Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

A loving father bakes at work and at home to make a life for his child and himself.Under a full moon, Dad wakes and walks to work. Streetlights glow as an elevated train passes, and the Rise Up Bakery beckons with its warm light. Inside, Dad works side by side through the night with racially diverse bakers of different ages, returning home in the morning. While he rests, his capable child keeps busy till it's time to wake Dad. Together they make bread and share in small moments while waiting for the dough to rise-reading, gardening, playing dress-up and soccer. At last they enjoy the teddy-bear–shaped bread on their rooftop before Dad tucks his little one into bed. These peaceful vignettes weave a picture of love and devotion, of parenthood and childhood enjoyed to its fullest. Heartfelt painterly illustrations offer a much-needed depiction of the diversity of fathers. Here, Dad is of Asian descent with a shaved bald head, brown skin, and an abundance of tattoos. Yamasaki's simple text is accessible to even young readers. Her author's note also brings a new dimension to the story, as she dedicates it to families affected by incarceration and the organizations helping them to rebuild their lives. Subtle hints that incarceration is a part of the main characters' past are in the opening, wordless spreads, showing the child reading a box of letters from Dad. (This book was reviewed digitally.)Full of quiet moments of joy and affirmation. (Picture book. 3-7)

ALA Booklist (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

This slice-of-life picture book captures the loving relationship between an Asian father and daughter and their shared love of baking. The father, depicted in the warm and energetic illustrations as bald and tattooed, wakes up before the sun rises to go work in a bakery. After his shift with other tattooed, racially diverse workers, the father returns home for some rest, after which he and his daughter prepare dough together. While the dough rises, they participate in activities, shown through vignettes, that capture the closeness of their bond. The father later surprises his daughter with a special bake. The colorful painted artwork conveys the tender and heartwarming tone of the story. The writing is very simple and, at first glance, so is the story. It is not until the author's note at the end that the reader learns about the author's inspiration for the book, which came from her experience working in correctional facilities as a muralist. Resources to learn more about organizations helping families rebuild after incarceration cap off this heartfelt work.

Horn Book (Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)

A father wakes before the sun and heads off to work while his daughter sleeps. Alongside other tattooed bakers in hairnets and short sleeves, he starts the day preparing dough. "He scoops. / He kneads. / He rolls." After a morning of baking bread in all different shapes and sizes, the father hangs up his apron and returns home to his now-awake child. The day truly begins for this family of two once Dad has risen from his after-work nap. Now father and daughter can set to work baking their own creation -- with plenty of time for play while the dough rests -- before the sun sets. The story's text is short and poetic, directing readers' focus to the book's glorious art. Yamasaki's (Everything Naomi Loved, rev. 1/21) paintings create a dreamlike atmosphere throughout, such as in an eye-catching image showing the bakery floating among the clouds as Dad heads out the door and into the bright blue sky. Although never specifically mentioned in the text, an author's note discusses incarceration and its effects on families. Hill Saxton

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

A loving father bakes at work and at home to make a life for his child and himself.Under a full moon, Dad wakes and walks to work. Streetlights glow as an elevated train passes, and the Rise Up Bakery beckons with its warm light. Inside, Dad works side by side through the night with racially diverse bakers of different ages, returning home in the morning. While he rests, his capable child keeps busy till it's time to wake Dad. Together they make bread and share in small moments while waiting for the dough to rise-reading, gardening, playing dress-up and soccer. At last they enjoy the teddy-bear–shaped bread on their rooftop before Dad tucks his little one into bed. These peaceful vignettes weave a picture of love and devotion, of parenthood and childhood enjoyed to its fullest. Heartfelt painterly illustrations offer a much-needed depiction of the diversity of fathers. Here, Dad is of Asian descent with a shaved bald head, brown skin, and an abundance of tattoos. Yamasaki's simple text is accessible to even young readers. Her author's note also brings a new dimension to the story, as she dedicates it to families affected by incarceration and the organizations helping them to rebuild their lives. Subtle hints that incarceration is a part of the main characters' past are in the opening, wordless spreads, showing the child reading a box of letters from Dad. (This book was reviewed digitally.)Full of quiet moments of joy and affirmation. (Picture book. 3-7)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Inspired by families affected by incarceration, muralist Yamasaki (Everything Naomi Loved) follows a bald, tattooed, apparently East Asian father and his child in this deceptively simple picture book. -Dad wakes,- the volume opens; he stretches as a clock reads 3 a.m., a golden ribbon with a protracted -yawn- stretching from his mouth. Heading out through empty city streets (-The moon shines./ Dad walks-), he arrives at Rise Up! Bakery, where he joins tattooed Black and brown-skinned employees in baking bread. Author-illustrator Yamasaki offers spare, cadenced prose: -He scoops./ He kneads./ He rolls.// Dough rises./ Dad makes small rolls,/ Dad makes large loaves.- At daybreak, Dad returns home; after resting, he and his child make their own dough, waiting for it to rise as they spend time together in paneled vignettes-gardening, reading, playing soccer-before Dad gives his child a warm surprise. Richly saturated, dynamic paintings showcase expressive, inclusive community, and intricately detailed spreads offer plenty to pore over in this meditative tale centering the significance of daily rhythms as well as familial and community love. Back matter includes an affecting author-s note, including links to organizations that support formerly incarcerated people and their families. Ages 6-8. (Sept.)