Full of color, attitude, and heart, this picture book is a perfect read aloud for all the dancers, move-busters, and boogie-downers in the family! A must-have for Father's Day!

At last, the day of daddy-daughter dance is finally here! To get ready for their special night out, Mona and Daddy transform their entire day into a special dance routine. They boogie, shuffle, and slide to the hair salon, the nail place, and the dress store. Even when Daddy trips, he reminds his baby girl that the groove inside us never stops. But when they arrive, the dance has been cancelled! How will Mona, Daddy, and the other families get their chance to get down?

BIO

Malcolm Newsome is an author from the Chicago area. He writes picture books with the aim of bringing hope and possibility to as many young people as he can. He is the author Dear Star Baby and Sydney’s Big Speech, and several more forthcoming titles. When he’s not writing or spending time with family, you’ll probably find him either reading, spending time outside in his mini-orchard, making homemade pop (not soda!), baking bread, or being a lumberjack.

Jenin Mohammed was born and raised in Florida. She is the illustrator of many beloved books including They Built Me for Freedom, The Band in Our Basement, When I Wrap My Hair, Naming Ceremony, Song in the City, and more. Thanks to her Christian/ Muslim upbringing, she is on a never-ending quest to find halal versions of her favorite southern dishes. Jenin’s interests include creating henna art, freestyle rapping (very badly), and pen-tapping offbeat.

REVIEWS

"Newsome shares a familiar yet powerful story about the special love between father and daughter, and about finding silver linings, while giving plenty of chances for families and story hour attendees to find reason to dance. Mohammed’s artwork shines as a colorful scrapbook come to life, adding depth to Mona’s relationship with Daddy on the endpapers. The collaboration between author and illustrator is on full display, showcasing the bond between father and daughter, but also reflecting the real world in its stellar depiction of all kinds of families... A joyful family-centric addition to all collections." -- School Library Journal, starred review

"Newsome’s jazzy text is suffused with energy, while Mohammed’s bright and funky artwork, consisting of paper collage alongside digital and analog inks, gives a textured, flowing look to the duo’s dance day even as sometimes Daddy’s moves go awry, to humorous effect. A party in a book that illustrates movement and connection in more ways than one." -- Kirkus Reviews

[H]  Henry Holt & Company (BYR)  /  October 21, 2025

0.4" H x 10.2" L x 10.1" W (0.95 lbs) 40 pages

For ages 4 - 8