Dear Dad: Love, Nelson: The Story of One Boy and His Incarcerated Father

by Margarett McBride, David Wilkerson (Illustrator)

A boy’s letters to his incarcerated father help them stay connected even while they’re apart.
 
Dear Love, Nelson is a glimpse into the life, family, struggles, hopes, and questions of Nelson—and the more than five million other children in the US who have experienced parental incarceration. Told through letters he writes his father, Nelson shares his feelings, thoughts, wishes, and happenings, from the celebrations they’ve had to the progress Nelson has made on the car they were fixing to how excited he is to have Dad coming home.
 
The author, who’s had several family members impacted by the criminal legal system, was inspired to write this warm and inviting story to build awareness of parental incarceration and increase empathy for people who have an incarcerated loved one. Dear Love, Nelson is told in Nelson’s vibrant, curious, and compassionate voice, with his love for his dad and his family shining through.
 
Dear Love, Nelson can open doors of conversation about many significant topics,  
A section at the back of the book offers discussion questions for exploring the story and the topic with children, along with more information on guiding children to write letters as a way of staying in touch with an incarcerated loved one.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, African American

40 pages, Hardcover

Published October 3, 2023

Reviews

[Hummingbirgio D’Saltalamacchia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very impactful and important story. It depicts a confusing life that a lot of kids are living every day due to a loved one being imprisoned.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written entirely in letters to his incarcerated dad, Nelson reveals a wide scope of emotions about his dad’s absence and deals with it the best he can with the help of immediate and extended family. Young readers who have an imprisoned family member may find comfort in a book that validates the inconsistent feelings that are completely normal. Nelson does not exhibit anger, but his brother Deon does, providing reassurance that not everyone feels the same thing. While the author’s note states her hope that children with a family member will find healing within the book’s pages, other readers may have their eyes opened to the unfamiliar scenario and gain some empathy for others. Illustrations are realistic and well done by artist David Wilkerson using acrylic paint for texture and digital drawing brushes in photoshop for the linework and additional color. Back matter includes detailed instructions for writing those in prison, talking/thinking points for use during and after reading as well as additional resources for use with children who do have incarcerated parents. With the statistics for those in prison what they are, libraries should make a point to have these resources in their collection but they should be used wisely as some children may not be ready to read a book that hits so close to home.

Thanks for the finished copy, Teacher Created Resource and Free Spirit Publishing.

[Anita Crawford Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

DEAR DAD, LOVE NELSON pulled me into the thoughts and emotions of the main character through his letters from the very start. The letter format was a perfect way to express Nelson’s thoughts and tell the story, learning about his brother and mother and uncle through his eyes. Mostly, learning about his relationship with his father and what makes their family dynamic work. Fabulous story!

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is simply various letters. Nelson writes his dad while his father is incarcerated. The reader sees the months passing by and hear’s Nelson‘s questions on why are things taking so long? Are you happy, when will you be home, etc. At the end of the book the author gives advice for writing letters as well as reasons and things too, and do not say. Well, I like this book and I think it does a good job, changes in our prisons and jail systems in the US may make this book useless sooner than later. For example, there are mail services that take a prisoner‘s letter, scan them, and send them digitally to the prisoner, instead of allowing them to have the actual letter. But if the prisoner can’t afford a prison tablet or device and must wait their turn on the shared device it may delay. their getting these messages for days if not weeks. And the ability to return messages also is very much impacted on the prisoners’ ability to pay. I do find it interesting that the author did not include any letters home and does not bother to explain why Dad never writes back.

[Connie Dow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by Margarett McBride, and illustrated by David Wilkerson, DEAR DAD: LOVE, NELSON tells the story of a child's longing, through a one-way letter correspondence from Nelson to his imprisoned father. The story unfolds as Nelson’s letters reveals details of the family, their day-to-day life, and Nelson’s dream of fixing up the old car that Nelson and his brother had worked on with their father before his incarceration. It is an important book, with its touching portrayal of how a child copes with his father ’s absence. Other children who are in similar circumstances, or are missing a parent for any reason, will relate to Nelson, his story told through letters, and his hopes and dreams.

