The Daddy Mountain

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
Acclaimed author Jules Feiffer delivers this mountain of a picture book about a red-haired girl who sets out to scale her dad. Combining his familiar pen-and-watercolor style with charcoal, Feiffer takes the girl up "Daddy Mountain," a harrowing journey that begins at her pop's feet as she declares, "Watch me. I'm getting ready to climb the Daddy Mountain. It's very high. But first I need something to drink." While readers see only parts of the mammoth dad from page to page, the young mountaineer dramatically describes her ascent at each step, declaring at one point that "I pull myself up with both hands. I'm halfway! Don't look down" -- and later, "So I'm kind of sitting on his shoulder like it's a chair. Very carefully, I start to stand up. This is where I don't want to think too much." Finally, though, the girl reaches the peak after a long haul, with a triumphant cheer -- marked with a vertical fold-out of her sitting atop her dad's head -- while Mom covers her eyes in disbelief. Readers will sit in suspense as the book moves along page by page, enjoying the simple text and Feiffer's portrayal of the girl's myriad emotions as the tension builds. Dads will especially like sharing The Daddy Mountain with their youngsters, and it makes a charming companion to other father-themed books like Todd Parr's The Daddy Book. For "thrills and chills, guaranteed" as specified on the book's flap, this treat is the peak of fun times. Shana Taylor

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Before your very eyes, this little redhead is about to do something extremely daring. And scary. And she'll show you-she'll actually document, step-by-step-exactly how she does it.First, she takes her Daddy and makes him stand very still. Then, balancing herself on his shoe, she wraps her arms tightly around a leg and starts her perilous ascent to the summit. Thrills and chills, guaranteed. LOOK OUT BELOW!! JULES FEIFFER has won a number of prizes for his cartoons, plays, and screenplays, including the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning. His books for children include The House Across the Street; By the Side of the Road; I'm Not Bobby; I Lost My Bear; and Meanwhile.... He lives in New York City.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Parents who enjoy interactive play should select this book, in which a child scales a stoical "Daddy Mountain." Each page focuses on the red-haired knee-high girl who tells the story. The father, drawn in a nubbly, granite-like charcoal that contrasts with the watercolor-and-ink sketches of his small daughter, is too tall to fit on a page; readers see only his legs and torso as the child makes her steep ascent. The girl fortifies herself before beginning ("Fruit juice gives me energy"), then hauls herself up a pants-leg ("It's harder than you think"). The father's knees obligingly bend to give the mountaineer a rest until she can grip his belt, but otherwise he offers no assistance. Giving instructions to the audience as she goes, the girl reaches his button-down shirt: "If you grab hold of his skin, he'll get mad." Using a shoulder and ear, she drags herself to the summit and calls her mother to "Come quick!" At the terrific conclusion, a vertical gatefold opens up to picture the gray Daddy Mountain transformed into a grinning full-color person (with a girl on his head). After several darker-themed but equally satisfying books like The House Across the Street and I'm Not Bobby!, Feiffer breaks for some lighthearted, affectionate fare. He writes and draws from the girl's point of view, emphasizing the relative sizes of child and parent. He makes a plaything of the adult, who silently endures all manner of humiliation during this game. Youngsters will want to try this sport at home. Ages 2-up. (May) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature - Sharon Salluzzo

Even before the title page the little red haired girl peeks up from the bottom of the page. She is getting ready to climb the "Daddy Mountain." After a drink of fruit juice to give her energy, she bravely approaches the mountain's feet. Carefully she begins to climb and, as she goes higher and higher, gives instructions for climbing a Daddy Mountain. "Remember, the Daddy Mountain must wear a shirt. Because if you grab hold of his skin, he'll get mad." It is an amazing feat to reach the top. When the red haired girl climbs on top of the head of the Daddy Mountain, she calls to her mother to share in her success. Mother's reaction is perfect. Feiffer captures the exuberance and imagination of a young child in a highly entertaining story. From the little girl's perspective daddy is strong, steady and rock-solid. Underlying all is the strong bond between father and daughter. This is well executed, right down to the arm shadows where she is slipping. There is a page fold that opens up to reveal the little girl on top of her father's head. Because this can tear easily, it will be a problem for public libraries. However, it is a great title for a Father's Day story hour and a wonderful addition to the story hour collection or home library. 2004, Michael Di Capua Books/ Hyperion, Ages 4 to 7.

School Library Journal

PreS-Beginning at his toes, a little girl laboriously climbs up her father until she is perched triumphantly on top of his head. Along the way, she provides practical advice on making this a successful procedure: "Remember, the Daddy Mountain must wear a shirt. Because if you grab hold of his skin, he'll get mad." Although Feiffer keeps a reasonable amount of suspense going during this combination ordeal/adventure, there is little substance to inspire rereading and little appeal for youngsters who have outgrown attempting this feat. What story there is descends into stereotypes: when the child reaches her goal (as shown on a two-page vertical foldout), her father nonchalantly declares, "No problem, she's fine," and seems proud of his daughter's accomplishment, while her mother's reaction is to faint. The illustrations are vintage Feiffer; for most of the book, Daddy's body is drawn-mountain still-in charcoal, while the girl is depicted with much more fluid black lines and bright colors. While the pictures capture the full range of her emotions, they do not elevate the title to anything other than an additional purchase.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews