Daddy's Girl

by Garrison Keillor, Robin Preiss Glasser (Illustrator)

O baby won’t you dance with me

Little baby bouncing on my knee

Wave your hands and shake your feet

Ooohh baby you’re so sweet…
From the familiar pleasures of baby’s favorite food to the joy of dancing together, this collection of three songs celebrates the special relationship between a daddy and his little girl.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction, Audiobook

18 pages, Board Book

First published April 1, 2005

About the author

Gary Edward "Garrison" Keillor is an American author, singer, humorist, voice actor, and radio personality. He created the Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) show A Prairie Home Companion (called Garrison Keillor's Radio Show in some international syndication), which he hosted from 1974 to 2016. Keillor created the fictional Minnesota town Lake Wobegon, the setting of many of his books, including Lake Wobegon Days and Leaving Home: A Collection of Lake Wobegon Stories. Other creations include Guy Noir, a detective voiced by Keillor who appeared in A Prairie Home Companion comic skits. Keillor is also the creator of the five-minute daily radio/podcast program The Writer's Almanac, which pairs poems of his choice with a script about important literary, historical, and scientific events that coincided with that date in history.
In November 2017, Minnesota Public Radio cut all business ties with Keillor after an allegation of inappropriate behavior with a freelance writer for A Prairie Home Companion. On April 13, 2018, MPR and Keillor announced a settlement that allows archives of A Prairie Home Companion and The Writer's Almanac to be publicly available again, and soon thereafter, Keillor began publishing new episodes of The Writer's Almanac on his website. He also continues to tour a stage version of A Prairie Home Companion, although these shows are not broadcast by MPR or American Public Media.

Reviews

[Jaime · Rating 1 out of 5]

The illustrations are pretty but I have to say the way of wording is a little creepy! Still really considering just getting rid of this book! The book references fat, and big- legged little girl. In today's society little girl's are already growing up with self image problems! Not to mention some of the wording sounds down right perverted & Im not the only one who thinks so. Learned a lesson about THOROUGHLY reading any children's book before purchasing. Amazing this was a NY Times Best Seller. Are you joking????

[Melody Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keillor, G. and Robin Preiss Glasser. (2005). Daddy's Girl. New York, New York: Disney-Hyperion.

Subgroup: Single Parent Families

Genre: Fiction

Topics: Single parent families, father daughter relationships

Synopsis: A father talks about everything he loves about his little girl. From the songs she sings, to the food she loves to eat, the places they go together, and the dances they share. Describing why there is nothing he loves more than his little girl, and his hopes that she will always remember the times they shared. Through colorful rhythmic story telling, Keillor gives us the very essence of the love a father has for his daughter.

[Benjamin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hesitate to rate children's books, and I hesitate even further to rate them poorly. But Mr. Keillor is coasting here, relying on his cachet and not on his ability to discern meter or tone. The poetry feels hasty, and the images are all wrong. "A nice clean butt"? I choose to focus elsewhere when describing the bond that I have with my own daughters. Some fun rhymes keep this from a one-star dud. But that's all.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is sweet -- especially "B-A-N-A-N-A-S!" Avoid the Amazon reviews -- everyone over there has their undies in a bunch because Keillor talks about diaper changing and uses the phrase "big-legged women" and is therefore a pedophile or somesuch nonsense. Whatever.

[Theda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book I bought my husband for our baby shower. It was my first gift to him as a dad. It suits him to a T. He sings to our little girl all the time, and he's a deeply irreverent person. What better book than this one for a person like that?!

[Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Creepiest prose I've read in a while, opening with
"The prettiest legs I ever did see
Belong to a lady who belongs to me."

Now, the copy I inherited was lacking the CD, but I somehow doubt, based upon my visceral reaction to the prose, that it would salvage the book for me.

[D · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ick!!
Illustrations are adorable, but the writing is just gross. Can't believe the book was written in this century, it reads outdated creepy and misogynistic. Ew.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daddy's Girl by Garrison Keillor (Hyperion Books for Children 2005) (Nonfiction – Children's) (3449).

