Hand Book

Magda Gargulakova has a degree in Art History and is a co-founder and also curator of the OFF/FORMAT gallery in Brno, Czech Republic, which exhibits and promotes contemporary progressive art, mostly by young artists. She worked for a time in marketing, but her love affair with books has been a long one. For OFF/FORMAT, she has edited and published several art publications. Since 2019, she has added to this experience as an editor of literature for very young readers at Albatros Media, using her two daughters for quality control.

Selected for the CBC’s 2022 November Hot Off The Press Reading List"I wear a hand around my neck on a necklace. It's called a hamsa and the hand has always been a significant symbol to me that seems to symbolically speak to my soul and the essence of who I am. I am completely besotted with this book and it is exponentially expanding my love of the hand." —Librarian, Neill Public Library

• GlossaryHands . . .Are uniqueLeave fingerprintsHave anatomiesCan do many thingsHoldGive & cooperateRestTouchFeel & recognizeShow your ageCommunicateCommunicate verbally & nonverballySpeakMake gesturesSay how we feelMake signalsGreetCan replace eyesCan replace ears & mouthCreateDestroyCan by famousBelong to animals tooEvolvedWork with the brainAre either left or rightCan get into troubleHave different professionsAre used to measureAre symbolsGet depictedCan be decoratedCan have rings & accessoriesCan use sticksCan get injuredCan be replacedNeed good hygieneShouldn’t do certain things