Daddy Calls Me Man [Hardcover]

Angela Johnson (Author), Rhonda Mitchell (Illustrator, Photographer)

Book Description

In four vibrant verses and spectacular oil paintings, a young boy revels in the everyday pleasures of growing up in a family of fine artists. A still life of shoes inspires Noah to measure his own little ones against the big ones of his father. The whirl of an abstract painting encourages him to spin with his older sister. The moon outside his window is the same one that glows on his mother's canvas. But the subject that brings out the best in Noah -- and inspires his daddy to call him a man -- has her crib right there in his parents' studio. With its bold colors and arresting perspectives, this book is a celebration of art and an exaltation of family.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3. Joyously written and illustrated, these four poems reflect the concerns of children. In "Big Shoes," the young narrator proclaims: "All I want is big shoes/Tie shoes/Fast shoes/Red and black jump high shoes./Line them up by Daddy's/and call them all our shoes." "Spin," "Noah's Moon," and "Baby Sister" round out the set. Each poem is accompanied by realistic oil paintings reproduced in luminous full color. Together they capture the spirit of African-American Noah, whose poems these are, amid his loving parents and two sisters. The artwork catches touching moments of affection and play among the family members; it enhances the text's energy by using changing perspectives and motion. Varied page design adds interest. This title will be a treat to read aloud, and newly independent readers will take to it as well.?Carolyn Noah, Central Mass. Regional Library System, Worcester, MA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

This story from Johnson (The Rolling Store, p. 300, etc.) consists of four short verses (``Big Shoes,'' ``Spin,'' ``Noah's Moon,'' and ``Baby Sister'') about the happy home life of a young African-American boy. Family love and the shared stories and symbols that connect the generations are pervasive themes (as they are in all of Johnson's works); Mitchell embodies these themes in vivid oil illustrations by showing the boy narrator as the child of artists and introducing each of his poems with one of the parents' paintings. In the last spread, readers see the paintings hanging on the wall of the family's home studio. This may be a book to pair with Peter Catalanotto's The Painter (1995), for two glimpses of the lives of artists. (Picture book. 3-6) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Orchard Books (NY); 1St Edition edition (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531300420
• ISBN-13: 978-0531300428
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,857,171 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Angela Johnson is the author of the Coretta Scott King Honor picture book When I Am Old with You; as well as A Sweet Smell of Roses, illustrated by Eric Velasquez; Just Like Josh Gibson, illustrated by Beth Peck; and I Dream of Trains, which was also illustrated by Loren Long. She has won three Coretta Scott King Awards, one each for her novels Heaven, Toning the Sweep, and The First Part Last. In recognition of her outstanding talent, Angela was named a 2003 MacArthur Fellow. She lives in Kent, Ohio.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real sounding words and true pictures make this book a find., October 27, 1999

By 

Connie "conflo" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Daddy Calls Me Man (Hardcover)

Rich in word and imaginary true to many African American families, this book feels like a peek in the window of homes I know. My husband calls our sons "man." "Sister" is what we call the oldest of my sisters. I love watching my boys play in Daddy's shoes. Everything a good children's book on families should be--real sounding words and true pictures that make a connection to someone's life.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every child will love read this book or being read to, October 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Daddy Calls Me Man (Hardcover)

I find this book for all age groups. It makes you feel that you are there watching this child.

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book to use as a jumping off place to writing!, February 23, 2010

By 

Carol Gilbert "goform" (Flossmoor, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Daddy Calls Me Man (Hardcover)

I am using a new writing program this year in my class called "Being a Writer". Each week I read them a new story and it is used to stimulate writing. This story, with its gorgeous oil illustrations, and warm family relationships, is an excellent way to introduce to the children the idea of writing about someone in their family who is very special to them. When I was done reading it and discussing it, I broached this topic to them. I asked every student who they were chosing to write about and discovered that they could hardly wait to get started! I am looking forward to reading what they wrote! This book truly lends itself to many discussions about family life and I highly recommend it!Daddy Calls Me Man (Richard Jackson Books (Orchard))