Father’s Day is coming up soon, and, while every day is a great day to celebrate dads, this holiday gives me an opportunity to highlight some children’s picture books that shine a light on the significant ways fathers impact the lives of their children.
Daddy's Hugs and Snuggles, opens a new window by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Jane Massey
This board book shows a variety of fathers with their babies and toddlers as they go through their days, from waking up in the morning through breakfast, play time, lunch, bath, and bedtime. This sweet book full of hugs, kisses, and smiles is just right for a cuddly read with a little one on your lap.
Daddy Dressed Me, opens a new window by Michael Gardner and Ava Gardner, illustrated by Nadia Fisher
Ava’s dad is good at many things. Most of all, he is good at sewing. Each year, Ava’s dad has been making her dresses for the holidays and for the Daddy-Daughter Dance. When Ava gets worried about reciting a poem on stage at the kindergarten celebration, Ava’s dad decides a special dress will help give her the confidence she needs. Ava and her dad work together to create the design and pick out the perfect fabric. While her dad sews her dress, Ava works on memorizing the poem, and, by the night of the celebration, Ava looks and feels “strong and beautiful” and ready. Based on a true story, with backmatter that includes information about the Gardners’ real lives.
Daddy & Me, Side by Side, opens a new window by Pierce Freelon, illustrated by Nadia Fisher
A father and his young son go on a camping adventure in the woods. They hike and fish, while the father tells stories about how he and Pop-Pop did these same things when he was a boy, recounting how he had climbed over the same boulders and fished from the same spot. Together, father and son remember Pop-Pop and talk about how much they miss him.
Daddy, Tell Me A Story, opens a new window by Kathleen Long Bostrom, illustrated by Ela Smietanka
It’s Sophie’s bedtime, and that means it is story time. According to Sophie, her dad’s made-up stories are the best. As her dad begins, Sophie interjects and makes a small correction, making the main character a princess instead of a queen. Dad continues to craft and tell the made-up story, and Sophie continues to give input about things that should be changed. In the end, the story is just perfect, and Sophie falls asleep telling her dad “you always tell the best stories.”
A Pinecone!, opens a new window By Helen Yoon
Daddy and daughter are out for a walk with their dog, when the dog suddenly starts zipping around, wildly yanking the poor dad along on the end of the leash. The little girl doesn’t notice a thing, as she is captivated by all the pinecones she is finding. While the dad wrangles the dog, carries him home, and wrestles him into a bath, the little girl follows behind, collecting pinecones the entire time. By the time the dad has finished with the dog, the little girl has stuffed pinecones into every nook and cranny in the house and piled them inside her room. This silly story captures the joyful exuberance of children and the parental exasperation that sometimes results.
Two Wheels, opens a new window by David Gibb, illustrated by Brizida Magro
In a house full of bicyclists, it can be hard being a little kid. Dad has several kinds of bikes: one for racing, one for trails, one for riding with Mom--even one where he can almost lie down. Mom has her own bike and so does big brother. When the youngest gets tired of riding in the baby seat, Dad introduces a tricycle, then a balance bike, then finally a bike with training wheels. Dad and child practice every day until Dad finally says it’s time and removes the training wheels. Now, everyone in the family is riding on two wheels!
Darcie Caswell is Director of Youth Services at CRRL. This column originally appeared in The Free Lance-Star newspaper.
