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celtic_oracle's review
4.0
Read this in the library waiting for Mini-Me, and it left me in tears. Both heartbreaking and beautiful.
libwinnie's review
5.0
Gorgeous collage illustrations. Emotionally impactful discussion of incarcerated parent.
kitsuneheart's review
4.0
I always hear such negative comments when someone writes a book about growing up with a parent in prison, but the author's note points out a simple fact: it's a thing that happens, and it's HARD, so children need something to turn to to get a little sense out of what is happening. Beaty and Collier make sure to humanize the narrator's father and establish the bond between them before he disappears from the child's life. The message is clear: your parent being in prison does not mean they were a bad parent to you. And the crime being left ambiguous is important for allowing children to continue to believe in their parents.
Of course, many will still bemoan this book, but if we have picture books about OCD, riots, death, terrorist attacks, and other terrifying, confusing things, then why not have one that will help one of the 2.7 million children with a parent in prison?
While obviously this doesn't have a place in every household, this book is essential for libraries, social workers, school counselors, and others who work closely with children.
Of course, many will still bemoan this book, but if we have picture books about OCD, riots, death, terrorist attacks, and other terrifying, confusing things, then why not have one that will help one of the 2.7 million children with a parent in prison?
While obviously this doesn't have a place in every household, this book is essential for libraries, social workers, school counselors, and others who work closely with children.
jaij7's review
5.0
A book filled with love, loss and hope. A great book for children experiencing loss; an incarcerated parent, divorce or death.
lattelibrarian's review
5.0
I read this in my class for a quick project, and wow. It is certainly one of the most powerful things I’ve read this year. Beaty’s narrative is incredible and heartbreaking, but Collier’s illustrations truly take the cake.
The main character’s father disappears one morning, and nobody (read: the narrator nor the reader) knows why. So the boy wonders. And worries. And writes him a letter, to which the father responds. And it’s heartbreaking in the best way.
But it’s Collier’s collages which show just how ingrained a loss like this can be. I remember one doublespread in particular, one that fills me with excitement to discuss and one that just takes my breath away. There are three opaque elephants marching along city streets, nearly as tall as the apartment buildings they’re in front of. But there are three depictions of the father’s face as well–which all get more and more obscured the further towards the recto you look. So what does that mean, to have the animal symbol of never forgetting and the father’s face, obscured? I don’t know, but I LOVE IT. Maybe one day, when I have more time to truly sit down and look at it, a time when I’m not reading it for a project, I’ll be able to decipher the complexity and nuances of this book.
Review cross-listed
The main character’s father disappears one morning, and nobody (read: the narrator nor the reader) knows why. So the boy wonders. And worries. And writes him a letter, to which the father responds. And it’s heartbreaking in the best way.
But it’s Collier’s collages which show just how ingrained a loss like this can be. I remember one doublespread in particular, one that fills me with excitement to discuss and one that just takes my breath away. There are three opaque elephants marching along city streets, nearly as tall as the apartment buildings they’re in front of. But there are three depictions of the father’s face as well–which all get more and more obscured the further towards the recto you look. So what does that mean, to have the animal symbol of never forgetting and the father’s face, obscured? I don’t know, but I LOVE IT. Maybe one day, when I have more time to truly sit down and look at it, a time when I’m not reading it for a project, I’ll be able to decipher the complexity and nuances of this book.
Review cross-listed
lannthacker's review
3.0
For families where a parent, especially a father, leaves, dies, is incarcerated, or otherwise disappears from a live and family where he is loved. Interesting, but dark mixed media illustrations.
kristenremenar's review
5.0
Wow. This is one of those books that is going to mean the entire world to some kids.
I love you, Daniel Beaty, for making the story start with the game the boy and his father play every day, where the dad knock knock's on the door, the boy pretends to be asleep, and the game ends with a hug and an "I love you". We know this dad loves his son.
But the day comes when dad doesn't knock any more. Love that the boy writes a letter, and the letter the dad writes back? Breaks your heart wide open. I got so choked up reading it to myself, I know I'll get all emotional reading it aloud to kids. But I love books that like, where the kids see the power they have even over grown-ups.
Bryan Collier deserves dessert every day for his beautiful art.
I love you, Daniel Beaty, for making the story start with the game the boy and his father play every day, where the dad knock knock's on the door, the boy pretends to be asleep, and the game ends with a hug and an "I love you". We know this dad loves his son.
But the day comes when dad doesn't knock any more. Love that the boy writes a letter, and the letter the dad writes back? Breaks your heart wide open. I got so choked up reading it to myself, I know I'll get all emotional reading it aloud to kids. But I love books that like, where the kids see the power they have even over grown-ups.
Bryan Collier deserves dessert every day for his beautiful art.
kelleemoye's review
5.0
Review at: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=4651
Daniel Beaty’s def jam session brought to life with his beautiful words and some amazingly detailed and deep artwork. This is an important book as it deals with divorce/death/incarceration of a parent. This is one of those subjects that are not talked about in many picture books, but should be as millions of kids deal with it. Knock Knock is told from the point of view of a boy whose father doesn’t wake him up one morning and how he deals with the loss and continues to grow. Such a powerful book that will generate many conversations.
Daniel Beaty’s def jam session brought to life with his beautiful words and some amazingly detailed and deep artwork. This is an important book as it deals with divorce/death/incarceration of a parent. This is one of those subjects that are not talked about in many picture books, but should be as millions of kids deal with it. Knock Knock is told from the point of view of a boy whose father doesn’t wake him up one morning and how he deals with the loss and continues to grow. Such a powerful book that will generate many conversations.
ipomoea's review
5.0
That was rough. Excellent choice for suggesting to families dealing with an absent-not-by-choice parent. Beautiful and sad.
listen_learn's review
I'm not giving a rating to this book, because when I read it I kept comparing it to Beaty's moving performance of his poem, (can be seen here) and I feel I can't objectively separate the two works. I want to be able to praise the book, but since it's not the poem, and they're all meshed up in my brain I'm not sure how.