Daddy and Me and the Rhyme to Be

by Chris Bridges, Halcyon Person, Parker-Nia Gordon (Illustrator)

A humorous and heartwarming picture book from legendary musician Chris "Ludacris" Bridges about the special bond between father and daughter. Karma and her daddy love to make music together! Karma sets up the rhyme and daddy finishes it. Together, they're the perfect team! But when it's time for Karma to write her daddy a rap for his birthday all on her own, she can't quite make it perfect. What rhymes with banana anyway? Told with heart and humor, Karma soon realizes that she never has to do anything alone as long as she has daddy by her side.

Genres: Picture Books, Music, Childrens, Poetry, Family, African American

40 pages, Hardcover

Published June 7, 2022

Reviews

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry, but Ludacris, please either stick to rap music. Or better yet the Fast and Furious movies (which I enjoy let it be noted)

This is yet another instance where a celebrity written book should not be published.

Yes it has diverse representation
Yes it is about a father and daughter relationship (not always seen and books)
Yes it is about a BLACK father and daughter (and sadly, positive black role models are not always seen in literature)

BUT I hated the book. Too much text. The "rhyming" often was a BIG stretch. I tried to rap it in my head or add some beat to it, hoping the cadence of music would help it flow. But no so much.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Add me on BookTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@blissandbooks

Book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

In Chris "Ludacris" Bridges and Halcyon Person's new picture book Daddy and Me and the Rhyme to Be readers meet Karma, a charming little girl who loves her Dad to the moon and back. Karma's Dad makes music and Karma is inspired to create rhymes too, however it's much more difficult than she originally thinks.

Creating rhymes on her own doesn't lead to much except frustration, so Karma confides to her Dad that she need wants to create a rhyme for his birthday. The two work together to complete several verses which reminds young readers that sometimes it's helpful to ask for help from an adult if you re frustrated.

Bright illustrations by Parker-Nia Gordon imagines father and daughter creating rhymes together and the magical places they dream of when creating. Subtle details like curly hair textures, brown skin tones and the use of a silk bonnet (!!) add a touches that are important for Brown girls seeing themselves in the story.

[Alizah Kamran]

Daddy and Me and the Rhyme to be is a cute book about the bond between a daughter and her father. Karma loves making music with her dad and they make music together, she realizes that she doesn’t have to do anything without her dad by her side. The intended audience are for younger children, from 3 to 6 years old. The purpose of this book is to celebrate that bond that fathers have with their children through some funny and imaginative ways. Key theme are parent and child bonding, imagination and play, and also language development. This would be a good book in the classroom because of the rhymes and playful text l, which can help with reading skills, also the family roles in the book can be a good topic for discussion.

[Ellon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started out a tad bit rocky for me where I thought "oh no, another celebrity that thinks they are a children's book author." But two pages in, that was forgotten. The onomatopoeia was great. The rhyming/making up songs was fun. The best part is the absolute love between the girl and her father. The love shines through but not in a saccharine way. I also like that the girl is trying something new and isn't successful right away. She gets frustrated and has to have perseverance. Will definitely be purchasing for my school library!

[Tara In Blossom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daddy and Me and the Rhyme to Be by Chris Bridges is a wholesome, cute story that’s perfect for a casual read. Even though I didn’t realize the author is famous (and still don’t know much about him), it doesn’t really matter because the story stands on its own. It's a simple yet sweet tale about a father and child, with charming illustrations that complement the narrative. The playful placement of text and pictures makes the book visually engaging and fun to read. While it may not be groundbreaking, it’s a heartwarming story that readers will enjoy for its warmth and simplicity.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bond between a young girl and her father through music and rhyme as she prepares to make for her dad the best birthday gift ever. It not as easy as she thought it would be, but in the end it's a hit

[Jocey vee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was adorable. I loved that it revolves around the relationship between a young Black girl and her father and loved the positive representation of Hip-hop music.

[Rebecca Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

A girl helps her dad write songs, but for his birthday, she wants to write a song for him as a surprise. When she learns how difficult rhyming is, she finds a way to make the present work.

[SamSamSam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so cute!!!!!

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The daughter of a musician tries her hand at playing instruments and writing rhyming lyrics.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 4 out of 5]

12/30/23 ~ Perseverance, rhymes, father/daughter love.