The Book of Hands, from Reycraft Books, Shows How Every Person Can Use Their Hands to Affect the World
The picture book explores the positive, community-building power of human hands and what is gained from being able to touch.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY, Jun. 30, 2025— Leading children’s trade publisher Reycraft Books is pleased to announce the publication of The Book of Hands, written by Fátima Fernández Méndez and illustrated by Violeta Cano. Released on June 10, 2025, this picture book examines how hands are used to greet, to create, to heal, and much more, leaving readers to ponder how their own hands will leave a positive mark on the world.
Written with sparse, lyrical text and accompanied by lush, colorful, intricately designed illustrations, The
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Fátima Fernández Méndez was born in a fishing village in Asturias, Spain. There, she discovered that if you know how to listen, not only do people tell stories, but so does everything around us: the sea, the mountains, and the sky. Méndez is a great reader and a lover of words, with a hand that writes, discovers, creates, and communicates.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR:
Violeta Cano was born in Madrid, Spain, surrounded by books brought to her by her mother, a librarian. She now works as an author and illustrator in children’s literature, while also starting her career as a preschool teacher. Wherever Cano’s path leads her, she hopes it’s surrounded by children.
“You can use [The Book of Hands] with very young children and with students who are much, much older, because of the conceptual link and the springboard into lots of discussions about how we contribute to our world,” Reycraft Books associate publisher Wiley Blevins said. “It is a thought-provoking picture book, and it is a great springboard for writing.”
ABOUT REYCRAFT BOOKS: Reycraft Books partners with award-winning and up-and-coming authors and illustrators, primarily from underrepresented communities, to provide high-quality books that delight, inform, and honor the voice and vision of all children. Founded in 2019, the imprint publishes authentic stories—engaging picture books, transitional chapter books, middle grade books, graphic novels, and more—that build knowledge, perspective, and connection, meeting the diverse needs of children, families, and educators.