ðə ɡˈɑːɹdiən ˈɔːlsoʊ ɹˈɛkəɡnˌaɪzd hˈændəz sɚpɹˈaɪz æz wˈʌn ʌvðə "fˈɪfti bˈɛst kˈʌltʃɚɹəli daɪvˈɜːs tʃˈɪldɹənz bˈʊks."
The Guardian also recognized Handa's Surprise as one of the "50 best culturally diverse children's books."