Willie’s Dad by Stanley Williams is a large 8.5 X 11 inch paperback children’s book about unselfish love that will move your heart. The author, Stanley Williams, shows children the heart-wrenching sacrifices that the family goes through when someone they love is incarcerated. Readers are also shown the emotional toll it takes on the person behind bars.
The 28-pages are illustrated by Naima Abdul-Haqq with a style that is reminiscent of coloring books and look like they may have been created by a talented child – which is perfect for this audience, communicating to children in a personal way.
Willie has kept a secret from his kindergarten classmates – his father is in jail and he doesn’t expect to get out in the foreseeable future. Willies dad is well aware that Tina, Willie’s mom, has moved on and found a new man, Duanne, who supports her, respects her and accompanies her during the visits to the jail – the dad could see that all she needed was his permission to move on. He wanted his young son, who barely recognized his own father, to have a positive male role model in his life – helping him through all the life challenges he has yet to face. And so, unselfishly, Willie’s dad tells the three of them through his tears that he would like them to become a family.
Willie, his mother and Duanne leave the jail with a lot on their minds. But soon, they are happily planning the wedding and are looking forward to the new life together.
Author Stanley Williams was born and raised in Illinois and has had experiences in the Marine Corps and as a correctional officer before returning to university and obtaining a degree in education. Stanley is currently working in the field of special education. He is also an active musician who has enjoyed composing songs in his spare time.
Unfortunately, I could not find any information on eco-printing or socially responsible publishing options that the publisher has chosen to employ during the production of this book; such as using vegetable inks, recycled content; carbon offset efforts or support of a charitable organization. As such I feel I must dock the book a half star.
~ Lillian Brummet: co-author of the books Trash Talk and Purple Snowflake Marketing, author of Towards Understanding; host of the Conscious Discussions radio show (www.brummet.ca)
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