Tag: dads

Dad And The Dinosaur (Gennifer Choldenko)

Leave a comment


Hello, friends! Today’s book is Dad And The Dinosaur, written by Gennifer Choldenko and illustrated by Dan Santat, a poignant story about fear, courage, and the bond between fathers and sons.

Nicholas is afraid of some things: the dark, the bushes where the big bugs live, the world under the manhole covers, even the opposing soccer team’s big goalie. But Nicholas has a secret to overcoming his fears: his dinosaur. He keeps his dinosaur with him always, in his pockets or tucked in his sock, because the dinosaur is never scared of anything and helps make Nicholas feel brave. That is, until the day that Nick loses his dinosaur on the soccer field and must return home through the scary dark before he is able to find him. Nicholas is too embarrassed to reveal that his dinosaur was the one making him brave, but if he doesn’t tell someone, how will he ever get his dinosaur back? All seems lost… until Nicholas’s dad, Big Nick, is able to find a way to help his son.

This one was really beautiful. There are some wonderful lessons to take away: that it’s okay to feel afraid, and that opening up to your parents when you’re upset, even if you find your problem embarrassing, means that they can often help you and are more than happy to. I didn’t love that Nicholas felt that he couldn’t show weakness to his mother, but it did foster the trusting bond between him and his father, so it’s easy to overlook. Santat’s art is a perfect fit here, mixing the real world with the sublime seamlessly, using color and atmosphere to bring Nicholas’s imagination to life. The length is great, and JJ and I both really enjoyed this one. A touching story, especially for fathers to share with sons, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

Top 5: Books About Dads

Leave a comment

top

Hello, friends! As June comes to a close, we’re here with our latest Top 5 List! Since many of you enjoyed last month’s Top 5 Books About Moms, and we celebrated Father’s Day in June, we decided to follow up with a list of our favorite books about dads and the special relationship they share with their little ones.

So without further ado, here are The Baby Bookworm’s Top 5 Books About Dads:

1. My Dad Thinks He’s Funny (Katrina Germein)

13417617_10204897887126578_3011380362063345829_n

Dad jokes: love them or hate them, dads always seem to have a natural ability to make them. Be it puns that make us groan, goofy behavior that makes us blush, or the embarrassment of dads being daaaaads, we’ve all experienced the unique attempts at comedy that only fathers can provide. This is a great send-up of dad jokes, told from the point of view of an exasperated little boy and chock full of eye-rolling dad jokes. Tom Jellett’s collage-style illustrations create a unique world that is enjoyable and supports the humor well. It’s a sweet story with a moral that so many of us (especially those who have been through our teenage years) can relate to: while our dads can be terribly mortifying, we love them anyway. And yes, sometimes they can even make us laugh.

2. Daddy’s First Day (Mike Wohnoutka)

13532870_10204938803269456_463460851647992425_n

A hilariously sweet role-reversal story that made us (especially JJ’s daddy) grin. The first day of school can be a rite of passage that’s tough on everyone; especially, it seems, Oliver’s dad. After a summer of playing, reading, and spending time together, it’s time for Oliver’s first day of school, and he’s feeling pretty nervous. Oh no, Oliver’s not feeling nervous – but his dad is! Watching Oliver’s dad procrastinate dropping his son off at school, even projecting his feelings of trepidation onto his Oliver, is as humorous as it feels true; what parent doesn’t feel a bit unprepared to send their baby off to school for the first time? The art has a simple, earnest style that fits the guileless nature of the story. Overall, it’s a funny yet heartfelt tale of a devoted dad learning to let his little one grow, no matter how scary that might be.

3. Stella Brings The Family (Miriam B. Schiffer)

img_3492

June is also Pride Month, so we definitely wanted to include this fantastic story that combines LGBTQ families and celebrating the many roles that dads can have in their children’s lives. When Stella’s class is putting together a Mother’s Day party, she isn’t sure who to invite: while she has two daddies whom she adores, she doesn’t actually have a mother. Speaking to her teacher and classmates, she realizes that her fathers and extended family give her all the love and support that she needs, so she decides to invite all of them. While appearing feather-light on the surface, this is a story with great depth that shows that children in loving non-traditional families are in no way “missing out” in the places that their families differ from the nuclear model. Adorably sweet illustrations by Holly Clifton-Brown and a well-paced story create a fantastic celebration of families and the many shapes and forms they come in, and how having two fathers who love you is a point of pride.

