Recognizing Maria and Mario Montessori's reverence for the hand, Pat Ludick takes the reader into the wonder of the human body, mind, and spirit and across the planes of education, into the making of a whole personality and grounded intelligence that is ready for the adult world. Putting the hand front and center, she lyrically evolves an overview that builds a fascination with the capacity of the hand to represent what Frank Wilson calls a "central position in human life." Looking at the elementary years, Pat characterizes the history of human products as keys to the history of human creativity, inventions, and constructiveness. Throughout history, whenever humans used their hands to make crafts and learn they also created choices and artistic expressions that awaken sensitivity to the aesthetics of the world. The adolescent's orientation to the land and to work in nature also challenges the hand to manual work as well as personal artistic expression. The work of the hand at the Children's House completes the presentation of the three planes of education as Ms. Ludick alludes to the role of the hand for practical life, sensorial, math, and language.