Daddy Doesn't Have to Be a Giant Anymore

by Jane Resh Thomas

Told from the daughter's point of view, this is the poignant, authentic story of a family's battle with a father's alcoholism.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0395694272
• ISBN13: 9780395694275
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Length: 46 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 7.3" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 5 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

A child's perception of a father's drinking and recovery

This illustrated book is told from the elementary school aged daughter's point of view. It describes her reactions to her alcoholic father's mood swings and erratic behavior. When he is drunk and loud, she perceives him as a frightening "giant." She is present when family and friends arrange a supportive confrontation. The father's family and friends each tell him how his drinking has affected them. Finally the girl tells her father how his drinking affects her. Her words along with those of the others present break down the father's denial. He is then able to realize that he needs to enter residential treatment. When he returns from the treatment, he is on the road to sobriety. He takes the loving yet painful step of apologizing to his daughter for his past behavior. This book takes a more optimistic view of a parent's drinking than does "I Wish Daddy Didn't Drink So Much." I liked the way the book so vividly the girl's view of the frightening "giant" father. The book would be useful for children who are dealing with a parent in early recovery from drug or alcohol addiction. It would also be a good read for an alcoholic of drug addicted parent who was contemplating recovery. It would also help a recovering parent who is struggling to find the words to make amends to a child. I did have a concern about to depiction of the little girl in the confrontation session. Confrontations can be a powerful way of getting an addict into treatment. However, such a meeting is intense and it might not be appropriate for a small child to attend. I would not want a child to mistakenly feel that he or she has the power or responsibility to get the parent to stop drinking. Parents or professionals should read this book with the child and make sure that the child understands this point.