Missing Daddy

by Mariame Kaba, bria royal (Illustrator)

Overview

“This book is a crucial tool for parents, educators, and anyone who cares about the well-being of children who, through no fault of their own, are forced to bear the consequences of our country’s obsession with incarceration. For children who desperately miss their parents, feel confused, or are teased at school, this book can go a long way in letting them know that they are not alone and in normalizing their experiences.” —Eve L. Ewing

A little girl who misses her father because he's away in prison shares how his absence affects different parts of her life. Her greatest excitement is the days when she gets to visit her beloved father. With gorgeous illustrations throughout, this book illuminates the heartaches of dealing with missing a parent.

Missing Daddy was selected as one of Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books 2019.

Mariame Kaba is an educator and organizer based in New York City. She has been active in anti-criminalization and anti-violence movements for the past thirty years.

bria royal is a multidisciplinary artist from Chicago.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781642590364
Publisher:	Haymarket Books
Publication date:	09/17/2019
Pages:	36
Sales rank:	265,181
Product dimensions:	8.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Mariame Kaba is an educator and organizer based in New York City. She has been active in the anti-criminalization and anti-violence movements for the past 30 years. Mariame is the founder and director of Project NIA, a grassroots organization with a long-term vision to end youth incarceration.
bria royal is multidisciplinary artist from Chicago. She considers her animation, comics, paintings and zines to be the result of a radical healing process that she hopes others will benefit from seeing unfold. Much of her work centralizes on Black and brown imaginations and womxnhood, femininity and gender fluidity through a lens of eco-feminism, afro-futurism and contemporary mythology.

Editorial Reviews

06/03/2019

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. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"In this sensitive and candid story, a child narrator explores the emotions she feels surrounding her father’s incarceration. 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."—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"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. This straightforward consideration of children affected by the imprisonment of family members is necessary." —KIRKUS REVIEWS

“Missing Daddy is a crucial book for our times. Using storytelling and gorgeous artwork, this book brings heart, soul, and deep compassion to the challenges facing kids with incarcerated parents. A much needed piece of children’s literature.” — Daniel José Older, author, Shadowshaper Cypher and Dactyl Hill Squad

“This book is a crucial tool for parents, educators, and anyone who cares about the well-being of children who, through no fault of their own, are forced to bear the consequences of our country’s obsession with incarceration. For children who desperately miss their parents, feel confused, or are teased at school, this book can go a long way in letting them know that they are not alone and in normalizing their experiences.” —Eve L. Ewing

From the Publisher

2019-07-24
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)

Kirkus Reviews