MY DAY WITH DAD

The child of parents who live apart spends the day with their father.

An illustration spanning the copyright and title pages sets the stage for this quiet, needed story. On the verso, a brown-skinned woman driving a red car smiles and waves to a child with lighter brown skin standing next to a bearded, light-skinned man. On the next page, the young narrator informs us, “I am having a day with my dad. I smell breakfast.” The child stands in a bedroom, with photos of them with each parent in frames on the dresser, while their corgi, Pup, paws at them. Ensuing pages follow the narrator, Dad, and Pup through various activities as they enjoy their time together, navigating small disappointments (like when rain forces them to cancel their bike ride) and having fun. The day concludes with a goodnight video call to Mom on a smartphone. Throughout, the controlled vocabulary makes text accessible to new readers, while digital, cartoon-style illustrations provide cues to support decoding. Gently rounded forms, curving lines, and a balance of calming cool colors and gentle warm ones visually underscore the security and comfort the narrator feels with Dad and with their family’s structure.

An affirming read centering a child of a two-home family.