Every day I discover more and more beautiful things. It’s enough to drive one mad. I have such a desire to do everything, my head is bursting with it.
- Claude Monet
Dad Suggests was created to share with others the many different things that we have loved sharing with our own children.
Our hope is that - by reading or visiting our children’s bookstore - you will find something special to enjoy with your own family.
- Ryan
All in Kids Books
It’s important to reread books with your kids. Repeated readings have numerous benefits - ranging from academic benefits and boosts to reading skills, all the way to the increased family bonding and the creation of valuable childhood memories.
Follow along as we interview picture book author and illustrator Cale Atkinson. Cale is the creator of several beautiful books - including the amazing Sir Simon: Super Scarer. It’s a family favorite, and our new favorite ghost story. Find out more about Cale’s inspirations and creative process, and what’s up next for Sir Simon.
These are the very best picture book characters of all time - from some of the best kids books every written. Some are role-models with great wisdom, some are endearing, and some are just plain unforgettable.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is the holiday picture book of the season and destined to become a Christmas staple. The classic film gets new life in Quirk Books and Kim Smith’s newest title in the Pop Classics series. It’s a very faithful recreation of the story, and the perfect way to introduce this holiday classic to young children.
Pages & Co.: The Bookwanderers is a passionate love letter to books. This chapter book is a book lover’s dream. Beloved characters from famous novels come to life, characters travel into favorite fictional worlds, and the magical, life-transforming power of storytelling is on full display.
The classic Studio Ghibli movies have been made into the most stunning picture books to read with your kids. You can now share the magic of Hayao Miyazaki’s stories - like Totoro, Spirited Away, and Howl’s Moving Castle - with beautiful picture books made for the whole family.
These are the best picture books about death to share with children. The books on this list are full of lessons that will help kids process their feelings and experiences with death from a safe distance. They can be heartbreaking, but they can also be inspirational. They are wonderful works of art that tackle the difficult topic of death masterfully.
These are the best picture books about the imagination. They all do a magnificent job celebrating the magic of childhood and reinforcing the importance of creativity and imagination in life. Share these inspiring kids books with your family today.
Imagine That by Jonathan D. Voss is one of the best picture books of 2019. It is an inspirational reminder that our imagination comes from our heart - and we need to do whatever it takes to hold on to it. Hoot & Olive are destined to be beloved characters in the world of children’s lit.
These are the best picture books to read on the first day of school, whether your kids are starting kindergarten or 6th grade. Use them to remind your kids to believe in themselves, and to be kind and stand up to bullies. And use them to remind your kids what’s really important in life.
The KinderGuides series from Moppet Books is a fantastic way to introduce your children to great classic literature through picture books. Books like Romeo and Juliet and Moby Dick are abridged for a younger audience and beautifully illustrated to make them the perfect introduction to these great stories.
Comic Quests is a series of graphic novels that you can actually play. Become a character in the story and keep track of your items and stats with your own character sheet. Solve riddles, fight enemies, and make many choices during your adventures. Reading and playing with our son is a pure joy.
Cori Doerrfeld’s Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend! is a poignant lesson about the Yin and Yang in life. Every goodbye leads to a hello. It’s a beautiful book, and very useful for teaching your kids about how to deal with change and keep a positive mindset about adversity in life.
Teach your kids to love who they are. This book list contains the very best picture books for conveying this message to your kids - celebrate being yourself. Do what you love. Follow your passions. Be proud of who you are.
Society is doing a very good job making children believe they’re worthless if they aren’t good at tests. I recently discovered the absolute perfect way to teach children otherwise - a picture book called All the Ways to Be Smart by Davina Bell. You simply must read this one with your kids.
Dads are important role models for children to look up to. They can teach their kids what’s really important - and build up their self esteem and their sense of wonder. In return, kids teach their dads the meaning of life in ways they could never have imagined. The book on this list do a remarkable job of capturing that special relationship.
As far as I’m concerned, books that tackle topics like empathy and friendship are tackling meaning of life stuff. They’re trying to give kids the tools to build meaningful relationships and spend their days on Earth in a worthwhile fashion. A Sick Day for Amos McGee provides these lessons better than any other picture book we have.
This is not your typical list of alphabet books. That’s because these books could easily be considered some of our favorite picture books ever made. They’re funny, they’re exciting, they’re beautiful, and, most importantly, they’re interesting. Who has time to waste reading A is for apple and B is for ball? Just because it’s the alphabet doesn’t mean it can’t be wildly entertaining and inspiring.
