For better or worse, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
-- from the poem “Seeds” by Javaka Steptoe, in In Daddy’s Arms I Am Tall

“The best of the best times that I’ve ever had are all of those times I’ve spent reading with Dad.”

Such is the sentiment expressed by a daughter in the book Reading with Dad, as she reflects on the timeless memories she has of being read to by her father. Author Richard Jorgensen tells us a beautiful story that celebrates the joy and connection reading can bring between a father and child. He does a superb job of carefully unfolding the story so that a lifetime of reading books is entwined inseparably with the father-daughter relationship. From The Cat in the Hat read together in the overstuffed chair to The Wind in the Willows on the front porch swing to Shakespeare, Poe, Homer, Wordsworth, Frost, and Thoreau over the phone in college, dad is always there to share a good book with his daughter as she moves through childhood and into adulthood. As father grows older, we see that his daughter shares the joy of reading with her own children as well as continuing to read favorite books with him. Reading with Dad rejoices in the bond created between a father and his daughter, inspired by their love of books.

“It’s good there are lots of dads.” This is the fundamental message conveyed through Shelley Rotner and Sheila Kelly’s rich, colorful, photo essay, Lots of Dads. On every page there are multiple pictures of all kinds of dads -- smiling, laughing, hugging, playing, teaching, and working -- presented much like a multicultural family album. Through all of the photos, it is apparent that even though dads can be busy with work, errands, and household chores, they cherish the time they spend with their children. This simple text clearly communicates the idea that though dads come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, the important thing is “they really love you.”

“When you follow in the path of your father, you learn to walk like him.” (Ashanti proverb)

Thirteen poignant poems honoring African American fathers are presented in In Daddy’s Arms I Am Tall, an award-winning book illustrated by Javaka Steptoe. They include “in daddy’s arms” by Folami Abiade, “Her Daddy’s Hands” by Angela Johnson, “Black Father Man” by Lenard D. Moore, “The Farmer” by Carole Boston Weatherford, “Tickle Tickle” by Dakari Hru, “Lightning Jumpshot” by Michael Burgess, “The Things in Black Men’s Closets” by E. Ethelbert Miller, “My Granddaddy Is My Daddy Too” by Dinah Johnson, “Promises” by David A. Anderson, “Seeds” by Javaka Steptoe, “Artist to Artist” by Davida Adedjouma, and “My Father’s Eyes” by Sonia Sanchez. These poems, individually and collectively, bring depth and breadth of meaning to our understanding of father. In “Black Father Man,” for example, Moore begins,

Black Father Man,
the supreme earth dweller.
We are his ripe black crop
at the beginning-of-the-harvest.
We all bleed his blood
summer-hot and thick
summer-hot and thick
as unstrained milk.
Black Father Man,
the word-music messenger.

In Adedjouma’s “Artist to Artist,” a woman appreciates that for 30 years her artist father “sorted mail all night & / into the day because we had bills to pay.” He passed on to his daughter the “urge to create / characters with meat on their bones, in flesh-colored tones / written in words as vivid as 64-colors box of crayons. / I write, he drew. Daddy, thank you!” These poems make readers feel as if they can see inside the heart and soul of the author only to come away with a new appreciation of what it means to be a father. Equally provocative are Steptoe’s illustrations in which he uses a variety of mixed media from collage to torn and cut paper. The illustrations beautifully convey and extend the spirit of each poem.

“Mama calls me sweetheart and daddy calls me man.” Many children will be able to relate to these terms of endearment given by a young African American boy’s parents in Daddy Calls Me Man. Author Angela Johnson tells the story through four vignettes and poems. “Big Shoes” portrays the young boy wanting big shoes like his father; “Spin” depicts him spinning around everywhere with his older sister; “Noah’s Moon” describes the boy’s curiosity about the moon; and “Baby Sister” shows him sharing with a new baby sister and the joy she brings. The boy’s parents are artists and the title page for each poem is one of his parents’ paintings. In the last spread, readers see the paintings hanging on the wall of the family’s home studio. Illustrator Rhonda Mitchell captures the feelings of joy, warmth, and love radiating from each family member with vivid, realistic oil paintings. This book is about what memories are made of: family love and shared experiences.