Father’s Day is right around the corner and what better way to celebrate the dads (and dad-like figures!) in your life than with a book?
A Bed of Stars
By Jessica Love
40 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781536212396 | Candlewick
Going to bed each night can be dark and scary. The night sky stretches out endlessly, making one sensitive child feel small in comparison. So Dad comes up with a plan: a night of camping out in the desert. Together, the two load up Darlin’, the old pickup truck, and drive over the mountain with the radio on, stopping to shoot the breeze at a junkyard before setting up camp, jumping in sand dunes, and lying back to name all the birds they can see. After sunset, when the young thinker feels tiny against the vast sky, Dad knows just what to ask – and just what to say – to soothe away fears. Maybe this night spent under the stars (and a surprise from Mom and the baby later) are just what is needed to show that the universe is a friendly place. From acclaimed author-illustrator Jessica Love comes a story of small moments between father and child that affirms the comfort of finding one’s place in the world.
Banana
By Zoey Abbott
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735271418 | Tundra Books
My dad is the best. We love hanging out together. Recently, he got this banana. At first, we had a great time with the banana — it does cool stuff and it’s really fun. But lately he’s spending too much time with the banana. He’s distracted, and he’s not enjoying the things he used to enjoy, like hanging out with me. I don’t think this banana is good for him. It’s time to take action. Zoey Abbott tackles parental distraction in a quirky and hilarious way in this parable about too much of a good thing. With her trademark wit and engaging illustrations, she introduces a very wise kid and a not-so-wise parent who eventually see eye to eye in a story that will delight readers of all ages.
Bluey: Father’s Day Fun
40 Pages | Ages 4-6 | Paperback
ISBN 9780593386873 | Penguin Young Readers Licenses
Celebrate Father’s Day with this fun craft activity book based on the wildly successful animated series Bluey, as seen on Disney+
Find the footy, play Rug Island, create some leaf art, and more with Bluey, Bingo, and their awesome Dad, Bandit!
Daddy
By Leslie Patricelli
26 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
ISBN 9781536203820 | Candlewick
Baby’s daddy is big and strong, and his legs are so, so long. He plays horsey, he sings, he cooks, he cleans – this daddy can do anything! In a sweet, simple board book threaded with signature humor, Leslie Patricelli pays tribute to the bond between a little one and a doting daddy.
Great Job, Dad!
By Holman Wang
32 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Paperback
ISBN 9781774880371 | Tundra Books
This unique picture book for very young readers celebrates the many jobs being a parent encompasses: A receptionist scheduling important meetings (for playdates), an architect designing buildings (or pillow forts), an inspector (of diapers!) . . . When Dad gets home from his day job at the office, he never knows which job will be waiting for him, but he knows it’ll be fun! Each rhyming spread features intimate, familiar, comforting and humorous depictions of family life through a wholly original – and amazing! – needle-felted lens.
Guess How Much I Love You
By Sam McBratney
Illustrated by Anita Jeram
40 Pages | All Ages | Hardcover
ISBN 9780763674489 | Candlewick Press
Sometimes, when you love someone very, very much, you want to find a way of describing how much you treasure them. But, as Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare discover, love is not an easy thing to measure! For two decades, Sam McBratney’s timelessly endearing story, beautifully rendered in Anita Jeram’s exquisite watercolors, has captured the deep and tender bond between parent and child. Guess How Much I Love You is one of the world’s best-loved picture books. Download a pop-up Father’s Day card here.
Hair Love
By Matthew A. Cherry
Illustrated by Vashti Harrison
32 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780525553366 | Kokila
Zuri’s hair has a mind of its own. It kinks, coils, and curls every which way. Zuri knows it’s beautiful. When Daddy steps in to style it for an extra special occasion, he has a lot to learn. But he LOVES his Zuri, and he’ll do anything to make her – and her hair – happy. Tender and empowering, Hair Love is an ode to loving your natural hair – and a celebration of daddies and daughters everywhere.
How to Surprise a Dad
By Jean Reagan
Illustrated by Lee Wildish
32 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Paperback
ISBN 9780593301920 | Dragonfly Books
So you want to surprise your dad? You’re in luck! The pages of this book are full of tips on how to become a super dad surpriser, including tips for things you can make, do, or find—just for your dad.
Be sure to read up on:
· Yummy treats and presents for a dad
· What to do if he starts getting suspicious
· How to prepare for the big moment (where to hide everyone, and how to practice whispering “Surprise!”)
I Love Dad with The Very Hungry Caterpillar
By Eric Carle
32 Pages | Ages 3-5 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781524785895 | World of Eric Carle
Celebrate Dad’s special day by saying “I Love You”–with a little help from The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This bright and colorful book is the ideal way to tell the person you call “Dad” how much you appreciate him.
I Love You, Daddy!
By Edie Evans
Illustrated by Melanie Demmer
16 Pages | Ages 2-5 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781984892515 | Golden Books
Each page of this sweet rhyming Little Golden Book celebrates the love shared between dads and their young children. Spending time together camping, gardening, at the petting zoo, or even just hanging out at home is extra-special when Daddy is there! Filled with fun, colorful illustrations, this is a great gift for Valentine’s Day or Father’s Day – and a perfect read-aloud for any day!
It’s Great Being a Dad
By Dan Bar-el
Illustrated by Gina Perry
32 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781770496057 | Tundra Books
A gang of mythical creatures is roaming around a magical land having a great time, until Bigfoot gets his foot stuck in a tree trunk and Unicorn gets her horn impaled on a table and Robot’s saw-arm gets rusted into position. But have no fear! Dad is there to fix things – even when a Sneaky Flying Alligator Pirate steals the Fairy Queen Ballerina Doctor’s wand. A hilarious story about imagination, play and the best parts about being a dad.
