Daddy’s arms are good for hugs.
They’re big and strong and colorful, too. They look kind of like one of your favorite picture books; in fact, Daddy says the drawings on his arms are just like a story to him. In the new book “Tell Me a Tattoo Story” by Alison McGhee, illustrated by Eliza Wheeler, each picture says something important.
Not a day goes by that the little boy doesn’t want to see his Daddy’s tattoos. Yes, he’s seen them before, many times, and he knows exactly why they’re there. He never gets tired of hearing about them.
The one on Daddy’s shoulder is a picture from a book that his mother used to read to him when he was a little boy, a long time ago. She read that book “over and over and over,” and Daddy remembered it well.
The tattoo under Daddy’s wrist is a reminder of something that his Daddy used to say. Daddy has great memories of his father, the kindness he showed, and the lessons he taught. The tattoo is just two words, but it helps keep those words fresh.
The big colorful tattoo on Daddy’s arm? Oh, that reminds him of a very good day when he met the most beautiful girl in the world and saw her dazzling smile.
But the “dinky little heart” tattoo on Daddy’s chest — the one with the numbers inside it — that’s the little boy’s favorite one of all. There’s something very special about it, and its story is very meaningful.
It might, in fact, be the most important tattoo of all.
With a different spin on the classic tell-me-about-the-day-I-was-born preschooler favorite, McGhee brings a dad’s version of a child’s life to the page. It’s lovingly obvious that the dad has told this story many times, because he only hints at certain parts; still, it’s familiar and comforting to the boy, who’s heard it all before. I loved the implied intimacy of that family tale, and the way it’s told.
No children’s picture book is complete without pictures, of course, and Wheeler does an exceptional job in this one. Look closely at the dad, at what he’s doing and what he remembers. You’ll be charmed.
This is a sweet book for kids ages 3 to 6, especially if you’ve got a tat tale to tell. In that case, your child will naturally want “Tell Me a Tattoo Story” in his arms tonight.
“Tell Me a Tattoo Story,” by Alison McGhee [32 pages, 2016, $16.99].
Terri Schlichenmeyer has been reading since she was 3 years old, and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill with two dogs and 12,000 books.
