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Lefty: A Story That Is Not All Right
#1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning author Mo Willems and Caldecott Medal winner and National Book Award winner Dan Santat join hands in this innovative picture book about lefties (and righties)!
Did you know, there was a time when people could get in trouble鈥攔eally, really BIG trouble鈥攆or being LEFT-HANDED!?
It鈥檚 true!
Lefty and Righty hand out the facts in a theatrical performance that spans the ages. Once upon a time, left was considered wrong . . . but now, left or right, it鈥檚 all alright. (And there are scissors for everyone!)
Created by the award-winning (right and left) hands of New York Times bestselling authors Mo Willems and Dan Santat, this book ensures that no one gets left behind!
Did you know, there was a time when people could get in trouble鈥攔eally, really BIG trouble鈥攆or being LEFT-HANDED!?
It鈥檚 true!
Lefty and Righty hand out the facts in a theatrical performance that spans the ages. Once upon a time, left was considered wrong . . . but now, left or right, it鈥檚 all alright. (And there are scissors for everyone!)
Created by the award-winning (right and left) hands of New York Times bestselling authors Mo Willems and Dan Santat, this book ensures that no one gets left behind!
40 pages, Hardcover
First published December 3, 2024
3 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Mo Willems
208听books4,042听followers#1 New York Times Bestselling author and illustrator Mo Willems is best known for his Caldecott Honor winning picture books Don鈥檛 Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and Knuffle Bunny: a cautionary tale.
In addition to such picture books as Leonardo the Terrible Monster, Edwina the Dinosaur Who Didn鈥檛 Know She Was Extinct, and Time to Pee, Mo has created the Elephant and Piggie books, a series of early readers, and published You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons, an annotated cartoon journal sketched during a year-long voyage around the world in 1990-91.
The New York Times Book Review called Mo 鈥渢he biggest new talent to emerge thus far in the 00's."
Mo鈥檚 work books have been translated into a myriad of languages, spawned animated shorts and theatrical musical productions, and his illustrations, wire sculpture, and carved ceramics have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the nation.
Mo began his career as a writer and animator for television, garnering 6 Emmy awards for his writing on Sesame Street, creating Nickelodeon's The Off-Beats, Cartoon Network鈥檚 Sheep in the Big City and head-writing Codename: Kids Next Door.
He lives in Brooklyn, New York with his family.
In addition to such picture books as Leonardo the Terrible Monster, Edwina the Dinosaur Who Didn鈥檛 Know She Was Extinct, and Time to Pee, Mo has created the Elephant and Piggie books, a series of early readers, and published You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons, an annotated cartoon journal sketched during a year-long voyage around the world in 1990-91.
The New York Times Book Review called Mo 鈥渢he biggest new talent to emerge thus far in the 00's."
Mo鈥檚 work books have been translated into a myriad of languages, spawned animated shorts and theatrical musical productions, and his illustrations, wire sculpture, and carved ceramics have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the nation.
Mo began his career as a writer and animator for television, garnering 6 Emmy awards for his writing on Sesame Street, creating Nickelodeon's The Off-Beats, Cartoon Network鈥檚 Sheep in the Big City and head-writing Codename: Kids Next Door.
He lives in Brooklyn, New York with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
January 3, 2025
A little history lesson to go with a fun picture book with two favorite authors/illustrators.
December 26, 2024
Wow. What a team. Both are probably on most library's 'auto-buy' lists, and this work justifies that decision. Being left-handed or right-handed doesn't affect whether you're famous, or friendly, or anything else. It's just how you're born. Hmm....
Anyway, fabulous art in a variety of different styles keeps it fun and keeps it moving along. Very highly recommended to anyone who wants a giggle with a side of history and, dare I say, relevance.
Anyway, fabulous art in a variety of different styles keeps it fun and keeps it moving along. Very highly recommended to anyone who wants a giggle with a side of history and, dare I say, relevance.
July 11, 2024
Devastated that this doesn't come out until December because it would be FANTASTIC for school visits. The illustrations are really, really fun and the text is so silly and fun.
January 20, 2025
While I appreciate the sentiment here as a lefty myself, this really missed the mark. Especially the pages where they are like "Some left handed people became famous and some right handed people became famous. Some left handed people don't become famous and some righted handed people don't become famous." "Some left handed people are nice and some right handed people are nice. Some left handed people could work on being nice and some right handed people could work on being nicer."
Like. What.
Like. What.
March 24, 2025
I love Mo Willems, but this one was just a big miss for me. I'm sure it has a place in the lefty world, but I can't imagine that this book will be a hit with all readers. The text was just a HUGE miss for me, because it was wordy and just plain awkward in some places. The pictures/illustrations were much the same -- awkward. (Diamond 25-26)
November 20, 2024
I remember as a kid students who were frustrated by the lack of left-handed scissors. They also had trouble with some desks at school that were designed for right-handed kids. More shocking to me was how these kids were teased for being different. How ridiculous!
