Hammer and Nails [Hardcover]

Nominee:
Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy CLEL Bell Award, TALK
2017-2108 Chickadee Award


Darcy has plans. She and her friend are going to play dress up, do each other’s hair, and polish their nails. Daddy has plans, too. He’s going to read the paper, mow the lawn, and fix the fence. When Darcy’s friend cancels and she’s sure her day is ruined, Daddy suggests that they tackle their to-do lists together with a Darcy-Daddy Day. Daddy dons a tutu, and Darcy gives him a fancy hair do. They groom the lawn with Her Majesty’s Mowing Service and face off in a Daddy-directed sock battle. But will Darcy want to hammer? Will Daddy do nails? Stepping outside their comfort zones, Darcy and Daddy opt to be open-minded and even a bit daring. As Daddy says, “Sometimes things you’ve never done end up being fun!” With a gung-ho attitude, Darcy masters the hammer, and Daddy goes for it with the nails.

STARRED REVIEW!Warrick's . . . illustrations marvelously play up the dichotomy between the burly . . . dad and his girly . . . daughter . . . . Kudos to this dad for not only making chores fun and making the most of time with his daughter, but for meeting her on her level. —Kirkus Reviewsstarred review

Hammer and Nailsshows how special a relationship between a father and daughter can be. —Laura Dekle,Children's Literature

Newcomer Bledsoe creates a humorous and relatable portrait of compromise and familial affection, while Warrick’s watercolors strike a lovely balance between burliness and daintiness. —Publishers Weekly

"The heart of this sweet but never cloying story is the love between parent and child. Darcy’s father gives it his all, never once turning down a game in the name of traditional gender roles—a refreshing thing to see in picture books. ...a story this endearing clSC