  | Dad bakes Author: Yamasaki, Katie | |
| Price: $22.56 | ||
Summary:
Dad rises before the sun, goes to work at the bakery where he kneads, rolls, and bakes bread, and as the world starts its day, Dad heads home to his young daughter where they play, read, and bake together.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (08/01/21)
School Library Journal (+) (00/11/21)
Booklist (10/01/21)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 10/01/2021 This slice-of-life picture book captures the loving relationship between an Asian father and daughter and their shared love of baking. The father, depicted in the warm and energetic illustrations as bald and tattooed, wakes up before the sun rises to go work in a bakery. After his shift with other tattooed, racially diverse workers, the father returns home for some rest, after which he and his daughter prepare dough together. While the dough rises, they participate in activities, shown through vignettes, that capture the closeness of their bond. The father later surprises his daughter with a special bake. The colorful painted artwork conveys the tender and heartwarming tone of the story. The writing is very simple and, at first glance, so is the story. It is not until the author’s note at the end that the reader learns about the author’s inspiration for the book, which came from her experience working in correctional facilities as a muralist. Resources to learn more about organizations helping families rebuild after incarceration cap off this heartfelt work. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 11/01/2021 Gr 2–4—The plot of this thoughtful book is summed up by its brilliantly succinct title, but there is much more beneath the surface! Dad, tattooed and tired, works as a baker early every morning. He returns home for a nap, before spending the day with his young daughter. Together, they knead dough and spend time reading and playing while it rises. Yamasaki's characters are brimming with life and movement that is set against bright backgrounds. Comic-style panels are occasionally employed to depict the passage of time. The straightforward text of simple sentences is often smartly placed within open areas of the artwork. Yamasaki, a muralist by trade, incorporates sound effects into her beautiful illustrations. When characters hum or yawn, ribbons of the effect emanate from them, as if they are releasing steam. Dad and his daughter present as part of the AAPI community. In the book's back matter is a guide to nonprofit organizations who help families rebuild after a parent has been incarcerated. While it could be inferred that Dad was formerly incarcerated, that fact is never explicitly mentioned in the text. Instead, the book stands as a affirmation of a man's love as a father, his work as a baker, and his humanity. VERDICT This deeply empathetic title invites conversation and participation from so many angles; it is a must for all collections.—Chance Lee Joyner, Haverhill P.L., MA - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
