Knock knock: My Dad's Dream For Me

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Beaty, D., & Collier, B. (2013). Knock knock: My dad's dream for me.New York; Boston : Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 0316209171

PLOT SUMMARY

Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream For Me is an award winning picture book that reveals the struggle a young boy faces when his father goes to jail. The young boy enjoys bonding with his father by playing the “Knock Knock” game until one morning when his father disappears. The young boy experiences a plethora of emotions including confusion, sadness, anger, and loneliness. He really misses his father’s presence in his life and decides to write him a letter in hopes he will return home while he is in school. Time passes and his father finally replies to the letter. His letter seeks to give the young boy advice ranging from how to become a man to how to treat his mother. At the conclusion of the letter, he assures his son that he will have a bright and beautiful future in spite of his absence.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Many young African American children will relate to this sensitive topic of losing a loved one. This book reveals the problematic yet authentic reality of the mass incarceration of African American males and the effect it has on the youth. In an author’s note in the back of the book Beaty explains to readers that this is indeed his own life story. He discusses the struggles at risk children of color face with losing their father figure from incarceration, divorce, and even death, which may lead to a lasting negative impact on their future.

Although losing a loved one can be very difficult, Beaty creatively explains to readers that you can still create a beautiful future through believing in yourself. Bryans Collier’s illustrations takes readers on a journey of the main character’s life showing how he grew up to defy the odds against him. The illustrations also allows readers to see how important family is in the African American culture. Young readers of color will be able to see themselves in the book through Collier’s realistic illustrations of the skin tone and hair texture of each character.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Booklist (November 1, 2013 (Vol. 110, No. 5))

“In a rare topic for younger children, Beaty explores the theme of permanent separation from a parent (it could be prison, death, or abandonment). The desire for guidance encountering life’s experiences is told from a small child’s point of view with candor, as well as hope, as he ends quoting papa’s advice to “KNOCK KNOCK down the doors that I could not.”

Horn Book Guide starred (Spring 2014)

“Each morning, a little boy pretends to be asleep until his dad approaches. "Then I...jump into his arms." One day, his father fails to appear. The author's note explains that Beaty's own father was incarcerated; in the book, the absence is unexplained for a more universal story of loss. The text, powerful and spare, is well supported by Collier's watercolor and collage art.”


CONNECTIONS
More books about African American father figures!

Steptoe, J. (2001). In Daddy's arms I am tall. New York: Lee & Low. ISBN 1430110384

Johnson, A., & Mitchell, R. (2000). Daddy calls me man. New York: Orchard books. ISBN 0531071758

Tarpley, Natasha. (2009). Bippity Bop Barbershop. Bt Bound. ISBN 0316033820