CATALYST PRESS
ON MY PAPA’S SHOULDERS
ISBN 9781946395689 | hardcover | $17.99
publication date May 2022
From award winning children’s writer Niki Daly, author
and illustrator of the Lolo early reader series
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Whether it’s jumping in puddles with Tata in the rain, greeting the neighborhood cat on the quiet back streets with Gogo, or holding hands with Mama while rushing to make the bell, walking to school with family is the best.
But nothing is better than walking to school with Papa.
From high above, resting on Papa’s shoulders, all of the town is in perfect view, and Papa always says “I love you” when he says goodbye. A sweet ode to fatherhood and the special relationships children share with each member of their family, On My Papa’s Shoulders reminds us that it’s not about where we’re going, but rather the people who walk with us along the way.
REVIEWS
“Daly delivers the tale with musicality and joy through uncomplicated yet poignant prose. He captures the feelings of a simple routine with a delight that’s refreshing, witty, and just plain fun. With fluid lines highlighted with primary colors, the art is imbued with the same energy, bringing to life a child-centered world. […] A wonderful tribute to the father-son bond.” —Kirkus
“[T]his gorgeous, gently humorous book truly does celebrate that father/son bond, but it also celebrates the bond between the boy and the various other members of his family – each one offering something different. One I’d strongly recommend adding to foundation stage collections and to family bookshelves, especially if there’s a child around the school starting age.” —Red Reading Hub
“The illustrations are eye-catching, with a warmth of character detail and a thought-provoking sense of space and perspective. It places younger readers aged 4-7 in the middle of this boy’s life, family and world. A celebration of the bond between fathers and sons this is a great book to read and share.” —School Reading List
“A beautifully written book with outstanding illustrations… A heart-warming celebration of family and fathers. I am sure this book will be read and reread many times and will be a firm favourite for all young children on their journeys to school across the world. A great book for home, nursery and library.” —Dolphin Book Blog
“A sweetly relatable picture book with a distinctly South African urban setting.” —The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education
Niki Daly’s groundbreaking Not So Fast Songololo, winner of a US Parent’s Choice Award, paved the way for post-apartheid South African children’s books. Among his many books, Niki Daly’s Jamela’s Dress was chosen by the ALA as a Notable Children’s Book and by Booklist as one of the Top 10 African American Picture Books of 2000. It also won both the Children’s Literature Choice Award and the Parents’ Choice Silver Award. Niki lives with his wife, the author and illustrator Jude Daly, in South Africa.
AUTHOR NIKI DALY
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