Dad's Bookshelf: December 2021
Despite the fact that we’re only a week away from Christmas, we don’t have any holiday books this month on Dad’s Bookshelf. That’s because we’ve already covered all of our favorite new Christmas picture books of 2021. But we do have some animals about to take a long winter’s nap, and some very beautiful illustrations all over the place, and I suppose that’s the next best thing!k
I typically try, whether it’s conscious or subconscious, to mix up the genres on Dad’s Bookshelf on any given month. I try not to make all 3 books funny or all 3 scary - mostly because I think that makes it more likely we can provide a little something for everybody, and really increase the odds you’ll find a new picture book to love.
And I think I was pretty successful this month if I do say so myself. We have a hilarious comedy, a fabulous fable that’s equal parts gorgeous and quirky, and a traditionally beautiful stunner with very soothing illustrations. The only thing we’re missing this time around is something to scare you, but I think we’ve covered spooky this year pretty well already.
And, as a little coincidence, all 3 of the picture books on Dad’s Bookshelf this month have hidden covers underneath the dust jackets. Don’t you just love that? I just wanted to mention that because I’m a big fan of hidden covers, and I’m not sure if we’ve had a Dad’s Bookshelf where we’ve been 3 for 3 with hidden covers. Always remember to look under there!
I hope you find something on Dad’s Bookshelf this month worth sharing with your kids or students. It’s been a wonderful year for picture books, and I think we’re wrapping up Dad’s Bookshelf for 2021 in good company here. Enjoy!
Dad’s Bookshelf is a continuing, monthly series featuring the kids books we are most excited about each month. The series is named after the real life bookshelf we have in our home, where I keep all of my favorite picture books of all time. While the books we share on Dad’s Bookshelf are often new releases, it’s also not uncommon for us to be excited about an older book we just discovered.
Disclosure: The books in this month’s Dad’s Bookshelf were provided to us by their publishers, with no expectation of inclusion on this monthly article of the books we’re most excited about. All thoughts and opinions are our own. Some of the links in this article are affiliate links that will lead you to view the books on Bookshop.org and Amazon.
When I’m Not Looking
Written and Illustrated by Farren Phillips
This hilarious picture book has a lot going for it, and that makes it stand out. Like the other books on Dad’s Bookshelf this month, it has a hidden cover, but it also has engaging and funny hidden endpapers - and the endpapers also included the solutions to the “search and find” challenges throughout the book. I said it had a lot going for it didn’t I?
Including the search and find (looking for hidden objects on some pages) is a great idea. And it works so well because the art is full of so much wonderful detail. This is the type of picture book that you can really work your way through slowly because you and your kids are going to want to point to a lot of things in the artwork.
And it’s also hilarious, which is the main point probably. The girl in this book is a philosopher asking big questions, like what does her duck do when she isn’t looking. It’s kind of a Schrödinger’s Cat situation. But the little girl has lots of very funny guesses for what’s going on when her back is turned. And the book also encourages you to use your imagination as well, offering opportunities to draw pictures and fill in blanks and paste things inside. It’s really quite fabulous all-around.
How Beautiful
Written by Antonella Capetti and Illustrated by Melissa Castrillón
This book popped onto our radar because we are such big fans of Melissa Castrillón’s art. It’s so dreamy and colorful and it makes us happy every time. And, personally, I think How Beautiful is my very favorite book she has illustrated yet.
I think that might be because the story has lots of characters that gave her a chance to be playful and create so many quirky animals. Each and every one of them are absolutely wonderful, and I can’t stress enough how much charm they bring to the book. And I have to say I’m especially fond of the bear and the blackbird.
Castrillón’s art matched with this original fable-like story from Capetti was a perfect pairing. The story is about a caterpillar trying to figure out what beautiful means, after he hears a little girl call him that. So he walks around asking different animals what beautiful means to them. And the whole thing is tied together by a grumpy blackbird that disagrees with everyone’s definition of beauty.
How Beautiful is aptly named, and there couldn’t have been a better illustrator to bring it to life. And it’s also a meaningful bit of philosophy to explore with your kids. Defining beautiful can lead to quite a discussion.
Before We Sleep
Written by Giorgio Volpe and Illustrated by Paolo Proietti
Before We Sleep is going to fit in just nicely on the bookshelf with two other wintertime favorites - Frederick and Bear Has a Story to Tell. Both of those picture books are all-time family favorites, and they’re both about that time of year that animals are preparing to hibernate for the winter.
This beautiful book features a dormouse getting ready to hibernate as well, and I love books set at this time of year. I’m honestly a big fan of overcast weather and leaves falling to the ground and that deep gray that fills the sky when it’s about to snow. So I find the illustrations in this book with the gray backdrops absolutely stunning, and they really make me happy.
The dormouse, named Hazel, also has a very good friend - a red fox named Little Red. It’s an odd pairing for a friendship, but that’s what makes it sweet. These best friends play hide-and-seek together and roll in the leaves, but soon Hazel must go to sleep. It’s Little Red who is most distraught about this, even going so far as to think of ways to keep Hazel awake. It’s sweet and beautiful and soothing - and for that reason probably a perfect bedtime book.
What picture books have you fallen in love with recently? Have you read any of these 3? Let us know in the comments!
