Customer Reviews

In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought the book for me. I was in a bookstore just walking around when I ran into this book on one of the display tables and not in the African American section where it would normally be. I glanced through the book and knew that this book was something I wanted in my collection. Only problem I have with this book is I don't know whether to put it with my art books or with my poetry books. Hmmm, maybe I should buy a second copy. Excellent for the kids.

I was eleven when I got the book. I didn't buy it because it was in my age bracket, I bought it because the art caught my attention, and then the title. It's time to celebrate the black father.

IN DADDY'S ARMS is a highly impressive collection of art and poetry. Javaka Steptoe's multimedia illustrations are as magnificent and varied as any Romare Bearden collage. The images will delight both children and adults, though some of the poetry may be too deep or symbolic for young children. However, poems like "Tickle, Tickle" and the title poem reach right to the target audience. This combination makes for a book that is just as at home on a child's bookshelf as it is on an adult's coffee table. Books like this one, including Tom Feelings's SOUL LOOKS BACK IN WONDER and Langston Hughes's THE BLOCK, are important representations of the African-American community and, as such, should be acquired and passed down from generation to generation. --Jan

This poetry book contains several poems written by a variety of authors all focusing on black fathers and father figures. It contains poems that seem to be told by children about why their fathers are important to them. The poems might contain fond thoughts of something a father may do or feelings of comfort and safety that a child might feel when being near his or her father. There are poems that are told by adults explaining how their fathers helped them to be what they are today. . One of my favorite poems entitled ¡°My Granddaddy is My Daddy Too,¡± is told from the point of view of a child that is proud to say that his granddaddy is the only daddy he knows, and that he has been a great one at that. When I read some of these poems to my second grade class, many of my students really identified with this one because so many of them do not even know their fathers. These poems would definitely appeal to all students due to their variety. Regardless of the race of the children they can all relate to parts of these poems that would in a way help students to understand different races a little better. Students may begin to understand that all children have similar feelings about their fathers, regardless of their race. This may help children to realize that they are not all that different from people of other cultures. My students really enjoyed these poems and I did too!

The original incredible 4' to 6' collages that illustrate this book are currently on display at the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester, NY. Inventive, inspiring, beautiful work. The poetry is moving; the messages are very honest. Fabulous book. He continues his father's legacy quite well.

I originally got this book for Father's day to read to my students. After reading it, it really made me look at fathers a different way, and for those that are fathers in their children's lives should be celebrated.

I used this book for a vespers service at my church in which I combined the topics of Juneteenth and Fathers' Day. The illustrations are colorful and well-suited to the poetry. The poetry (all by African-American poets) itself ranges from excellent to somewhat ordinary. I think it would make a wonderful gift for a new dad...of any race. Also good for kids in preparation for Father's Day.

In Daddy's Arms is a collection of poetry that is devoted to celebrating African-American fathers, that also celebrates positive images of fathers as a whole. The poems are written by a number of different new and established African-American poets, and cover a variety of poetic styles. They range from Michael Burgess' haiku "Lightning Jumpshot" ("Daddy's voice thunders/he shoots a lightning jumpshot/though a sweaty storm") to longer pieces such as Dakari Hru's "Tickle Tickle", which has been separately published as a book previously reviewed here on Book Dads. Overall, the poems are all heartfelt and powerful descriptions of fatherhood.

But it is the illustrations by Javaka Steptoe that enhance the words of the poems and make this book exceptional. An afterward describes how the collages and papers in the book were created with a variety of materials and techniques, including torn paper, cut paper with pastel, appliqué, and a number of found objects with an interesting history. The unique appearance of these illustrations is sure to pique the interest of children, and their synergy with the words of the poems makes this an excellent book for reading to children.

This book contains a collection of African American Poems about fathers. We also enjoyed this one quite a bit. While poetry is not my 8 year old son's favorite medium to read these were easy to understand and in my opinion really did relate to people of all colors - anyone with a father. He did enjoy several of them a lot and commented on them. I have it recommended for ages 4-8 years.

My sons and I share a love of the verse in the poem "Tickle, Tickle," which is our favorite in this beautifully illustrated collection of poetry.