Heavenly Father, Will You Be My Daddy?
Story by Sonia O’Bryan
Illustrations by Sophia Jones

“He promises to be a father to the fatherless.” Psalms 68: 5A (NIV)

The Story

The idea to write a children’s book about my daughter growing up without a father started a few years ago when Esabelle brought home an assignment to create her family tree. A typical family tree with the mother’s family on one side and the father’s family on the other side. However, her tree would remain unfinished, and although this started the conversation about different family units, I floundered with an explanation that she would understand.

Around that same time, I was teaching a Children’s Literature course at BSU, where my college students were tasked with creating a personal narrative. I made the comment that someday I would like to write a book of my own, but I didn’t know what I would write about. And, in that moment, God gave me the title Heavenly Father, Will You Be My Daddy? and Esa’s story was born.

This book uses Bible verses to send a message of hope and assurance of God’s love for all children.

Esa and Sonia on one of their many adventures.