Daddy Dressed Me

PreS-Gr 2–Daddy makes the best oven-baked chicken, paints whimsical floral murals on her bedroom walls, and above all sews the most brilliant dresses. Ava, a young Black girl finishing kindergarten, is proud of her daddy’s many talents and skills. One day at school, her teacher announces that the celebration of the class moving into first grade is quickly approaching. Ava is quite anxious about the thought of first grade. Will there still be crafts and story time? If that isn’t enough, Ava is assigned to recite a poem onstage at the Move Up Day celebration. What if she cannot remember all of the words? Daddy comforts Ava with hugs, reassurance that he will help her prepare, and offers the idea of a new special dress. Ava knows one of Daddy’s dresses would give her the extra boost of confidence she will need to shine on stage. Fisher’s crisp, colorful digital illustrations directly express the text of this dynamic daddy-daughter duo’s story. Back matter provides the “story behind the story,” about the real Ava and her father, Michael. The deep bond and support shared between them on the page is sure to capture the hearts of readers who adore protagonists such as those in Matthew A. Cherry’s Hair Love.