Missing Daddy

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. [em](Sept.) [/em]