Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb
An accumulating monkey band and a memorable nonsense refrain turn three body-part words into a sustained rhythm exercise.
Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Al Perkins is estimated to take about 3.5 minutes to read aloud (200 words, 2 sentences a spread). Best for ages 0-4.
Check the book on AmazonAffiliate link
- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 3.5 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Words
- 200Approximate
- Sentences per spread
- 2Text density
- Re-read tolerance
- 5/5strong repeat appeal
- Vocabulary level
- 1/5plain words
- Best for
- Ages 0-4Age range
Our review
Monkeys build a drumbeat from hands, fingers, and thumbs until the page seems crowded with percussion. The repeated “dum ditty” language and accumulating players make the text work like a chant a child can tap along with.
Try the rhythm on knees or a quiet surface and pause when the pictures add more monkeys. The body vocabulary is narrow and the pleasure is almost entirely sonic. Clap Hands offers several everyday gestures in a gentle baby group; Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb is the more insistent choice for rhythm and drumming.
Before you buy it
The driving beat can become noisy, and readers looking for a plot or broader body vocabulary will find little of either.
Themes
- hands
- drumming
- monkeys
- rhythm
Books like Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb
More books with similar themes, formats, lengths and ways to join in.
