Left-Handed: Getting a Grip on Handedness

Gr 4-5–This comprehensive nonfiction title explores left-handedness from myriad angles, including sports, genetics, animal behavior, and weird scientific studies. Copious text is highly readable and rich with intriguing details. The content will appeal to a wide range of readers. Aspiring archaeologists will learn about theories of prehistoric handedness based on cave-painting analysis. Budding grammarians will appreciate vocabulary lessons, such as how the word “left” comes from the Old English lyft, meaning “weak or broken.” The book’s design is attractive and engaging. Fun facts are featured in bite-sized sidebars, like a quiz that asks readers which hand they use for various activities, like using a spoon or brushing their hair; handedness isn’t just about writing. Chan frequently uses illustrations that span two pages or stretch across vertical margins, skillfully drawing the eye across the page. Her sophisticated art employs elegant lines and an earthy palette. Human faces are as expressive as they are simple, and a wide variety of skin tones are displayed. Both men and women are shown at work and play, sewing and playing sports. Animals like dogs, cats, and even snails are rendered with the same care. Back matter includes an index and selected sources. While handedness may be less stigmatizing today, the book demonstrates human adaptation through the ages and promotes an acceptance of our differences.