Daddy Daughter Day: Win an Inspiring Picture Book by Dorothy Price

Introduction

Dorothy H. Price and I go way back. She was one of the first members of a SCBWI-Carolinas critique group I organized in Charlotte. Nine years ago I posted about her first picture book, Nana’s Favorite Things and more recently about her chapter book series, Jalen’s Big City Life which now includes eight books. Her newest book, Daddy Daughter Day is semi-autobiographical and celebrates the unique relationship between a father and daughter. Released in May, it is the perfect Father’s Day gift!

Overview of Daddy Daughter Day

With oil on matte board illustrations by talented, Bryan Wilson, Dorothy takes her readers through a day trip into New York City.

Today is a Daddy-Daughter Day surprise. It’s Saturday, my most favorite day of the week. That’s when Daddy takes me into new York City. Mommy sits my baby sister Amira on her lap and waves goodbye.

Avery is anxious to spend her silver dollar which her father gave her last week, but he tells her to save it for something special.

In New York, they stomp down the stairs into the Port Authority Bus Terminal to the subway. She’s ready to pay for the fare, but once again, her father tells her to save it.

They miss a train as it rushes by, but they catch the next one.

When they get out of the subway, Avery’s father announces they’re in Harlem where he grew up.

Welcome to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.”

“Today I’m learning about Black people who changed the world.”

Avery looks at portraits of Katherine Johnson, David Dinkins, Ruby Bridges, and more. She decides she wants to try and change the world one day.

On the way home they listen to rappers battle “lyric for lyric,” and hip hop dancers “boogie to the beat.”

I pull out my silver dollar. Daddy winks.

My Thoughts

This book not only shows the special relationship between a daughter and her father, it also echoes the theme in Dorothy’s Jalen’s Big City Life series: the sights, sounds, and tastes of city life. Kids who live in a city will see themselves in the pages of the story; suburban kids will get a peek into city life.

I love how Dorothy included other senses. Avery and her father not only see wonderful city sights, but they also “stomp down the stairs,” the train “screeches” to a stop, the doors of the subway “swoosh” close, and musicians “jive to jazzy tunes.”

The End

The ending is a perfect way to show what Avery learned on her special day. The end notes explains why Dorothy wrote this book and her father’s influence on her life. Make sure you check out Wilson’s end pages. The texture is beautiful!

A Few Words from Dorothy

CAROL: I was curious about the first person point of view which isn’t normal for picture books. I assume it was because this story was semi-autobiographical. Was that a difficult choice though? 

DOROTHY: That’s a really good question, and I hadn’t thought much about the book being first person POV. When I initially wrote the story, I knew it would be semi-autobiographical because I wanted to capture this childhood memory from my perspective; so it wasn’t a difficult choice from that aspect at all. I had also been dreaming about the Schomburg for years, so I knew I had to get this dream out of my head and into a story. 

CAROL: Did you get any pushback from your editors? 

DOROTHY: I didn’t get any pushback from Winsome Bingham (editor) or anyone else on the Reycraft editorial team. She loved the story and I knew it was in the right hands once we started working together. Winsome is an incredible author and editor. She helped me take my story from good to great!

CAROL: What was your path to publication?

DOROTHY: My DADDY-DAUGHTER DAY publication story was one of patience and persistence. I wrote the story in 2017 and queried it with and without an agent. I thought it would’ve landed with Capstone Publishing in 2021, but it was too similar to JALEN’S BIG CITY LIFE. It took another year for me to sell DADDY-DAUGHTER DAY to Winsome in early 2022, after hearing she was open to submissions. And three years later, here it is!

Giveaway

I am giving away my autographed copy to one fortunate winner! If you are an educator or media specialist let me know in the comments–you will be entered twice. Giveaway ends May 22. Enter soon!