Just Me and My Dad
By Mercer Mayer
24 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Paperback
ISBN 9780307118394 | Random House BFYR
Mercer Mayer’s Little Critter is going on a camping trip with his dad in this classic, funny, and heartwarming book. Whether he and his dad are canoeing, fishing, or building a campfire, parents and children alike will relate to this beloved story. A perfect gift for Father’s Day . . . or any day!
Leo Loves Daddy
By Anna McQuinn
Illustrated by Ruth Hearson
32 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
ISBN 9781623542412 | Charlesbridge
Perfect for Father’s Day or every day, this sweet companion to Leo Loves Mommy and spin-off of the best-selling Lola Reads series celebrates the love between young children and their dads. Leo and Daddy love to make pancakes for breakfast, dance to the beat, and go to the park together. When it’s time to sleep, Daddy’s hugs are the snuggliest.
My Dad Is Awesome by Bluey and Bingo
48 Pages | Ages 3-5 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593519653 | Penguin Young Readers Licenses
Bluey and Bingo share why their dad is awesome in this hilarious and heartwarming picture book, featuring everyone’s favorite Heelers. Based on the on the wildly successful animated series, Bluey, as seen on Disney+. Everyone loves Bandit, but especially Bluey and Bingo! He’s always making up funny games, playing Daddy Robot, and taking them on exciting adventures. This is the perfect book to celebrate your dad on Father’s Day, or any day, and share what makes him awesome!
Sharon, Lois & Bram’s Skinnamarink
By Sharon Hampson, Lois Lilienstein, and Bram Morrison, with Randi Hampson
Illustrated by Qin Leng
40 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735264496 | Tundra Books
What does “skinnamarink” mean? You may not find its definition in a dictionary, but the meaning is clear to the generations of children who sang along: friendship, happiness, sharing, community and, ultimately, love. This song has been sung in weddings and in classrooms. It can be fun and silly – especially with the accompanying actions! And it has a way of bringing people together. Based on the classic folk song made famous by a beloved trio of children’s entertainers, this picture book is best sung aloud! “Skinnamarink” is a timeless anthem of love and inclusion.
Tadpoles
By Matt James
40 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780823450053 | Neal Porter Books
One rainy morning, a father and son bond over a walk through a field full of freshly formed ponds teeming with tadpoles. In this tender reflection on the fleeting rhythms of the natural world and the enduring love of family, a boy and his father spend a morning exploring an ephemeral pond, a delicate nursery formed by rainfall, perfect for sheltering tadpoles from predators as they grow. The boy’s father doesn’t live with him anymore, and the ponds may only be temporary, but together they make memories that just might last a lifetime.
The Bench
By Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex
Illustrated by Christian Robinson
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735272163 | Tundra Books
In The Bench, Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, touchingly captures the evolving and expanding relationship between father and son and reminds us of the many ways that love can take shape and be expressed in a modern family. Evoking a deep sense of warmth, connection, and compassion, The Duchess’s debut children’s book gives us a window into shared and enduring moments between a diverse group of fathers and sons—moments of peace and reflection, trust and belief, discovery and learning, and comfort and nurture. Working in watercolor for the first time, Caldecott-winning, bestselling illustrator Christian Robinson expands on his signature style to bring joy and softness to the pages, reflecting the beauty of a father’s love through a mother’s eyes. With a universal message, this thoughtful and heartwarming read-aloud is destined to be treasured by families for generations to come.
The Family Tree
By Sean Dixon
Illustrated by Lily Snowden-Fine
48 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735267664 | Tundra Books
When her teacher gives her class a simple family tree assignment, Ada is stumped. How can she make her family fit into this simple template? Ada is adopted. She can see where to put her parents on the tree, but what about her birth mom? Ada has a biological sister, but her sister has different adoptive parents – where do they go on the tree? But with the help of her friends and family, Ada figures it out. She creates her family tree . . . and so much more. Loosely based on the author’s own experience, this moving story explores the different ways families are created and how the modern family is more diverse and welcoming than ever before.
The Hockey Sweater
By Roch Carrier
Illustrated by Sheldon Cohen
Translated by Sheila Fischman
24 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
ISBN 9780735268685 | Tundra Books
In the days of Roch’s childhood, winters in the village of Ste. Justine were long. Life centered around school, church, and the hockey rink, and every boy’s hero was Montreal Canadiens hockey legend Maurice Richard. Everyone wore Richard’s number 9. They laced their skates like Richard. They even wore their hair like Richard. When Roch outgrows his cherished Canadiens sweater, his mother writes away for a new one. Much to Roch’s horror, he is sent the blue and white sweater of the rival Toronto Maple Leafs, dreaded and hated foes to his beloved team. How can Roch face the other kids at the rink?
Where’s Baby?
By Anne Hunter
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735264984 | Tundra Books
Papa Fox is looking for Baby Fox, who is just out of his sight . . . but not ours! In this clever introduction to prepositions, a near-sighted Papa is looking for his baby. Is Baby up in the tree? Is Baby under the log? Is Baby around the corner? Where could Baby be? Readers will delight in spotting the little fox on every page as Papa wanders the forest, encountering other animals all along the way, but never quite able to spot his own baby. Anne Hunter’s delicate and lovely illustrations with their limited palette highlight the humor of this adorable hide-and-seek tale.