4. My Dad Used To Be So Cool by Keith Negley

img_2123

This one is as much for the parents as it is for the kids, and we loved it. A little boy is pretty sure his dad used to be cool: he has tattoos, he used to ride a motorcycle, he even used to be in a band. But now he’s mostly just a normal, loving, chore-doing and only occasionally mortifying dad. The boy ponders what could have made his father change his lifestyle (the implied joke being, of course, that becoming a father did). Baby Bookworms like JJ will love the boldly-colored mod art style, and the former rockstars and rebels among us will definitely have a chuckle as the book reminds them of their pre-parenting wild days. There’s a sweet conclusion, too: while the glory days of rebellion may get left behind, being a loving daddy to a little one is classicly, timelessly cool.

5. Daddy Cuddle (Kate Mayes)

img_2650

Sweet, simple, and full of charm. A little bunny is the first to wake in his house, and rushes to wake his father and start the day. But no matter what activities the bunny tries to rouse his dozing father with, nothing seems to tempt the sleeping parent to wakefulness. At last, after the little bunny gives a frustrated shout, Daddy wakes up and, chuckling, pulls his little one into bed for early morning snuggles – the best activity to start a sleepy day with. Darling watercolor art by Sara Acton and simple two-word dialogue make this a great story for even the youngest baby bookworms. A heartfelt ode to both the boundless early-morning energy of little ones and the quiet, cuddly moments between father and child.

So, what do you think? Did we miss any of your favorites? Do you have a book about mothers you would like to recommend to us? Let us know in the comments, or message us from our Contact page. Thanks so much, and happy reading!

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale (Mo Willems)

Leave a comment


Hello friends, and Happy Father’s Day! We’re back after a week off, and excited to share our review of a family favorite, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems, a hilarious autobiographical story of a girl, her dad, and her unusually-named best friend.

One day, Trixie and her daddy go for a walk to the laundromat, bringing along Trixie’s constant companion: a stuffed rabbit named Knuffle Bunny. Toddler Trixie is excited for the fun to be had, happily “helping” her father with the chore. The pair finish loading the washer and begin the walk home when Trixie realizes something. She attempts to tell her daddy the problem, but her babbling baby talk does not convey her distress. Her daddy thinks that Trixie is simply being fussy, and attempts to continue on their way. Well, this leaves Trixie no choice – she throws a walloping tantrum to communicate her complaint. By the time the pair return home, they are both frustrated, until Trixie’s Mommy opens the door and asks the magic question: “Where’s Knuffle Bunny?”

This is a favorite in our household, and no matter how many times we read it, it always gets a laugh. From the simple yet wonderfully expressive illustrations, to the sweet moments of father and daughter bonding, to the intensely relatable slice-of-life story that will make anyone with a toddler sympathize with both Trixie and her daddy, it’s a perfectly-paced tale that will please readers of any age. The distinctive style of art that incorporates illustrations over black and white photos of real-world environments gives the story a feeling of authenticity, and the length is perfect. JJ and I both love this one, and we highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a sweet story about the challenges and joys of being a perfectly imperfect father. Baby Bookworm approved!

My Dad Used To Be So Cool (Keith Negley)

Leave a comment

img_2123

Hello, friends! Our book today is My Dad Used To Be So Cool by Keith Negley, a very funny story about formerly-cool parents and the kids we love to embarrass.

The book’s narrator, a little boy, is pretty sure his dad used to be cool. He has tattoos, he used to ride a motorcycle, he may have even been in a band (the little boy isn’t sure, but he has some evidence that makes him think so, like the drum kit in the closet). As the duo get ready to go to the park, the little boy imagines what his dad must have been like when he was cool, and wonders what made him change. But after a day of laughter and play, the boy decides that his dad is still pretty cool… and only occasionally mortifying.

This one was great, and was definitely as much for parents as their little ones. While baby bookworms like JJ will love the bright, boldly-colored mod-style illustrations and the story about the bond between fathers and their children, parents who have left their rockstar and rebel days behind for parenthood (as so many of us have) will definitely get a laugh out of the little boy’s musings about what might have made his dad give up being so darn cool. The length is perfect, and this one is just fun for the whole family, especially to those parents who can look back fondly (and with humor) on their wild glory days. Baby Bookworm approved!