My Daddy Rules the World: Poems about Dads

A picture book of poems that celebrate fathers from a two-time Coretta Scott King Honor--winning poet.

Who is your hero? Who’s your best friend?
Who says he loves you again and again?
Daddy!

Told through the voice of a child, Anita Hope Smith's My Daddy Rules the World collection of poems celebrates everyday displays of fatherly love, from guitar lessons and wrestling matches to bedtime stories, haircuts in the kitchen, and cuddling in bed. These heartwarming poems, together with bold folk-art-inspired images, capture the strength and beauty of the relationship between father and child.

Hope Anita Smith is the author of The Way a Door Closes and its sequel, Keeping the Night Watch. A professional story-teller, Hope teaches poetry-writing workshops to all grade levels. A native of Akron, Ohio, Ms. Smith now lives in Los Angeles, California.

A Kirkus Best Book of the Year
An Arnold Adoff Poetry Award Winner
An NCTE Notable Poetry Book

"16 poems celebrate precious, small, and meaningful moments between fathers and their children. . . Tender and honest, these poems pack a big emotional punch."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"The line breaks and rhyme schemes make the poems accessible . . .the bulk of the emotion has to come from body positioning, posture, and the relations between figures on a page; Smith has mastered this, conveying so much with tilting heads and embracing arms. A masterful salute to fatherhood."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"The poems are accessible and a true celebration of fatherhood. . . A lovely addition to poetry collections that may just inspire kids to write verse of their own."--School Library Journal, starred review

"A heartwarming, lyrical collection . . . A first-rate pick for Father’s Day that celebrates dads and, as Smith notes in her dedication, “those who stand in the gap offering guidance, love, and support to children in need.”--Booklist