The Daddy-Daughter Dance

by Malcolm Newsome, Jenin Mohammed (illustrator)

Full of color, attitude, and heart, this picture book is a perfect for all the dancers, move-busters, and boogie-downers in the family! A must-have for Father's Day!

At last, the day of daddy-daughter dance is finally here! To get ready for their special night out, Mona and Daddy transform their entire day into a special dance routine. They boogie, shuffle, and slide to the hair salon, the nail place, and the dress store. Even when Daddy trips, he reminds his baby girl that the groove inside us never stops. But when they arrive, the dance has been cancelled! How will Mona, Daddy, and the other families get their chance to get down?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family

40 pages, Hardcover

Published October 21, 2025

Reviews

[Steena Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Follow Mona and Daddy as they move and groove and prepare for their special Daddy-Daughter dance at the community center. When a wrench is thrown in their plans, Mona finds a great solution to keep their moves alive. Endearing text and lively illustrations will have readers of all ages ready to dance and celebrate with loved ones!

[Nicholas Mccane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc Review: NetGalley
Release Date: 10-21-25
Author: Malcolm Newsome
Narrator: Charles Everett
Genre: Children’s Fiction

I loved it. The references to Mom and sibling made it clear to the reader that this family was a complete unit, and I liked that. A father/daughter dance is something special, and the book made sure we knew it. Though things didn’t go as planned, they didn’t miss the moment. The narrator’s voice was perfect. Looking forward to reading this to the grandchildren. Short, sweet, and just plain perfect!

[Reading Adventures · Rating 5 out of 5]

💃 A Joyful Celebration of Movement, Love & Resilience 💖
From the very first page this picture book had our whole family dancing—at the store, in the kitchen, even while brushing teeth! We started with the audiobook, and WOW—the narrator’s voice was bursting with excitement and love. My kids were instantly hooked. The narrator did such an outstanding job of bringing the story to life. His calm voice really helped us to enjoy the story. He conveyed the feelings of the story with skill.
🎶 Like the family in the story, we don’t always know the steps, but we feel the music in everything🎵💃💃🏼. That’s why the message from dad to daughter—that the groove is always inside us—meant so much to my kids. It reminded us that no matter what happens, we can create a new beat and make every moment memorable.
✨ Even when the big dance is canceled, the characters don’t give up. They celebrate anyway. That kind of resilience and joy is exactly what I want my kids to see in stories. We all dance in our own special way, and this book celebrates that beautifully.
📚 After falling in love with the audio, we got the physical copy—and it became a true treasure in our home. Jenin Mohammed’s illustrations are vibrant, diverse, and full of heart. They felt like flipping through one of our old family scrapbooks—genuine, joyful, and full of love.
💖 Why We Loved It:
- Celebrates joy and movement in everyday life
- Shows how families stay connected through ups and downs
- Encourages kids to embrace their own rhythm and resilience
- Narrator brings warmth and energy that makes the story unforgettable
⭐ Final Thought:
This book is pure joy—personal, uplifting, and unforgettable. Highly recommend for Father’s Day or any day your family wants to celebrate love, movement, and togetherness. You’ll want to dance right along!
🕺🏼💃🏼🎵🎶🎸🎧🎙️📻
#ReadAloudMagic #FamilyReads #PictureBookLove #DancingThroughLife #FatherDaughterJoy #EmotionalLiteracy #BooksThatMoveUs #ComfortShelf #FamilyReadingTime #Read #ReadTogether #ReadToYourKids #Bookish #ReadingisLife.

[Tonya Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable story about a father and daughter duo keeping their groove when a long-awaited dance is cancelled. I loved seeing the charming father-daughter relationship, and the vibrant illustrations, which remind me of a lovely scrapbook, make you want to comb through the book again and again. I received an advanced reader e-book copy, and I can't wait to add the hardcover edition to my collection once it releases. This is truly a work of art!

[Pamela Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolute adorable read. It's obvious (to me, that is) that this lovable read is a tribute to the real life daddy-daughter relationship. The end pages start the readers love affair with the bond that exists. As you turn the pages, laugh-out-loud moments add to the much earned awwwww-ness in this book--especially when Mona, the daughter, saves the annual dance event. The illustrations are amazing and add such rich depth to the telling of this ode to the Daddy-Daughter dance.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narrator and the music ensure this book is an upbeat and bouncy experience. Both are very good. The story doesn't necessarily tread new ground, but I love that they spend all their getting ready time together as well, that dad doesn't just show up for the dance part. This is a good title for teaching resiliance and how to handle disappointment.

[Kirstie Myvett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Daddy-Daughter Dance kept me smiling, shimmying and turning the pages. Malcom Newsome's lyrical and danci-ful (made up word) picture book conveys the bond between Daddy and daughter beautifully with colorful and moving illustrations by Jenin Mohammed.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Daddy-Daughter Dance (Hardcover)
by Malcolm Newsome

daddy is not perfect but he does try.
through each step they celebrate.
when disappointed thar the dance is canceled change to a community celebration.

[Patrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure joy!!! Vibrant illustrations paired with prose rich in movement. Mohammed’s illustrations and Newsome’s words are the perfect match. A story of love, family, and the power to take a disappointment and dance it around into something else. This book is an utter delight!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dad and his daughter get ready for the dance, but when it's canceled will all the plans they made be ruined? I love the diversity in this book of all the kinds of dads and dad figures. Super cute and a fun read aloud for dance or music ST.

[Ranette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl and her dad look forward to dancing together. When they arrive at the sight, it is canceled. She spots a place where they can dance and many others join them. All have a good time.