Going Down Home with Daddy

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Going Down Home with Daddy is a 32-page picture book by Kelly Starling Lyons, with illustrations by Daniel Minter. Published by Peachtree on April 1, 2019, it tells the story of a young boy named Alan who goes with his family to a big reunion at his great-grandmother’s house.

Alan is excited but worried he won’t have anything to share at the celebration, since his sister and cousins plan songs, poems, or a scrapbook. On a tractor ride, Alan’s father talks about their family’s history, including the cotton fields their ancestors worked in, and tells him to think with his heart. The next day, after reflecting on this history, Alan gathers cotton, a pecan, and some dirt to present as a tribute to his family’s land and his great-grandparents. The tribute is warmly received, and Alan looks forward to next year’s reunion.

Lyons was inspired to write the book after visiting a family gathering in rural Georgia, and she based the character of Alan on her own son. Minter, from Ellaville, Georgia, created the warm, acrylic wash illustrations and included Adinkra symbols from Ghanaian culture in the backgrounds to connect the Southern Black experience with West African roots. The artwork also features details like okra, cowrie shell earrings, and cornrows on Alan’s great-grandmother.

Critics praised the book for its themes of family, heritage, and place, and for Minter’s illustrations, which many described as dreamy and layered. It earned a 2020 Caldecott Honor for Minter’s art—the first Caldecott honor for a Peachtree book—and the 2019 Lupine Award in the Picture Book category. An audiobook read by Daxton Edwards was released in January 2020 and was a finalist for an Audie Award.