Willems writes a book that explains that left-handed people are not "sinister" (an old word for left-handed," and that they deserve items designed for their use. True to form, Willems uses whimsy and humor to get this point across.
The illustrations by Dan Santat are engaging. Hands talk to each other about this topic. It's a fun and informative read.
Willems writes a book that explains that left-handed people are not "sinister" (an old word for left-handed," and that they deserve items designed for their use. True to form, Willems uses whimsy and humor to get this point across.
The illustrations by Dan Santat are engaging. Hands talk to each other about this topic. It's a fun and informative read.
January 8, 2025
What a cute book, it made me think about my left-handed son!!!! I love the artwork and the silly story!
January 22, 2025
So this is possibly the most genius thing Mo Willems has ever written? What a timely and important book.
This fun little book is told through the perspective of two talking hands, Lefty and Righty, about how people throughout history used to be judged for being left handed. This is then followed by a discussion about how silly it is to judge someone based on how they are born and how things are much better now.
It's clear based on how this book is written that it's about so much more than left-handedness. It's a lesson about not judging others for silly, superficial reasons, and that we need to learn from history to not repeat our mistakes. If you want to have talk to your kid about prejudice, sexism, racism, transphobia, etc. but don't know where to start, I actually feel like this book is a nice way to start the conversation. Because judging someone for the color of their skin or how they look is, in fact, just as silly as judging them for the hand they write with.
This fun little book is told through the perspective of two talking hands, Lefty and Righty, about how people throughout history used to be judged for being left handed. This is then followed by a discussion about how silly it is to judge someone based on how they are born and how things are much better now.
It's clear based on how this book is written that it's about so much more than left-handedness. It's a lesson about not judging others for silly, superficial reasons, and that we need to learn from history to not repeat our mistakes. If you want to have talk to your kid about prejudice, sexism, racism, transphobia, etc. but don't know where to start, I actually feel like this book is a nice way to start the conversation. Because judging someone for the color of their skin or how they look is, in fact, just as silly as judging them for the hand they write with.
June 21, 2024
LEFTY: A STORY THAT IS NOT ALL RIGHT left me full of new knowledge about the history of lefty鈥檚 and how AWESOME they are. You can鈥檛 go wrong with this picture book that is coming Dec 3rd! They鈥檝e done it right鈥攆rom start to finish! Great collaboration.
Thanks for the ARC Union Square Kids!
Thanks for the ARC Union Square Kids!
January 23, 2025
First sentence: Hi, Righty! Did you know...there was a time when people could get into trouble...really, really BIG trouble--
Premise/plot: At its most literal (taken at face value) this is a pun-filled nonfiction picture book about perceptions through the centuries of being left handed (as opposed to right handed).
My thoughts: I don't know if I'm disappointed because it is Mo Willems and I was expecting to absolutely love it above and beyond OR if it is just truly not my taste. Perhaps a bit of both.
While I almost-almost appreciated some of the illustrations, for the most part they just were not for me. I found them weird, odd, over-the-top. Of course, art is in the eyes of the beholder. Some readers may find the illustrations to be a great fit and wonderful.
The text was okay, fine, nice enough. Again, I am a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE, HUGE fan of Mo Willem--usually. Like his writing usually appeals to me above and beyond. These are books that I reach for again, again, again. The writing was just so so-so. There was one scene that made me smile--the one about cookies. But for the most part, I wasn't super impressed.
The subject is perhaps not the most thrilling, HOWEVER, I do think it's a fine subject. I don't know that left-handed prejudice is alive and well, a current, relevant "thing." I don't think it's been much of an issue for decades. That is, I think it's been steadily declining as an issue for decades. It just is--and no one really cares.
I do think that this book is not to be taken at its most literal. There are a lot of elephants in the room (not literal, sadly, I wouldn't have minded a cameo from Elephant). I do think the book is a way to talk about other subjects. This tone is heavy-handed (pun-intended). In this sense I think it's a bit didactic. Here's the thing--and I've said this before--a conclusion can be one you agree with (or one you don't agree with, for that matter), and if it's written in a didactic way it can be a bit of a turn-off.
Premise/plot: At its most literal (taken at face value) this is a pun-filled nonfiction picture book about perceptions through the centuries of being left handed (as opposed to right handed).
My thoughts: I don't know if I'm disappointed because it is Mo Willems and I was expecting to absolutely love it above and beyond OR if it is just truly not my taste. Perhaps a bit of both.