[Rasha Hamid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Dad, Love Nelson is a heartwarming, touching, and funny read that makes me choke up each time I read it. Told in a series of letters from Nelson to his dad who is incarcerated, we learn about the family, the things they love, and how incarceration impacts them. This book offers a mirror for the more than five million children in the US who have experienced the incarceration of a parent. It also allows those who haven’t been impacted directly by incarceration to see the impact of incarceration on families. I especially love the back matter which includes instructions for how to write a letter to an incarcerated loved one, and resources and information for caring adults. This book is a much needed addition to classroom libraries everywhere.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Free Spirit Publishing through SLJ Picture Book Palooza.
Told in a series of letters from Nelson to his dad who is in jail. Nelson tells about his life and how he misses his dad. He decides to surprise his dad by working on their car so it is running by the time his dad gets home. Readers see how an incarcerated parent affects the whole family. This book offers a look at the child's side and view of what is happening.
McBride provides informative text at the end to talk about the process.
Highly recommended for students in this situation and for those who want to understand them.

[Karen Gedeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear Dad Love, Nelson written by Margarett McBride, illustrated by David Wilkerson – a delicately written and illustrated picture book for youngsters in grades 1-3 helping them deal with an incarcerated parent. Focusing on communicating with the missing parent through letters McBride, includes directions on how to write, address and mail a letter. Nelson’s letters are a great example for young readers to see how long parents can be away, how courts work etc. Readers will be able to relate to Nelson and his desire to keep working on the project he was working on when his dad went away. A wonderful addition for school libraries and classrooms for those students who need some bibliotherapy.

[Aolund · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really thoughtfully written story about one child coping with his father's incarceration. Through Nelson's letters to his dad, we see both how he responds to this traumatic experience, as well as how it impacts his other family members, from his siblings to his extended family. Back text includes tips for writing to incarcerated loved ones, discussion prompts, guidance for caring adults, and a personal note from the author.

Themes: Incarceration, Letters, Fathers
Age range: Kindergarten-Elementary

[Diane Rembert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young Nelson is determined to communicate with his incarcerated father. He writes letters giving accounts of important events since the father's been gone and reminders of family time while he was still there. All the while, reassuring him that he is both loved and missed.

I went into this book blind, but still enjoyed every minute. So many children are dealing with a parent that is incarcerated, and might feel that they're alone. This book encourages them to keep in constant communication with said parent until they are reunited.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

As nearly 5 million children experience the incarceration of a loved one, this is an important book to show the feelings, challenges, and point of view of a young child who just wants his father to come home. Told exclusively from Nelson's perspective, the reader feels the absence and the silence of Nelson's father throughout the book.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hoped that this story would include letters back and forth, not just letters written from Nelson's persepctive. It does, however, give a small glimpse of what a family might go through when a loved one is incarcerated. There are great tips for letter writing as well, which seems to be a lost art these days.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Netgalley Arc

This was a really good book, looking at children with parents who are incarcerated. Nelson is constantly writing his dad, giving him updates on himself and the family. They go through all the process, sentencing, and times he missed. There are great three end pages where it talks about how to/good ways to write your family that happens to be incarcerated.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

We need more stories like this! This is a story of a young boy and his father, written from the boy's perspective through letters he writes to his dad. The author has an amazing resource at the back of the book about how to write a letter, geared towards kids who want to write letters to their incarcerated loved ones.

[Suzze Tiernan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried. I imagine a child’s confusion when a parent is in jail. The story is touching, the art is excellent, and the teaching points abound. Questions at the end along with an explanation of how to write to a jailed loved one.

[Sarah W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet story about a little boy whose father is incarcerated. This story focuses on the relationship between Nelson and his dad without getting into the who, what, where, when, and why which is perfect and just what we need.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nelson writes letters to his father who is in jail. Touching story that shines a light on the feelings and experiences of kids with incarcerated family members. The back matter includes letter-writing tips.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy a book that shows a son still loving his father even though there is separation. Nelson asks questions that other children with incarcerated parents would ask....like why?

[Shelby Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Thank you to NetGalley and Free Spirit Publishing for this e-copy in exchange for an honest review**

Nelson's father is currently incarcerated, so he writes him letters to let him know what's going on in his life, as well as how the family is doing. He talks about how things are different without him, and he can't wait for him to come home. Nelson decides he is going try and fix up the Chevy so that they can ride together when he gets home.

The author includes a guide to writing a letter to an incarcerated loved one.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars
I read a digital advanced reader's copy courtesy of the publisher
A wonderful positive story about connecting with a parent in jail