African American Poetry - In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall

1. Bibliographic Citation

Steptoe, Javaka. 1997. In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers. New York: Lee & Low Books. ISBN 9781413108460

2. Summary and Book Review

This beautiful collection of poems is compiled and illustrated by Javaka Steptoe, son of children’s book illustrator John Steptoe.  It is a collection of thirteen poems written by African American poets about their fathers and, in one case, a grandfather. The poems vary in length and form and include free verse, rhyming, and haiku. The poems themselves are outstanding but the breathtaking collages created from found items, paper, pastels, and much more really bring the poems to life. Poets included in this collection are David A. Anderson, Angela Johnson, Sonia Sanchez, and Carole Boston Weatherford. The book’s namesake and first poem in the book titled “in daddy’s arms” by Folami Abiade is about feeling safe, secure, and tall in her daddy’s arms and is a nice beginning for what is to follow. Here is an excerpt:

in daddy’s arms

in daddy’s arms i am tall

& close to the sun & warm

in daddy’s arms

in daddy’s arms

i can see over the fence out back

i can touch the bottom leaves of the big magnolia tree

in Cousin Sukie’s yard

in daddy’s arms

Another stand out poem is David Adedjouma’s “Artist to Artist,” a free verse poem about a father who longs to be an artist but is forced to work the night shift at the post office sorting mail. A stark contrast to the somberness of some of the poems is Dakari Hru’s sing-song, rhyming “Tickle Tickle” about how much he loves it when his father tickles him. This collection of poems with its magnificent illustrations is highly recommended.

3. Awards/Reviews

*Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner 1998

*Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee 1999-2000

*Booklist Book Review Stars February 1998

*Positive Reviews in Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, and Children’s Literature

4. Activities

With its beautiful illustrations, this book could be used as inspiration in creating collages in an art class. Students could gather found materials and combine them with paper and pastels to create collages similar to those in the book.

This book could also be used at the end of the school year as a Father’s Day inspiration. Students could write a poem for their fathers or grandfathers to be given to them on Father’s Day.

5. Related Books

*The Dad of the Dad of the Dad of Your Dad: Stories About Kids and Their Fathers by Jeff Moss ISBN 9780345385918

*Pie in the Sky by Lois Ehlert

*To Dad: (You Poor Old Wreck): A Giftbook Written by Children for Fathers Everywhere by Helen Exley ISBN 9781850158455