While I almost-almost appreciated some of the illustrations, for the most part they just were not for me. I found them weird, odd, over-the-top. Of course, art is in the eyes of the beholder. Some readers may find the illustrations to be a great fit and wonderful.
The text was okay, fine, nice enough. Again, I am a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE, HUGE fan of Mo Willem--usually. Like his writing usually appeals to me above and beyond. These are books that I reach for again, again, again. The writing was just so so-so. There was one scene that made me smile--the one about cookies. But for the most part, I wasn't super impressed.
The subject is perhaps not the most thrilling, HOWEVER, I do think it's a fine subject. I don't know that left-handed prejudice is alive and well, a current, relevant "thing." I don't think it's been much of an issue for decades. That is, I think it's been steadily declining as an issue for decades. It just is--and no one really cares.
I do think that this book is not to be taken at its most literal. There are a lot of elephants in the room (not literal, sadly, I wouldn't have minded a cameo from Elephant). I do think the book is a way to talk about other subjects. This tone is heavy-handed (pun-intended). In this sense I think it's a bit didactic. Here's the thing--and I've said this before--a conclusion can be one you agree with (or one you don't agree with, for that matter), and if it's written in a didactic way it can be a bit of a turn-off.
December 13, 2024
I loved the cover of this book! It is a creative and fun way to talk to kids about being a left handed person and why it is not a bad thing to be a left handed person. The author and illustrator throw in some historical facts into the story, which is so nice to have factual things in stories for kids and adults alike. The illustrations are very well done for this book, I especially love how the left hand and right hand are talking in this book to each other about why left handed people are so important. I really think that this was an excellent read and my own daughter loved the illustrations and the story. My brother was a left handed person and he would have loved a book that explained how left handers are not wrong;)
March 15, 2025
3/15/2025 ~ I was really looking forward to this book, in part because of the topic, and in part because of the teamwork of two such renowned children's book creators. I was a bit disappointed.
* I appreciated the illustrations. There was a combination of old-fashioned sepia-toned line drawings and photos overlaid on bold, single-toned back drops. This was truly a different look for Santat. The expressions of the eyes / glasses were fantastic.
* However, I felt the text was a bit lacking. We had some information on ancient times, but the spreads about "some left-handers..., some right-handers..." were so unspecific & even felt like they were continuing stereotypes.
I'm left very ambivalent.
* I appreciated the illustrations. There was a combination of old-fashioned sepia-toned line drawings and photos overlaid on bold, single-toned back drops. This was truly a different look for Santat. The expressions of the eyes / glasses were fantastic.
* However, I felt the text was a bit lacking. We had some information on ancient times, but the spreads about "some left-handers..., some right-handers..." were so unspecific & even felt like they were continuing stereotypes.
I'm left very ambivalent.
January 24, 2025
This literary dream team (Willems and Santat) was made in hilarious heaven...
In the story, Lefty (Santat's left hand) is explaining to Righty (Santat's right hand) all the difficulties and differences of being the left and that being left-handed or right-handed, either is all right. Santat rises the hilarious stakes with his hands as puppets on a stage. He pulls out all the stops visually adding in art styles from years in the past. Willems' puns and play on words is uproariously funny work well with Santat's dialogue illustrations.
Use in units on humor or "just because". This will tickle the funny bone of kids Pre-3.
Recommended for them!
In the story, Lefty (Santat's left hand) is explaining to Righty (Santat's right hand) all the difficulties and differences of being the left and that being left-handed or right-handed, either is all right. Santat rises the hilarious stakes with his hands as puppets on a stage. He pulls out all the stops visually adding in art styles from years in the past. Willems' puns and play on words is uproariously funny work well with Santat's dialogue illustrations.
Use in units on humor or "just because". This will tickle the funny bone of kids Pre-3.
Recommended for them!
January 12, 2025
As a left-handed person, I really appreciate any picture books that feature a left-handed character. Ahem, there aren't many to my knowledge. So I was happy to see this new book by Mo and Dan. I like how it shares some history of how cultures forbid a child to be left-handed and then slowly changed their perception. I also like how Mo & Dan explain how to know if you're left-handed, right-handed, or ambidextrous. And my most favorite illustration is on the end paper at the end of the book. Happens to me all the time :P
March 19, 2025
I considered hard whether to throw this on my disability shelf but decided against it since I don鈥檛 think anyone in my experience has ever considered handedness as a disability. I could be wrong since I鈥檓 not a lefty. This was a fun book that tried perhaps a little too stridently to assure kids it really doesn鈥檛 matter whether you鈥檙e, left, right, or ambi. I appreciated the history lesson. Best page, hands down (ahem) is the one with cookies! Recommended if you have a leftie who is a preschooler or primary grader.
