My Father Is in the Navy

by Robin McKinley, Martine Gourbault (Illustrator)

A young girl doesn't remember her father, a ship's captain who has been at sea

Genres: Picture Books

Hardcover

First published April 1, 1992

About the author

Robin McKinley is an American author acclaimed for fantasy novels and inventive retellings of classic fairy tales, often featuring resilient heroines and richly imagined worlds. She gained early prominence with Beauty, a reworking of Beauty and the Beast, and achieved major recognition when The Hero and the Crown won the Newbery Medal, establishing her as a leading voice in children’s and young adult fantasy. Drawing on a widely traveled upbringing and a lifelong devotion to folklore, she has reinterpreted stories such as Sleeping Beauty and Robin Hood while also creating original works, including the Damar novels and later titles like Sunshine and Dragonhaven. Her fiction is known for emotional depth, moral complexity, and sensory detail, blending adventure with themes of courage, identity, and compassion. In addition to novels, she has written short story collections, edited anthologies, and collaborated on projects exploring mythic elements. Her influence on modern fantasy has been widely recognized, culminating in her designation as a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. McKinley’s body of work continues to attract devoted readers across generations for its distinctive voice and enduring imaginative power.

Reviews

[Margaret]

I picked up this book because my grandson is in the Navy, and is frequently out to sea. His youngest daughter was born last time he was gone. I am trying to decide whether to get this book for his girls.

[Khari]

Oh. Wow.

So, I didn't really like, or get into, McKinley's other picture book "Rowan".

I hereby repent in sackcloth and ashes.

This is a good one. It's a tear jerker, let me just warn everyone in advance.

Here, again, McKinley demonstrates her mastery of the art of writing. Every second page has a paragraph at the top of the page next to the picture. The paragraphs explain what is going on in the story and how her mother feels about it. Then at the bottom of each page is just one seemingly half-formed fragment that shows what the child is feeling and how it contrasts with everything else that is going on. Those little fragments of thought show how confused and conflicted this little girl is, the structure compliments the character development. It's superb.

Art: Meh
Story: Superb
Price: Free on Internet Archive

[Chachic]

I had no idea Robin McKinley wrote a children's book. This was a lucky find while I was browsing through the kiddie section of a used bookstore. It's a lovely book, short and sweet. Or maybe I'm just biased because Robin McKinley is one of my favorite authors.

[Lucianna Mee]

It's amazing. Captured me from the start and I couldn't put it down.