Tell Me a Tattoo Story

January 11, 2016
A preschooler is fascinated by his father’s elaborate tattoos and the personal history behind them. A dragon tattoo prompts Dad to recall how his mother would read him a beloved book “over and over.” A desert scene takes Dad back to his military service (“the longest trip I ever took”), when he and a line of grunts trudged across a sun-baked landscape. But Dad and his “little man” agree that their favorite tattoo is a small heart, right over the man’s real heart, which contains his son’s birth date. Wheeler’s (Wherever You Go) cutaways to the past are evocative and imaginatively framed, but McGhee’s (The Case of the Missing Donut) decision to give Dad the only voice in the book—he’s both the storyteller and articulator of his son’s questions (“What do you mean, this one’s your favorite?”)—may leave readers wondering why the boy isn’t speaking for himself. Regardless, the premise and pictures make this a deeply touching story—and with its ink-proud, scruffily handsome paterfamilias, it’s right on trend as well. Ages 3–5. Author’s agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. Illustrator’s agent: Jennifer Rofé, Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

April 1, 2016
A father tells his son about the tattoos that mark milestones in his life. The entire text is composed of the dad's monologue--"this one's from my favorite book that my mom used to read to me. / Did she read it to me over and over and over? / She sure did"--but the son's questions and obvious wonder are more than evident in his eyes and body language. A left-forearm tattoo is a reminder of his father's wisdom: "Be Kind." And one of some flowers, a Ferris wheel, and fireworks brings the dad back to the day he met a pretty girl with a wonderful smile. A tattoo on his side commemorates the longest trip he ever took. The turn of the page reveals him as a soldier. And a tiny little heart above his own? That's just a heart inscribed with "somebody's birthday," and it happens to be both father's and son's favorite. As the father is telling these stories, the little family is tenderly getting the boy ready for bed. Wheeler's fine-lined illustrations, done in India ink with dip pens and watercolors, recall picture books of the 1970s in both feel and color (though the father does the dishes while the mother writes in the next room; all three are white). The homey compositions make very plain the love that is behind each tattoo memory, the father following in his parents' footsteps in being the kind of present and available parent they exemplified. Love that is skin-deep. (Picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

April 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-This is a story about how a young boy learns all about his father's life when he asks to see his tattoos. McGhee sets the stage for a fun read. The boy, "little man," first wants to hear about the dragon tattoo on his dad's right shoulder. The text explains that this winged creature is from a favorite childhood book. An accompanying illustration shows a picture of Dad as a young child sitting on his mom's lap in a country pasture underneath laundry flapping in the breeze, while listening intently to the book. The pen-and-ink illustrations look like they could be tattoos. Wheeler adeptly captures Dad's special family bonds. His forearm bears the mantra "Be Kind." The accompanying illustration shows Dad as a young boy with his father rescuing a baby bird that fell from its nest. Artwork complements the story well. Text is simple and lends itself to discussion. The story continues with the milestones in Dad's life via the tattoos. On his right upper arm, Dad has an intricate pattern that includes flowers, marking the importance of meeting his wife (the boy's mom). Another design on his side represents service overseas in the military. Of course, there is a tiny little heart with a date, which not surprisingly marks his son's birthday. The tattoos tell a story about the life of a father who loves his family. VERDICT The tender story will resonate with young audiences. The cultural relevance of the tattoo phenomena is a plus.-Robin Sofge, Alexandria Library, VA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2016
Preschool-G Lucky for inquisitive tyke Little Man, his father has a handful of heartfelt stories to share. Lucky for us, McGhee and Wheeler have paired to tell them. Amidst the backdrop of a cluttered kitchen (complete with building blocks, toy cars, and a stuffed T. rex), one tattooed dad concedes to the demand of his toddler son: You wanna see my tattoos? he asks. Here we go then. The markings are varied. There are both self-explanatory stampsa sprawling Be Kind inked across the forearm, a date-inscribed heart atop the chest (Little Man's own birthday, of course)as well as more referential emblemsa curving dragon from a favorite storybook, and a fanciful Ferris wheel from an unforgettable first date. Wheeler's soft blends of dreamy blues, blushing pinks, and incandescent yellows are central to the memory-based tale, and McGhee's sincere yet sparing text ensures that the illustrationsmuch like tattoos themselvesremain ever in the foreground. A fresh, contemporary take on the bond between images, the art of storytelling, and, yes, hipster dads.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)