I know it hasn’t been that long since our last post about Dad-themed children’s books, but since then, we took a trip to the library and discovered a whole new treasure trove of Dad-themed children’s books! Many of these were published in the last year, and we couldn’t not share these with you! So, in no particular order, here they are:
1. It’s Great Being a Dad by Dan Bar-el, illustrated by Gina Perry. This book is part of the wave of Dad children’s books that was published earlier this year, and it’s a fun book! It starts out in a magical land of Loch Ness monsters, unicorns, and robots, but when they run into trouble, Dad is there to save the day! This is a perfect read for Halloween but is great anytime of the year. We also love that this book features diverse characters.
2. Dad’s First Day, written and illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka. Another library find! This is a sweet and humorous story about an at-home dad who’s nervous about his son starting school. Although our son is still quite a ways from kindergarten, we are familiar with the feeling of not being ready for certain milestones. More than that, there aren’t enough books about at-home dads (in fact, this is the only one we can think of), so we love that this book fills an underserved niche.
3. Daddy Honk Honk!, written and illustrated by Rosalind Bonnet. Aput the fox finds an abandoned goose egg and, when it hatches, tries to look for a new home for the little gosling. Little does he know, though, that the little gosling will start to grow on him and win a place in his heart! I love this book because it tackles the subject of adoption, which is another underserved niche. The illustrations are also adorable.
4. My Daddy Rules the World, written and illustrated by Hope Anita Smith. In a series of quiet paper-cut illustrations, this book celebrates everyday moments between fathers and their children, from bike-riding to wrestling matches to bedtime snuggles. Each illustration is accompanied by a poem. We love the diverse showcase of fathers in the book as well.
5. Little Wolf’s First Howling, by Laura McGee Kvasnosky and illustrated by Kate Harvey McGee. This is a fun book for Dads and babies to read together! Little Wolf can’t wait to start howling at the full moon, and he and his dad start practicing their howls. We guarantee that reading this out loud will delight any baby old enough to understand. The illustrations are also beautiful: bold outlines with soft, intricate details.
6. Daddy Long Legs, by Nadine Brun-Cosme, illustrated by Aurélie Guillerey. This book is like an opposite “Runaway Bunny.” Matthew’s dad drops him off at school, but Matthew is worried that something might happen to prevent his dad from coming back to pick him up. He poses one hypothetical after another, with his Dad reassuring him after each question that he will be there, by teddy bear, by dragon, and finally by his own long legs himself!
7. Rory the Dinosaur: Me and My Dad, by Liz Climo. A gentler “Runaway Bunny”-type tale, Rory the dinosaur goes on a series of adventures around their island, thinking all the while how excited he will be to tell his dad about them! But although Dad is just one step behind him, he’s rad enough to let Rory think that he’s had a fantastic adventure all by himself!
Rad Dad Box 