Steven Layne is a prolific writer of children's books. He has written alphabet books to young adult books and everything in between. In a seven month period, Steven became a father and lost his father. He went looking for a book about dads. He realized that dads are viewed very shallowly based on the books available and was led to write Verses for Dad's Heart.
Poetry Theme
The nineteen poems in this book are written with love and devotion. The author borrows the voice of a child at the beginning of the book to write the early poems. The early poems are light hearted and and offer a child's perspective on what makes his father special. As the book progresses it deals with teenage issues such as looking for independence and freedom. Finally the book deals with loss and how a dad can help comfort us at this point. The verses are inspirational and will touch the hearts of children, of all ages from grade school through adult, and their fathers.
Illustrations
Gail Greaves Klinger has done an amazing job of illustrating this book. She used pastal colors on muted backgrounds to add to the reverence which comes across in the verses. The illustrations feature multi cultural families with children and fathers of all ages to coincide with the poems. The illustrations show the love and devotion of fathers and add to the tone of the poems.
Background of the Book
After the birth of his son and the death of his father, Steven Layne desired to find a book about dads. He went looking and was given a book about auto repair. He returned home angry at the way dads are viewed and promptly sat down and wrote the poem "Remember." This poem was full of emotion and written in what he soon realized was teenage Steven's voice. He went on to write "Mr. Fix-It" in a much younger Steven's voice. He also wrote a piece he wished his own son would someday write about him. Other poems quickly followed, and the book was created.
Uses for This Book
This book would make a wonderful present for dads at anytime of the year. It brings across the love everyone feels for their father. The poems in this book will have the reader alternately laughing and crying from the emotions portrayed in them. Each reader will find himself relating on a personal level to at least one of the poems in this book.
A companion book for moms, Verses for Mom's Heart by the same author, is also available.
Verses for Dad's Heart by Steven Layne, Illustrated by Gail Greaves Klinger
Pelican Publishing, 2005
ISBN: 978-1589801455
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