The emphasis of the text is on the father's absence; the illustrations show two women and at least one mother in the military in a book perfect for families looking for a little reassurance about their experiences.
Including subtle yet important history and geography lessons, Wolo’s book gives readers an opportunity to become immersed in West African culture while realizing the lessons of growing up include universal experiences: prejudice, poverty, and self-determination.
When presented with difficult choices, music provides the focus and motivation for a boy to live up to a father’s advice and remember his mother’s love in this necessary paean to familial love.