of 5 Stars that I am awarding to it.

Highly recommended!!!

I picked this to read for me but also read with my granddaughter. I'm not sure if she loved the bright colours in the illustrations, or if it was the light from my ipad. This is an important book that teaches readers how 'we hold each other up.'

The perfect pairing of illustrations and eloquence combine to make this an instant classic with much needed diversity woven throughout.

The book aims to show simple love and family bounds in indigenous families. It was a nicely written short book. The drawings were fine but they could be better. I just wished it could be much longer. The pictures could have told more or what was written could have been longer. Other than that, the book was adorable and enjoyable. It can be read to kid(s) within really short time.

The illustrations are something I think toddlers and young kids would really relate to. The story is short and sweet and supports things kids should learn early, without being preachy.

Read with my friend's daughter, Ava (4 1/2).

Ava's review: I thought it was too short, but I liked the pictures.

I agree with her. Cute story about loving each other, but really short.

You Hold Me Up was a lovely book showing the love and respect between a First Nations community across generations. The message about dignity and caring for others is an important one to share with young readers, and was especially meaningful coming from an #ownvoices author. The illustrations were bright and eye-catching with a cherry-cheeked motif throughout. Recommended for both the message it imparts, as well as the welcome diversity.

*thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

4 stars.
Ok first the bad then the good. I felt that the pictures, though nicely bright and and colourful, they might have been a bit better. I feel bad for saying that but I have to stress that im NOT saying they are bad as they are far far better than anything I can do, but thats my honest thoughts. Ok so, the good. Ohh my god this was completely and utterly ADORABLE!! I loved it! It was so heart felt and so so true. This book is full of love. Its so basic and simple but perfect for very little kids. And the meaning behind the words makes this book so much more than just a short picture book. Would definitely recommend to most kids and parents who are looking for a book about love. Love love love! Its my absolute favorite word in the world, so a book about love, is a treasure.

Although aimed primarily at indigenous children and families, as a step forward towards reconciliation and national healing, this colourful book is dealing with basic human feelings of love, compassion and respect. The text is minimal, complimented by the illustrations, covering the most important interaction in family and society, based on empathy and building trust and long lasting relationships. From the perspective of multicultural communications it adds another layer of relevance and it can be easily used as an example for other similar societies as well.

Niche audience. Adults will have to explain the genesis of book and the author's intent in writing.. Nevertheless, the text is simple and bottom=line,--this is a book about showing kindness and respect to others and how receiving the same counts for a lot.

This is a simplistic yet emotional, heartwarming book.

This is a wonderful book to support the teachings of kindness, compassion, and empathy in children. I enjoyed the bright illustrations that made all the characters depicted seem happy and safe in bubbles of caring support. I appreciated that the illustrations show interactions within peer groups, with adults, and within families.

An excellent book to teach young children about cooperation, friendship, and community.

Simple book but with strong meaning teaching children about love, empathy,sharing, holding up

This is a simple book with a strong and positive message. The illustrations were great and I loved the book. Great concept and delivered very well.

The entire book consists of different ways a person can hold another up: being kind, sharing, so on. It is the simplest of the simple, and therefore should appeal to small children; its simplicity is what makes it so appealing.
The artwork barely approaches rudimentary—the cheek spots are particularly distracting—but I suppose it doesn’t matter.
3.5 pushed up to 4/5

This wonderful children's story provides Indigenous representation with a heartwarming message and vibrant images, which is particularly needed towards healing and reconciliation.

You Hold Me Up by Monique Gray Smith is a lovely picture book that teaches children empathy, compassion, love and the importance of supporting one another. I've read this book twice so far and the second read was as sweet and heartwarming as my first time through. Danielle Daniel's illustrations are bright, colourful and happy. I loved that the principles outlined in this book are shown clearly relating to children's interactions with not only their peers, but also adults and family.

I particularly loved the author's note at the end of the book that provided deeper meaning to this project, that of much needed reconciliation and healing for Canada's Indigenous population as a result of 150 years of abuse suffered by children in Indian Residential (boarding) Schools.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley (thank you very much to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback.

This is a simple book about being human. Of holding each other up, giving love, in many simple important ways, from listening when others speak, to sharing, to playing together, and singing together. Simple ideas, but for so long in Candian, amongst First Nations people this was not always possible because of residential schools.

Now, there is nothing, except a note from the author, explaining this, at the end, and this book can be read on as simple picture book level about how all children and all people should treat each other. On another, deeper level, we can return the dignity that was stripped from First Nation's people when their children, for 150 years, were taken from their families and forced to unlearn being what their family had been all their lives.

So, for these two levels, it is a good, quick read, and makes a wonderful picture book about love and respect.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

You Hold Me Up by Monique Gray Smith. Illustrated by Danielle Daniel. Orca Book Publishers. This book and illustrations show how simple actions support family, friends, and people in our social circles and communities in healthy ways. Highly recommend for young children. Thanks to NetGalley and Vanita Books for providing this ebook for review.