My Daddy Is a Cowboy is the winner of a Caldecott Honor and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award. It earned six starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, BookPage, Booklist, School Library Journal, and The Horn Book. Scroll down from excerpts from the reviews and links to read them in full, as well as reviews by authors and children's book buyers.
My Daddy Is a Cowboy was featured on the following Best of 2024 lists (in alpha order):
Other Accolades:
New England Children's Book Association 2024 Windows & Mirrors List
Kirkus Best Books Out This Week
Amazon Editor's Pick
Amazon Best Books of June 2024
***STARRED REVIEW***
"[Q]uiet yet energetic... A magical celebration of family, freedom, and Black joy." — Kirkus Reviews
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"Together, the creators expertly capture the open feel of early morning alongside the beauty of one-on-one time in this visually immersive story." — Publishers Weekly
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“There is so much to love about My Daddy Is a Cowboy... This book hits all the high points of Black cowboy culture and will be a must-have on the shelf.” — BookPage
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"Saddle up for [an] absolute joyride... Through 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***
"[My Daddy Is a Cowboy] would also make an excellent mentor text for narrative writing.... 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
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"[An] atmospheric picture book that celebrates a close bond between a father and daughter as well as contemporary Black cowboys." — The Horn Book
"This book has me feeling like I woke up before dawn and rode neon horses around the city streets with my dad! And C.G.’s horses are the best in the picture book business. Make sure to peek under the jacket to see my favorite book case of the year. Truly, this book is so awesome." —Shawn Harris, Caldecott Honoree for Have You Ever Seen a Flower? and illustrator of the Newbery Medal winner The Eyes and the Impossible and more
"Guys, you need to know about My Daddy Is A Cowboy.
This little masterpiece just hit the shelves on June 11, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Written by Stephanie Seales and illustrated by Charles Esperanza, this book does many wonderful things. It gives you Black joy, strong and loving daddies, horses, Black Panamanian main characters, and city cowboys! There is so much to celebrate here it’s hard to focus on one element, but I think my favorite thing this book achieves, is it takes that kind of extremely special, one-on-one time with a parent, the kind of quality time that becomes your mental happy place for the rest of your life, and fixes it on the pages of a book. This book is ensouled. You open the pages and you can smell your daddy’s special daddy smell, your grandmother’s hot coffee, and horses. I can already tell this book is going to become a place that lives inside of the kids who read it, and its joy will be a resource they can draw upon all their lives. It is a deep well, that will not run dry.
Also the illustrations are just so, so good." —Jessica Love, Ezra Jack Keats Award honoree and author of Julián is a Mermaid and more
“I am in love with My Daddy Is a Cowboy. As a huge fan of C. G. Esperanza's artistry, I came for the art, and stayed for the text. This book has me in a chokehold. Seeing this beautiful depiction of Black parenting brings joy to my heart. The hues of purple and blues blended together set the scene of reverence and loyalty. The admiration the main character has for her beloved father shows through the strokes of the paintbrush. And I am here for this Black joy, the cadence of cowboy culture on the page, and the homage of family and commitment. This book is a 10/10 for me. And I hope the author and illustrator do more stories like these. #FillTheGap” — Winsome Bingham author of CSK Illustrator Honor and Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor-winning Soul Food Sunday, The Walk, and more
"Joy abounds in My Daddy is a Cowboy as a father and daughter ride horses side by side through city streets at daybreak. With her precise and evocative text, Stephanie Seales takes us on a journey from private intimacy to public celebration, from night to dawn, from eagerness to fulfillment. The tender interactions between this parent and child of Panamanian descent are the story’s heartbeat, continuing through the perfectly punctuated final page turn. C.G. Esperanza infuses the illustrations with his characteristic lively colors and energy but never loses sight of the gentle tone of the story. His sense of place is so true, and his regal, muscular horses are breathtaking on the page. Give this picture book to anyone who has ever loved a parent or a child with all their heart." —Elaine Dimopoulos, author of the Milkweed Meadow series and Green Earth Book Award Winner Turn the Tide
"Reading this book put me in a dream-like state...was this story real? A fantasy? Horses in the city before sunrise? I was transported to that very special place that only picture books can offer. The illustrations are magically both realistic and dreamy, and the writing grounded me with a wonderful child's voice. I was riding, too. Reading this book is an exciting experience for all the senses--highly recommended!" —Nell Cross Beckerman, author of Volcanoes, From Park to Playa, Down Under the Pier, and more
"My Daddy is a Cowboy" moved me deeply and instantly. Like visiting an old childhood memory, Seales' poignant words and Esperanza's vivid illustrations transported me to a place of joy, magic and nostalgia. It's a beautiful story about connection -- with family, with place, with community and with loyal companions. This book will touch and bring joy to so many people of all ages at a time when joy feels hard to come by." —Erica Tso Haidas, Owner and Book Buyer, Belonging Books
"A absolutely gorgeous story of a girl and her dad's early morning ride through their city. Inspired by the the real-life Compton Cowboys, Seales has imagined a ride with one such cowboy and his daughter, as told from her perspective. The story is so lovely, with the girl's wonder and awe during the ride shared so keenly, from the sounds of the birds to the brightening sky, and the familiarity of her town from a new perspective. Esperanza's illustrations, which never fail to stun, are incredibly vibrant and full of motion. I loved everything about this story, and particularly the references to Panamanian culture which reflect the author's background. A wonderful father-daughter story, for horse lovers of any age, and just a visual treat for all readers." —Tildy Lutts, Store Manager and Children's Book & Gift Buyer, Belmont Books
“C.G. Esperanza's art is irresistible—textured and dreamy—coupled with Stephanie Seales' intentional and evocative words. COWBOY's text is as electrifying as it is peaceful; as brilliant in color as Esperanza's bold palette.” — J.P. Takahashi, Author of Tokyo Night Parade
“My Daddy is a Cowboy is a quiet story of "just us" time between a father/daughter pair... Seales's captivating story trots at a leisurely pace, and is infused with rich, poetic language. Esperanza's delightful illustrations pop off of every page and perfectly capture the vibrant cityscape, while celebrating the joy the two riders radiate during their time together. Quietly powerful and visually stunning, My Daddy is a Cowboy will inspire readers (and cowboys!) of all ages.” — Sara Hines, Co-owner and Children’s Book Buyer, Eight Cousins Books