This is a book of sweet little nonsense rhymes of the type that daddies sing to their wee ones while rocking and cuddling at bedtime. They sounded awfully familiar to me!

My rating: 7/10, finished 7/16/20 (3449).

[Lisa Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a hard time with this book, sometimes it's funny and silly to read, other times it feels kinda creepy and uncomfortable. My daughter thinks it's funny, but I'm always tempted to get rid of it.

[Stacie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parents make up silly songs for their babies. Not just any mom or dad can work the word sauerkraut into a silly song though. For that, you gotta have a way with words like Garrison Keillor. Silly indeed.

[Meop 79 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book perfectly captures a father's love for his daughter. It is beautiful, poiniant, and full of honest emotion. It is funny, cute, and will win your heart and bring joy to your precious little girl.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collection of poems written by a dad about his baby girl.

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I selected this book because of its immense popularity at the public library. I've seen it pass over the circulation desk countless times and it is easy to see why it is so popular. Daddy's Girl features four songs that Keillor wrote for his youngest daughter. The book includes a CD with Keillor performing songs which are funny and full of life. Glasser's illustrations are absolutely perfect with their flawless details and energetic movement. Readers will fall in love with the father-daughter duo.

Recommended for Kindergarten

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

So bittersweet... I gave it to Nate for Father's Day (from Laney; Dylan gave him a book about how to fix anything and Katie gave him a book about how to raise teen-aged daughters!) and I must admit it has the same effect on him as Harry Chapin's "Cat's Cradle" and, believe it or not, "Simple Man" by play-me-some-Skynard! (FYI, Nate can't stand Lynard Skynard, but that song does something to him.)I'm feeling a little verklempt right now myself :)

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute rhymes for dads and their daughters. I liked the diaper one at the beginning the best. I thought it would make a very cute song to sing while changing diapers. The food one wasn't as cute to me and kind of long. I liked the final one about dancing as well, but didn't like how the illustrations were of an older girl since I was reading a board book.

This edition was the board book, so it didn't have as many poems as the 40 edition.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bunch of songs or poems sung by a Daddy to his little girl. They are fun and sweet, although it wasn't as easy to read aloud as I thought it'd be. It was easier to sing it, but I didn't know the tune. The book came with a CD, but it was pretty scratched up, so we didn't get to listen to all of them.

[Brooklyn Saplings · Rating 4 out of 5]

The playgroup LOVED this book, especially because Hans Eric put such a sing-song rhythm to the reading. Everyone chimed in for the spelling of Bananas each time, and the kids loved having bananas for snack time immediately following the story!

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great night time read for younger kids. A cute daddy-daughter relationship that can show single parenthood since it only follows those two. Very easy read that will keep the younger children entertained. Shows the special bond a dad has with his child. Overall it is a cute short book.

[Shannon Silversmith Doud · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some of the wording made me mildly uncomfortable, and some of the "poetry" is pretty clumsy. I would donate this book if my daughter didn't like it so much.

Oh, and the copy I bought has a misprint - the first two pages printed twice and the beginning of the 2nd story is missing.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this for Rob for Father's Day. It's sooo cute.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet book for a dad to read to his little princesses, with cute pictures.

[Jenni Rollins · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really like this book because it used the word "butt". Otherwise, it was alright.

[Mbrooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiona got this for Andy for Father's Day. Apparently there's a CD, we'll have to locate it and sing the book.

[Andrea Thomas, Greenville · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet book about a father daughter's love. It would be a good book to use to teach vocabulary. It has lots of big words and requires you to use context clues

[Christine Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best daddy's day gift ever and a ton of fun to read. I love Keillor's radio shows yet have to admit this is one of his best if not best books.

[Anne Swentik · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Big legged woman you are a load of fun"- we love this story in our house. Yes, it is a little irreverent but that is why it is such a hit in our house (with 2 daughters).

[Suzie Fullmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect book for daddies to read to their little girls. A new bedtime favorite at our house.