Daddy and Me

``What you will see here is a portrait of Arthur and Camera as they care for each other on bad days and play together as father and daughter on good days,'' writes Arthur Ashe's widow, Moutoussamy-Ashe, in her introductory note. Anything but sentimental or maudlin, her photographs effectively and affectingly chronicle daily interactions between Camera and her father after he contracted AIDS. In a straightforward, first-person narrative accompanying the pictures, Camera talks about how she helps her father through his ``bad'' days, and how he does the same for her. As the book comes to a close, she explains how ``Daddy got AIDS from a blood transfusion during a heart operation.'' Her final words (``And one thing's for sure--I love my daddy and my daddy loves me. That is the best medicine and we both agree!'') give no indication that Ashe died. As written, the book allows parents to direct their own discussions about AIDS, and reinforces the impression that Camera's special relationship with her father will live forever in her memory. Ages 4-8. (Dec.)