DADDY, DADDY, BE THERE

A touching ode to the need of children to have their fathers involved in all aspects of their lives. Boyd (Chevrolet Saturdays, 1993, etc.) eloquently sings the wish of the title, penning it into every page of the lilting text, a child's plea for the father's presence at solo recitals, ball games, at difficult times and glorious ones. Mentioned are moments that are wistful and frightening, ``when my questions need your ears. . .during the hard times when the money goes, during the saxophone-blowing-blues nights'' Articulating feelings that many children would have trouble putting into words, this is a book for all families, including fathers who want to reassure their offspring that they will always be close by with their love. In powerful, dream-like images, Cooper (Joyce C. Thomas's Gingerbread Days, p. 1031, etc.) includes families of all ethnicities, giving this fine marriage of pictures and words a universal appeal. (Picture book. 4-8)