15 Children’s Books about Dads on Father’s Day
If you’ve been collecting children’s books to share with your kids, you might be wondering ‘where the dads are at’? Seems like dads aren’t getting the attention they deserve! How often do we see dads depicted like nasty characters, staring down their noses, faces half blocked by a newspaper, too busy to care? Are most dads like this?
We know most dads aren’t like this! And believe it or not, there are some very choice reads that show papa bear in a more dignified light. So we put together this list of 15 children’s books about dads. Father’s day is just around the corner, so why not?
1. Danny champion of the World
By Roald Dahl
Age/Interest level: 5+
From Amazon: Danny has a life any boy would love—his home is a gypsy caravan, he’s the youngest master car mechanic around, and his best friend is his dad, who never runs out of wonderful stories to tell. But one night Danny discovers a shocking secret that his father has kept hidden for years. Soon Danny finds himself the mastermind behind the most incredible plot ever attempted against nasty Victor Hazell, a wealthy landowner with a bad attitude. Can they pull it off? If so, Danny will truly be the champion of the world.
2. The Night Before Father’s Day
By Natasha Wing
Age/Interest level: 3+
From Amazon: It’s the night before Father’s Day, and Mom and the kids have a plan to surprise Dad with a special gift. When Dad goes for a bike ride, everyone gets to work. Dad wakes up the next day to find his garage newly organized and his car sparkly clean. So, of course, he celebrates by taking everyone for a spin!
3. What Dads Can’t Do
By Douglas Wood
Age/Interest level: 3+
From Amazon: There are lots of things that regular people can do but dads can’t. Dads can’t cross the street without holding hands. They can push, but can’t swing. When dads play hide-and-seek they always get found, but they have a hard time finding you. Dads really need to be kissed good night at bedtime. It’s a wonder they make it through life at all!
4. Darth Vader and Son
By Jeffrey Brown
Age/Interest level: 3+
From Amazon: What if Darth Vader took an active role in raising his son? What if Luke, I am your father” was just a stern admonishment from an annoyed dad? In this hilarious and sweet comic reimagining, Darth Vader is a dad like any other-except with all the baggage of being the Dark Lord of the Sith. Celebrated artist Jeffrey Brown’s delightful illustrations give classic Star Wars moments a fresh twist, presenting the trials and joys of parenting through the lens of a galaxy far, far away. Life lessons include lightsaber batting practice, using the Force to raid the cookie jar, Take Your Child to Work Day on the Death Star, and the special bond shared between any father and son.”
5. The Ten Best Things About My Dad
By Christine Loomis
Age/Interest level: 3+
From Amazon: Dad plays games with me. Dad teaches me right from wrong. Dad reads stories to me. And best of all he’s mine!
6. Every Friday
By Dan Yaccarino
Age/Interest level: 3+
From Amazon: All week long, a boy and his father look forward to their Friday ritual―breakfast at their favorite diner. The leisurely walk through the neighborhood is just as good as the pancakes at the end.
Dan Yaccarino’s bright, distinctive art style and sweet, simple story about father-son bonding make Every Friday an all-around crowd-pleaser. The weekly tradition will appeal to children who have similar routines with their parents, and kids who don’t have such a tradition will be asking their dads to start one! It’s a perfect gift book, too―just in time for Father’s Day.
7. That’s Papa’s Way
By Kate Banks
Age/Interest level: 3+
From Amazon: A father and his little girl set out early one morning to go fishing. The girl watches her father closely, noticing how he plucks the worms from the soil with his bare hands, not with a trowel as she does. How he casts his fishing line far out into the lake, while she drops hers over the side of the boat. How patient he is waiting for the fish to bite, while she is restless. His way does not match hers, but that’s just fine. In the end she gives Papa an affectionate pat on the back when he catches a fish, just as he patted her back earlier when she caught one.
8. Just Me and My Dad
By Mercer Mayer
Age/Interest level: 3+
From Amazon: A small creature describes a camping trip that he and his father take.
9. The Berenstain Bears and The Papa’s Day Surprise
By Stan Berenstain
Age/Interest level: 5+
From Amazon: Come for a visit in Bear Country with this classic First Time Book from Stan and Jan Berenstain. It’s Father’s Day, and Papa thinks that Mama and the cubs have forgotten all about it . . . but they are actually planning something very special for him. Includes over 50 bonus stickers!
10. David’s Father
By Robert Munsch
Age/Interest level: 5+
From Amazon: Julie learns that families come in all shapes—and sizes.
11. My Dad Thinks He’s Funny
By Katrina Germein
Age/Interest level: 5+
From Amazon: When his son says “I’m hungry,” Dad says, “Hello, Hungry. Pleased to meet you.” Before slicing a cake for dessert, Dad announces, “There’s my piece. What’s everybody else having?” Tell Dad your foot hurts? “No problem. You’ve got another.” How is he feeling? “With my hands.” So when nothing’s up but the sky, or when jumping in the shower sounds dangerous, it may be a good time to share this book with someone who doesn’t need sugar because, well, they’re sweet enough already.
12. Made by Dad: 67 Blueprints for Making Cool Stuff
By Scott Bedford
Age/Interest level: 5+
From Amazon: The Snail Soup Can Decoy to keep the candy stash safe. The Customizable “Keep Out” Sign to deter meddlesome siblings and parents. A Bunk Bed Communicator made from cardboard tubes (“Psst! Can you keep the snoring down?”). Clever, whimsical, and kind of genius, here are 67 unique projects that will turn any dad with DIY leanings into a mad scientist hero that his kid(s) will adore.
13. Thunder Boy Jr.
By Sherman Alexie
Age/Interest level: 5+
From Amazon: Thunder Boy Jr. is named after his dad, but he wants a name that’s all his own. Just because people call his dad Big Thunder doesn’t mean he wants to be Little Thunder. He wants a name that celebrates something cool he’s done, like Touch the Clouds, Not Afraid of Ten Thousand Teeth, or Full of Wonder.
But just when Thunder Boy Jr. thinks all hope is lost, he and his dad pick the perfect name…a name that is sure to light up the sky.
14. A New Year’s Reunion: A Chinese Story
By Yu Li-Qiong
Age/Interest level: 3+
From Amazon: This poignant, vibrantly illustrated tale, which won the prestigious Feng Zikai Chinese Children’s Picture Book Award in 2009, is sure to resonate with every child who misses relatives when they are away — and shows how a family’s love is strong enough to endure over time and distance.
15. Interrupting Chicken
By David Ezra Stein
Age/Interest level: 5+
From Amazon: It’s time for the little red chicken’s bedtime story —and a reminder from Papa to try not to interrupt. But the chicken can’t help herself! Whether the tale is HANSEL AND GRETEL or LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD or even CHICKEN LITTLE, she jumps into the story to save its hapless characters from doing some dangerous or silly thing. Now it’s the little red chicken’s turn to tell a story, but will her yawning papa make it to the end without his own kind of interrupting? Energetically illustrated with glowing colors —and offering humorous story-within-a-story views —this all-too-familiar tale is sure to amuse (and hold the attention of) spirited little chicks.
Did we miss any of your favourite Father focused books? Let us know in the comments below!
Want to get more Dads in the limelight? Share this infographic and let’s give the dads a little more love! Take a look below (or click here to view it full-sized in another tab)
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