Missing Daddy

August 15, 2019
A little girl reflects on missing her incarcerated father. An opening epigraph shares that "Each and every family is unique....We can feel loved, even when the world puts up a wall," setting the tone for a story that shows the protagonist growing up with the knowledge that her father is in prison. She was 3 when he went away and works through questions about his absence in conversation with Grandma while wishing for a relationship with her older, faraway sister, talking to her counselor, and looking forward to the next visiting day when she'll see her daddy. The illustrations feature simple line drawings in muted earth tones with textured lines to create dynamic hairstyles, locs, short Afros, and high buns, that frame the various hues of brown skin on the characters' faces. Charming and heart-wrenching details in the flights of fireflies, bordered pictures in a photo album, and even the expression of the little girl when a classmate whispers, "You know your daddy's a criminal so that makes you one," highlight the angst and resilience of the little girl. Unfortunately, the uneven rhyme scheme pulls attention away from the effective storytelling of the illustrations and emphasizes the lack of cohesive narrative movement. An author's note provides more context and statistics for the story. This straightforward consideration of children affected by the imprisonment of family members is necessary. (discussion guide) (Picture book. 5-9)

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June 3, 2019
In this sensitive and candid story, a child narrator explores the emotions she feels surrounding her father’s incarceration. Sometimes the girl’s sadness is overwhelming: “I try to be brave and hold back my heavy tears. I feel a blue wave of sadness. My Daddy won’t be home for years”—but when she sees her father on visiting days, “his laugh to me is like fireworks, a loud colorful boom.” Royal’s art has a spare, warm quality, with loose ink outlines and splashes of light pastel and citrus tones in the characters’ clothing and surroundings. Educator Kaba addresses the experiences related to parental incarceration head-on while emphasizing that there are a lot of different ways to be a family. As a kind teacher tells her, “Some kids only have a Mommy or others two Daddies. Those who love us help us grow, no matter who they are.” Kaba includes back matter for discussion. Ages 3–7.