March 20, 2025
A fun look at the history of handedness and how lefty鈥檚 have been a bit marginalized. Did you know that, even in ancient times, left-handed people supposedly pretended they were right-handed? That鈥檚 not right, is it? I got this story because I remember hearing about my mom鈥檚 experience in a Catholic school where she, a lefty, was forced to write right-handed. This was in the 1960s! Luckily, times have changed. The illustrations in this book are really cool and I like how the right and left hands 鈥渢alk鈥� to one another.
Mia鈥檚 2nd Year of Books: Day 10
Mia鈥檚 2nd Year of Books: Day 10
November 26, 2024
I was an ASL terp (in-TERP-reter) in my church for a number of years -- not licensed, but a very skilled hack. It's a whole new level of talking with your hands.
I love that the illustrations are a mix of drawn hands and the photographed actual hands of Dan Santat and Mo Willems. And while kids now can use left or right hands unimpeded, there was a time when it was thought, well, gauche! (That's French for left, but in English it means unsophisticated and socially awkward.)
I love that the illustrations are a mix of drawn hands and the photographed actual hands of Dan Santat and Mo Willems. And while kids now can use left or right hands unimpeded, there was a time when it was thought, well, gauche! (That's French for left, but in English it means unsophisticated and socially awkward.)
January 18, 2025
A lively approach to a basic body concept- handedness - that combines illustration with charicature and pseudo-hand-puppetery. The comical, kid-centric personalities of Willems and Santat are captured well. Bits of history are neatly packaged in a robust and entertaining direct treatment of left-handedness, summarized with a visual and text invitation to combine the strengths of our differences rather than let them separate us into camps. A parable for our times.
January 4, 2025
Santat colorfully illustrates Willems story with photos and hand drawn illustrations as the two set out to educate young children on the history (and inequality) of left handedness. Young readers will leave appreciating what previous generations had to endure and respecting their accomplishments. A must have for all elementary school libraries.
January 24, 2025
This humorous book looks at the very real issue 'lefties' have had to deal with over the centuries. It seems unbelievable now, but there was a time when left handed people were suspected of all sorts of evil intent. I am a big Mo Willems fan, this book was a very clever way to talk about a very serious subject.
January 25, 2025
A nonfiction picture book about the history of the left-handed as told by two hands, Righty and Lefty. A poignantly humorous picture book with a powerful message for any left-handed readers of all ages and anyone else who feels they have been left behind.
"And you can't be born WRONG . . . RIGHT?"
"And you can't be born WRONG . . . RIGHT?"
March 5, 2025
Dan Santat and Mo Willems have created a fun book about being left handed ( and also about right handers). As a left hander who was born in the 1950s, I can attest to people trying to 鈥渕ake鈥� me right handed, until they finally gave up. This book made me smile throughout. Would be fun to have kids act out the story with their own hands instead of the illustrated hands.
December 4, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up
I like the topic and the illustrations. However, rhe story was somewhat disappointing.
Final Thoughts
While I expected a bit more information and humor, it is definitely worth checking out.
I like the topic and the illustrations. However, rhe story was somewhat disappointing.
Final Thoughts
While I expected a bit more information and humor, it is definitely worth checking out.
December 5, 2024
I was unsure about how this one would go--aesthetically speaking. It is actually quite good--to say nothing of what Mo Willems is doing with this story.
I highly recommend it for more conservatively raised audiences.
I highly recommend it for more conservatively raised audiences.
December 5, 2024
"If you're hiding who you are, you feel rotten."
Learn about left-handedness, right-handedness, and what it means to be ambidextrous. But, it's not just about that . . . it's about being who you are.
Learn about left-handedness, right-handedness, and what it means to be ambidextrous. But, it's not just about that . . . it's about being who you are.
December 7, 2024
A concise telling of how being left-handed was not treated with kindness in the past and how a child might tell if he is left or right-hand dominant or ambidextrous. Big colorful illustrations and fun hand puppets.
January 20, 2025
Don't hate me. I promise, I really do love Mo. It's just鈥攖his book, you know? I read it, I gave it my full attention. But instead, I just... went meh. Like, I wanted to feel something, but I didn't. Maybe it鈥檚 me.
January 22, 2025
Can you get a better combo than Willems and Santat? Together they tell the story of being left-handed in history and how now it is considered totally normal and that being right-handed is fine and being left-handed is fine. And, of course, it is told with humor.
January 27, 2025
Silly and unique presentation with the hands and googly eyes. I thought the- forgive me- left turn into "it's okay because we can sell them stuff!" and that's it was so unsatisfying and depressing in an ordinary sort of way.
February 1, 2025
Readers meet Lefty and Righty as they talk about the historical issues left-handed people have faced and move to the present time. The text is easy to follow but at times feels rather blah. I like the premise and Willems and Santat! However, this book's overall story fell flat for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
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