Giving Good

by Aaron Boyd, Aaron Boyd (Illustrator)

Overview

STARRED REVIEW! "Boyd beautifully depicts a father-son relationship weathering the difficulty of parental separation."—Kirkus Reviews starred review

"As special as can be." —Kirkus Reviews starred review

"A father’s love keeps his son warm, inside and out.

It hasn’t been the same since Daddy moved out. When father and son spend time together now, it takes a little while for them to relax in each other’s company. But shared experiences and warm memories keep their bond strong, even when they’re apart. Tonight, they spend their visit working on a model plane. It’s quiet until the father recalls a moment from the previous summer that makes them both laugh. It’s just one of many ways Daddy always giving good.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807529126
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	10/03/2024
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	939,568
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Aaron Boyd knew he wanted to illustrate children’s books by the time he was six years old. After illustrating dozens of books, he now tells the whole story as author/illustrator. Aaron is an award-winning artist recognized by ILA and the Children’s Africana Book Award, and has received a starred review from Kirkus. His pop-up book was inducted into Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Aaron has a BFA in illustration from MIAD and lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with his wife, son, and loving dog.

Aaron Boyd knew he wanted to illustrate children’s books by the time he was six years old. After illustrating dozens of books, he now tells the whole story as author/illustrator. Aaron is an award-winning artist recognized by ILA and the Children’s Africana Book Award, and has received a starred review from Kirkus. His pop-up book was inducted into Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Aaron has a BFA in illustration from MIAD and lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with his wife, son, and loving dog.

Editorial Reviews

"STARRED REVIEW! "As special as can be.” —Kirkus starred review

“Boyd beautifully depicts a father-son relationship weathering the difficulty of parental separation.” —Kirkus 

From the Publisher

★ 2024-07-19
A father spends quality time with his son.

On a snowy school night, a child narrator is picked up from his mom’s place. Daddy is there with his old, rusty car and telltale frayed black knit cap (“his crown”). The duo hop in the car together and head to Grandma’s house. The slightly somber car ride introduces some familial tension (“Don’t matter what he did or didn’t do. Daddy just got hit hard”), but the child focuses on love. After all, “Daddy always gives good. He always protects your feelings.” In Daddy’s room at Grandma’s, they construct model planes. It’s quiet at first, but soon the room is filled with laughter. Their precious time together comes to an end, but before dropping the child back at his mom’s, Daddy, noticing that the boy doesn’t have a hat, gives him his own cap—a tangible reminder of Daddy’s loving, generous spirit. Boyd beautifully depicts a father-son relationship weathering the difficulty of parental separation. Appropriately vague text immerses readers in the perspective of a child who lacks the full vocabulary to understand the situation. The cold tones outside of Daddy’s room contrast with the warmth inside to create a cozy, loving feeling when they share space together. The textural, photorealistic art style adds a richness to the double-page spreads. Like Boyd and his child in the author photo, Daddy has brown skin, while the child is lighter-skinned.

As special as can be.(Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews