Just the Two of Us
by Will Smith, Kadir Nelson

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Book Reviews of Just the Two of Us

Book Review: The Magic of Fatherhood as a Sole Caregiving Parent
Summary: 5 Stars

The book builds from a father's reminiscences about what it was like to become a man, a father, and then to take on the sole parenting role after a divorce. Every father will remember having these same emotions, and will be glad to have memories of them reawakened.

The book begins with:

"I told my parents I wanted to build a castle in the sky."

"'Here's a pencil and paper, let's draw the plans,' they replied."

The book ends with:

"My son told me he wanted to build a castle in the sky."

"'Here's a pencil and paper, let's draw the plans,' I replied."

The song has many other inspiring lyrics that work well here. Some of my favorites include:

"I pledge my life to you."

"a little me"

"I wanna kiss you all the time."

"I try to be a tough dad, but you keep making me laugh . . . ."

"It didn't work out with me and your mom . . ./You were conceived in love."

"One day some girl's gonna break your heart."

"Throughout life people will make you mad . . . /Let God deal with the things they do . . . ."

"Always tell the truth, say your prayers/Hold doors, pull out chairs, easy on the swears."

Some people may be bothered by the colloquial words and grammar. If the book were not based on a song, that would be a problem. But I found the usages helped with the mood. This is just an ordinary man, with feet of clay, doing his best. If his grammar isn't perfect, that's just part of portraying his character.

Some readers may not like the way the rhymes scan. Some rhymes are definitely forced, but others lines flow nicely. If I were to judge the book as poetry, I would definitely grade it down for these problems. But in the context of the musical experience, I found it worked all right. So it is just a missed opportunity to be even better.

I found the recollections of what it was like before going to the hospital, the experiences there, and coming home to be especially moving.

I hope other authors will take on these important moments of fatherhood and give them their own special interpretation, as well.

The illustrations should be singled out for special praise. They create a magical mood that allows your mind to experience the book as both memory and movie while the music plays on. Whether you are black or have some other color skin, you will identify directly with the characters in these illustrations without thinking about what their color is. That is a fine achievement in portraying universal expressions of love.

Almost any father would be delighted to have this book as a gift for father's day from a daughter or son.

After you finish reading the book, take a moment to reflect on your father or your experiences as a father. If your father is still alive, share with him some of your memories of when it was "just the two of us" when you were growing up.

Be inspired by the most precious and optimistic memories you have!

Summary of Just the Two of Us

If you were a radio-owner on planet Earth circa 1998, you might have a hard time not bobbing your head--and, yes, maybe even rapping--along with this book from Will "Big Willie Style" Smith and illustrator Kadir Nelson.

That's because the words for Just the Two of Us are lifted from the lyrics to Smith's smash-hit single of the same name, a remake of the Bill Withers classic. True to the song, this radiantly drawn picture book follows a father as he watches his son grow into a man. Tender imagery (especially for hip-hop) details the dad's early, unfamiliar struggles with everything from child car seats to CD-ROMs, his aspirations ("Sometimes I wonder what you're gonna be, a general, a doctor, maybe an MC"), his worries ("Ooh there ain't no pain like from the opposite sex"), and his attempts to impart wisdom ("Always tell the truth, say your prayers, hold doors, pull out chairs, easy on the swears").

Nelson, whose work has appeared in everything from Sports Illustrated to The New Yorker, seems an ideal foil for Smith's colloquial stylings, contributing rich, vibrantly colored spreads that evocatively capture the subject matter without being overly sentimental. A must for fans of Will Smith, especially "all the fathers out there holdin' it down" (to whom Smith gives "special props"). (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes

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