Missing Daddy

Description

By Mariame Kaba
Illustrated by bria royal
Ages 4 to 8

A little girl who misses her father because he’s away in prison shares how his absence affects different parts of her life. Her greatest excitement is the days when she gets to visit her beloved father. With gorgeous illustrations throughout, this book illuminates the heartaches of dealing with missing a parent.

From the author: There are 2.7 million children under 18 who have an incarcerated parent and over 5 million have experienced the incarceration of a parent at some point in their lives. In other words, 1 in 28 American children (3.6%) have an incarcerated parent. Thirty years ago, the number was 1 in 125. About 1 in 9 Black children and 1 in 28 Latino children have an incarcerated parent. More than 14,000 children of incarcerated parents enter foster care each year.

These numbers are staggering. As a result of the epidemic of incarceration, millions of children have endured traumatic separations from their parents. This has impacted their material conditions, their mental health, their school performance and their overall well-being.

“This book is a crucial tool for parents, educators, and anyone who cares about the well-being of children who, through no fault of their own, are forced to bear the consequences of our country’s obsession with incarceration. For children who desperately miss their parents, feel confused, or are teased at school, a picture book can go a long way in letting them know that they are not alone and normalizing their experiences. Children are resilient and can handle a lot— but they rely on the adults in their lives to help them make meaning of traumatic situations. Missing Daddy is one tool that makes that possible for the children of incarcerated adults, and we can only hope that it will pave the way for many more.”—Dr. Eve Ewing, author of Electric Arches and 1919