Dear Daddy by John Schindel

Illustrated by Dorothy Donahue. 24 p., Whitman, 1995.

Jesse lives with his mother, far away from his father. He feels sad and frustrated when his phone conversations with his father seem too short, so he writes his father a letter. At first his father doesn't respond, and he writes another. The reader senses that Jesse is worried that his father doesn't love him. Finally, his father writes him a poster-sized letter, explaining that he'd been away when Jesse's letters had arrived and inviting him to spend the summer. Jesse's joy and relief are clear. Jesse's mother is supportive of his relationship with his father and understanding of his feelings. This story offers empathy to children in similar situations, and reassurance that a parent who doesn't live with them still loves them.

Ages: 3-7
Cultural Context: European American