My Daddy Is a Cowboy - by Stephanie Seales (Hardcover)

About the Book

While a young Panamanian American girl and her father share "just-us" time on an early morning horseback ride around their town, he tells her cowboy stories and she realizes she is a cowboy too.

Book Synopsis

A Caldecott Honor Book and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Book

A young girl and her father share an early morning horseback ride around their city in My Daddy Is a Cowboy, an award-winning picture book celebration of "just-us time," with 6 starred reviews, including praise such as gorgeous, must-have, exuberant, immersive, and magical.

In the early hours before dawn, a young girl and her father greet their horses and ride together through the waking city streets. As they trot along, Daddy tells cowboy stories filled with fun and community, friendship, discovery, and pride.

Seeing her city from a new vantage point and feeling seen in a new way, the child discovers that she too is a cowboy--strong and confident in who she is.

Thoughtfully and lyrically written by debut author Stephanie Seales, with vibrant illustrations from award-winning artist C. G. Esperanza, this beautiful picture book is a celebration of Black joy, outdoor play, and quality time spent between child and parent.

Tall. High as the clouds.
Strong as a horse's back.
Like a cowboy.

Review Quotes

***STARRED REVIEW***
"[Q]uiet yet energetic...Vibrant colors and abstract design embellishments convey the immense pleasure and freedom felt by both father and child as they connect over horseback riding. A magical celebration of family, freedom, and Black joy."--Kirkus Reviews

***STARRED REVIEW***
"[T]his atmospheric picture book...celebrates a close bond between a father and daughter as well as contemporary Black cowboys...Esperanza's vibrant, detailed oil-paint illustrations feature boldly colored backgrounds that infuse even the pre-sunrise scenes with energy...Seales showcases the respect the two have for horses and their love for each other."--Horn Book Magazine

***STARRED REVIEW***
"A gorgeous book that celebrates Black urban horsemanship...This book hits all the high points of Black cowboy culture and will be a must-have on the shelf for all budding enthusiasts eager to see themselves represented authentically and beautifully. Giddyup!"--BookPage

***STARRED REVIEW***
"Saddle up for the absolute joyride of this exuberant father-daughter adventure...[A] seamless melding of lyrical text and high-spirited full-bleed illustrations...A blue-ribbon pick for both story time and home use, sure to delight cowboys both real and imagined."--Booklist

***STARRED REVIEW***
"The pictures also reflect a deep love between the father and child as well as for the horses. This is a lovely depiction of a parent sharing their culture with their child in a way that will feel refreshingly new and happily familiar."--School Library Journal

***STARRED REVIEW***
"Together, the creators expertly capture the open feel of early morning alongside the beauty of one-on-one time in this visually immersive story about a child whose 'Daddy is a cowboy.... And so am I.' "--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Stephanie Seales is a storyteller, dreamer, and doer who is passionate about racial equity. She's also a children's literature expert who's worked in almost every aspect of the book business. She understands the power of story and follows Toni Morrison's advice, writing the books she wants to read. She dreams and creates near the water in the Hudson Valley, New York. C. G. Esperanza is the award-winning illustrator of Soul Food Sunday, which received a Coretta Scott King Honor, and the author-illustrator of Boogie, Boogie, Y'all, which received a Pura Belpré Youth Illustrator Honor among many other awards. He lives in the Bronx, New York.