Night Shift Daddy [Hardcover]

Eileen Spinelli (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1900 | Grade Level: P and up

A father shares dinner and bedtime rituals with his daughter before going out to work the night shift.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Spinelli (When Mama Comes Home Tonight) and debut artist Iwai inventively turn the tables in this winning bedtime book about a girl whose father works while she sleeps at night. Both art and text set a joyful opening scene, as the child's day winds down and her father gears up for work; a painting shows the man swinging his daughter up in the air in a yolk-colored kitchen, then settling in to read to her and her teddy bear. Together they look out the window onto the urban street belowDshaded by the fading winter light but still bustling with activityDbefore he tucks her in. The girl then steals to the window to watch her father wait at the bus stop below. With a narrative as quietly poetic as a snowfall ("He doesn't know I watch him go/ into the cold, the dark, the snow"), the story has a powerful cumulative effect. The artwork continues to build the relationship between father and daughter, even during the hours the two are separated: the quilt on the girl's bed extends across the book's gutter to form the checkered floor that her father sweeps while she slumbers. In the morning, her father returns in time for her to read him a story and tuck him in, and, in a final poignant vignette, Iwai shows the father's view from the window as he gazes down on his daughter, strolling down the sidewalk with her mother. Ages 4-7. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-In a lovely rhythmic text, a little girl describes her routine with her father as evening comes: "Night shift Daddy swings me high,/shares his milk and apple pie,/rocks me in the rocking chair,/reads to me and Teddy Bear." Then he goes off to work as his daughter watches from the window. In the morning just the reverse happens: the little girl and her daddy eat breakfast together and then "I lead him to the rocking chair,/then read to him and Teddy Bear," after which she tucks him into bed before going out to play. The soft, dark, jewel-toned illustrations evoke feelings of coziness, underlined by the pet cat pictured on almost every spread. The love between the two protagonists is beautifully conveyed, by both words and pictures, making this a perfect bedtime read-aloud, especially for families in which an adult works the night shift. A unique and special treat.
Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1st edition (January 1, 1900)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786804955
• ISBN-13: 978-0786804955
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #800,259 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eileen Spinelli is no stranger to the Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers list. Since her debut in 1991 with Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch, an IRA/CBC Children's Choice book and Christopher Award winner, she has gone on to author numerous picture books, poetry collections, and chapter books, including the best-selling When Mama Comes Home Tonight, and the critically acclaimed Sophie's Masterpiece. Eileen lives in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Happy Discovery, September 17, 2000

By 

William Negron (Sag Harbor, New York USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night Shift Daddy (Hardcover)

Reading your Editorial Review from Booklist discouraged me from looking for this book..Browsing through Bookhampton in Sag Harbor I found a copy staring up at me and picked it up out of curiosity. What, pray tell me was this reviewer talking about? As an artist (and father), I could not relate those real and sensitive faces to the review (i.e. "faces are awkwardly drawn" etc.) I was very moved by the universal feelings evoked by these special images. Far from distracting from the story, they deepened the emotional impact of this charming story of father and daughter..I am happy I stumbled on this beautiful book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great bedtime story for kids, March 26, 2000

By 

Alan K. Anzai (Carmichael, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night Shift Daddy (Hardcover)

A cute, well-illustrated story about a father who works the night shift, and his daughter, whom he tucks into bed before he goes off to work, and how she reciprocates, illustrates the loving bond that can form despite different schedules. My 4-year-old son has requested this story every night since we bought it last week. For any parents who have to work the night shift (and even if you don't), your children will enjoy this book!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great bedtime story!, December 7, 2000

By 

W. Willard (Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night Shift Daddy (Hardcover)

As previously mentioned, this story is about a child putting her daddy "to bed". Both the illustrations and the theme of this book are warm and loving. For this reason, I think this book is a wonderful addition to every parents' bedtime routine.

Although my daughter is not yet two, she enjoys "Night Shift Daddy" as much as older children do. I disagree with the reviewer's statement that the "awkward drawings" distract from the story. Quite the opposite, I think the illustrations are beautiful. :-)