It's important to highlight the positive representation of Black fathers in children's books for several reasons. Here are a few:
Counteract Negative Stereotypes: Positive representation of Black fathers in children's books helps to counteract harmful stereotypes that often depict Black men as absent or uninvolved in their children's lives. This representation challenges these narratives and showcases the reality of dedicated and loving Black fathers, promoting a more accurate and diverse portrayal.
Promote Inclusivity and Diversity: Including Black fathers in children's books fosters a sense of inclusivity and celebrates diversity. It allows children of all backgrounds to see Black fathers as integral and positive figures in family dynamics, thus promoting understanding and acceptance of different family structures and cultural experiences.
Empower Black Children: When Black children see characters that look like them and their families positively represented in literature, it can boost their self-esteem and sense of identity. Seeing loving and strong Black fathers in books provides role models and reinforces the idea that they too can aspire to such positive family relationships and roles in their own lives.
We hope you love these books as much as we do and share them with others who might love them too. For your convenience, we've included publisher's descriptions along with each book. Be sure to check out this post with more books that celebrate dads, too.
A celebration of the love #girldads share with their daughters, musician Pierce Freelon's picture book debut is a joyous anthem brought to life by Olivia Duchess's beautiful and adorable illustrations.
A daddy and daughter can't let this perfect day go to waste--so what will they do and where will they go?
Play hopscotch in the park or build a pillow fort and stay inside?
Shoot the perfect alley-oop or host a tea party on the half-court line?
Frolic like princesses or find a big tree to climb?
If life gives them puddles, they'll jump and splash and play!
Hair Love meets bike rides in this loving portrait of a father-daughter relationship.
Learning to ride is no easy feat! But with a little courage, a guiding hand from her dad, and an enthusiastic bark from her pup, one brave girl quickly learns the freedom that comes from an afternoon spent outside on a bike.
Experience the fear, the anticipation, and the delight of achieving the ultimate milestone in this energetic, warm story that celebrates the precious bond between parent and child.
A perfect picture book about perseverance, overcoming challenges, and working hard to achieve your goals!
Sydney learns to conquer her fear of public speaking at school, in this affectionate father-daughter story referencing inspiring role models who dealt with similar issues.
Sydney wants to be a great leader when she grows up. There's just one problem--when she tries to speak in front of the class, she gets nervous, and the words just won't come out.
Readers will cheer for Sydney as "No, I can't" changes to "Yes, I can!"
Sydney's journey includes practice; encouragement from her loving dad; and a dose of inspiration from such luminaries as Shirley Chisholm, Carol Moseley Braun, Condoleezza Rice, and Kamala Harris.
This heartfelt picture book from Today show co-anchor Craig Melvin is a tribute to fathers, sons, and the childhood milestones that inspire pride in every parent. Perfect for Father's Day!
I'm proud of you when you try.
I'll be cheering you on.
Always aim for the sky.
Through life's ups and downs, a parent's love is a reassuring constant. Complemented with lively illustrations by Sawyer Cloud, I'm Proud of You is an uplifting depiction of the special bond between dads and sons.
A lyrical text and vivid, luminous imagery transport readers to Haiti through a father's tales and a child's imagination--and invite them to tell stories of their own.
Krik! Krak!
This is how story time begins.
Lune loves hearing her daddy's stories--the funny ones, the sad ones, the ones with lessons about truth and love. Whether evoking an ill-fated climb up a mango tree or life after a hurricane, flying over magical mountains or the healing power of a mother's love, all of Daddy's stories begin with "lakay"--back home--and each one ushers Lune to Haiti, her father's homeland, a place she doesn't know but can see, hear, and feel when she closes her eyes. Daddy is her favorite book, and sometimes she stays up late just to hear another story when he gets home from work. Everyone has stories, her mommy tells her, so Lune begins to wonder: could she have stories of her own, too? Author Arlène Elizabeth Casimir offers a love letter to her parents' birthplace and to the ways storytelling can bring us together, illustrated in lush, enchanting colors by acclaimed artist Ken Daley. Included is a glossary and two author's notes--one to caregivers and teachers, one to kids--providing ideas and encouragement for sharing the power of story.
A picture book celebration of girl dads everywhere by The Dad Gang CEO, Sean Williams!
A fun read-aloud written in upbeat rhyming verse, Girl Dad is a picture book that honors the loving men who raise, love, and uplift strong girls. Share Girl Dad with the dads in your life, on Father's Day or any day. Plus: Don't forget to check out Sean Williams's Boy Dad!
In this lyrical picture book from two breakout picture book creators, a young Black child waits for--and worries about--her father while he's away from home. A sensitive, poignant portrayal of a family's worries, joys, and comforts, to sit alongside books by Jacqueline Woodson and Christian Robinson.
Every night when Daddy gets home from work, Olivia gives him a big hug and knows that the evening will be full of love--and fun. Together, she, Daddy, and Momma will make a feast for dinner, clean up, dance to old-school tunes, and read stories. But every morning when Daddy goes to work, Olivia worries, worries, worries. Be safe, she and Momma tell him. But what if he isn't? Sometimes other people aren't, like the people Olivia sees on the news. Thud, thud, thud, goes Olivia's heart. Thump, thump, thump, all through the long day, until she hears the jangle of Daddy's keys announcing he's home.
Brittany J. Thurman's poetic text deftly explores the day-to-day life of a young Black child and her family--their joys and their fears--with a rhythm and musicality perfect for reading aloud. Shamar Knight-Justice's expressive artwork sings with color, texture, and warmth. Forever and Always respects the deep emotions of young readers while offering comfort and reassurance to any child waiting for a loved one to come home. For readers of Nigel and the Moon, The Year We Learned to Fly, and Saturday.
A moving tribute to the joy and grounding that fathers bring to their children's lives.
What does a daddy do? From day one, this daddy speaks love to his little one. And along with that love, his words and actions speak many other things, too: like truth, joy, comfort, and pride. Like many dads, he answers a million questions and tries to make sure that days are full of fun adventures, giggles, and hugs. Dads are good at scaring away imaginary monsters, and honest about how to confront the real ones too. They set an example for the future, speaking out for equality and justice, while sharing lessons from the past. But most of all, daddies encourage their young ones to fight for a better world, with the comfort of knowing their dads are right beside them. Daddy Speaks Love speaks to that everlasting bond between children and their fathers and is a perfect gift for special occasions including Father's Day, Valentine's Day, birthdays, baby showers, and more!
A young girl and her father share an early morning horseback ride around their city in My Daddy Is a Cowboy, a picture book celebration of "just-us time," perfect for fans of My Papi Has a Motocycle.
In the early hours before dawn, a young girl and her father greet their horses and ride together through the waking city streets. As they trot along, Daddy tells cowboy stories filled with fun and community, friendship, discovery, and pride.
Seeing her city from a new vantage point and feeling seen in a new way, the child discovers that she too is a cowboy--strong and confident in who she is.
Thoughtfully and lyrically written by debut author Stephanie Seales, with vibrant illustrations from award-winning artist C. G. Esperanza, this beautiful picture book is a celebration of Black joy, outdoor play, and quality time spent between child and parent.
Tall. High as the clouds.
Strong as a horse's back.
Like a cowboy.
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