A review of My Daddy is a Cowboy
by
Stephanie
Seales
This gorgeous books tells the story of a young girl who wakes up before the sun for a chance to ride with her Daddy, just the two of them. After collecting apple slices from Abuelita, they are out the door before the sun is up, feeding and grooming the horses under a starry sky. Our protagonist usually rides after school, but today is special because she gets to ride through the streets, like a cowboy, like her Daddy. As the sky starts to lighten, they ride past houses with darkened windows, past the panadería with layered cakes in the window, waving at the few cars that drive by.
After their ride when Daddy asks what her favorite part was, she responds, "just us time!" What a sweet and heartwarming story.
The oil on watercolor paper illustrations are incredibly stunning, from the vibrant colors and joy emanating from each page, to the amazingly expressive faces of the characters, and the details that set the scene, like Abuela's coffe mug showing the Panamanian flag. This is a book to pour over for multiple readings, soaking up both story and pictures until you are left feeling lighter.
My Daddy is a Cowboy is a 2025 Randolph Caldecott Honor Book and winner of the 2025 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Book Award. Read more about all the 2025 ALA Youth Media Award Winners here.