My Dad

by Niki Daly

An exploration of how alcoholism can effect a family looks at a young boy and his sister as they discover the truth about their father's drinking problem and try to help as he begins to fight his disease.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1995

About the author

Nicholas "Niki" Daly, South African illustrator and children's book author.

http://www.childlit.org.za/ndaly.html

Reviews

[Dashia Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Dad, written and illustrated by Niki Daly, tells a fictional story of a family whose father is an alcoholic. This book was based on realistic events that Daly related to because he grew up with an alcoholic father. This book is for children aged 5-8 years old. This book really moved me in a good way because growing up in the neighborhood that I did, there were a lot of children who lived with parents or other family members that were alcoholics. A lot of the students that we see in our field placements are dealing with this same issue. This book ensures children that they are not alone and they aren't the only ones that may be going through it. This book eliminates the possibility of having children feel as if they are outcasts and it also gives them hope. I feel that this book does a really good job of highlighting the feelings and emotions. It shows the rough times some families experience like the mom and dad arguing, but it also shows that with help, support, and the love of family, families can come through and witness triumphs.

[Nallely Ibarra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book talks about a family, where the dad is an alcoholic. Many students live at home with an alcoholic parent or relative. Kid can notice the consequences that being an alcoholic brings, such as fights and some nonsense. I'm sure many students can relate to this story. This book can serve as a sign of hope. Because many of them do relate to the book, reading it can show them that they are not the only ones living at a home with an alcoholic. This book also talks about the AA group and defines and alcoholic. This book can explain to the student the phenomena happening at home and can give a possible solution. I really like that the author gave a happy ending to this book, this will encourage the student. I would probably not read this book a loud, but I would definitely have it on a shelf where students can easily access it.

[Brandy Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is truly rich and detailed for a children's book. It has a well written plot about a family whose father is an alcoholic but eventually receives the help he needs to keep his family together. The story is told from the view of the child who felt embarrassed by his father's drinking. In this book we have more than one cultural group being referenced though the second cultural group only makes a brief appearance by the time the story is nearly over. The illustrations are done with watercolor paint but is still detailed giving life to each character. This book addresses a real issue that children with an alcoholic parent may face and shows a solution that could also help a reader in the healing process of dealing with an alcoholic parent as they recover from the habit of drinking.

[Deborah Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. Children are often embarrassed by their parents actions, and do not understand why they act different. This book deals honestly with the feelings that children have, when parents act different than socially accepted. It explores family dynamics.