Accolades for My Daddy Is a Cowboy

Praise for My Daddy Is a Cowboy

My Daddy Is a Cowboy has earned five starred reviews from Kirkus, PW, BookPage, Booklist, and School Library Journal! Scroll down from excerpts from the reviews and links to read them in full, as well as reviews by author and book buyers.

***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 (read the full review here!)

***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 (read the full review here!)

***STARRED REVIEW***
“There is so much to love about My Daddy Is a Cowboy, a gorgeous book... Readers can look at their faces and call to mind someone they love dearly, remembering all the times they shared together over something special and intimate—something for ‘just us’. This book hits all the high points of Black cowboy culture and will be a must-have on the shelf.” —BookPage (read the full review here!)

***STARRED REVIEW***
"Saddle up for the 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 (read the full review here!)

***STARRED REVIEW***
"[My Daddy Is a Cowboy] would also make an excellent mentor text for narrative writing.... 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 (read the full review here!)

"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 Soul Food Sunday, The Walk, and many 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