Dad's Bookshelf: February 2022
It’s that time of the month again - time to do a rundown of the picture books we’ve been loving in our house lately. That’s right, it’s time for Dad’s Bookshelf - February 2022 edition.
We’ve been reading a lot of picture books lately, even more than usual. That’s mostly because we just announced the Dad Suggests Picture Book Awards for 2021, and that involves a lot of big piles of books and last minute research. And a lot of new spring picture books have started to pour in as well, so it feels like we had a lot of books to choose from this month.
This time around, we chose the 3 picture books on Dad’s Bookshelf for a pretty wide variety of reasons. Some we were drawn to because of the beautiful art itself, some made us laugh a lot, and some conjured up powerful emotions and nostalgia - and you know I’m a sucker for nostalgia. And I swear that the fact that we have two picture books about being friends with trees is just a wild coincidence!
So I think because of that we have a healthy mix of picture books here - something for everyone if you will. I like those kinds of months, because I like to imagine as many people as possible finding a new story to enjoy with the family. And if you do, make sure to let me know!
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: Some of the books in this month’s Dad’s Bookshelf were provided to us by their authors and 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.
Apple and Magnolia
Written by Laura Gehl and Illustrated by Patricia Metola
This new picture book is a stunner in my opinion. Have you ever gotten a new picture book illustrated by an artist you didn’t know - and then immediately went to look up everything they’ve illustrated before? That’s what happened with this one. Patricia Metola’s style is a perfect fit for us, and definitely an artist we’ll keep an eye on from now on.
And, best of all, the story here by Laura Gehl is equally as adorable. It’s about two trees that are best friends - at least according to the little girl in the story. And I love how it’s not just about trees. In some ways it’s also about childhood wonder, imagination, parenting, empathy, and support.
The story is very sweet, well-structured, and a real pleasure for the eyes. The young girl’s innocence and kindness and determination make us fall in love with her in much the same way that we fell in love with Annabelle from Extra Yarn. And just the fact that an all-time classic like that even pops up into my head at all while thinking about this book says a lot.
My Dad, My Rock
Written by Victor D.O. Santos and Illustrated by Anna Forlati
It’s probably no surprise that I’m going to fall in love with a sweet ode to a dad. But don’t just take my word for it, Eric Fan of the Fan Brothers had good things to say about this one as well. It’s a beautiful love letter to dads everywhere, and it’s inspired and kicked off by a real conversation between the author and his son.
In any picture book about parenthood, the secret is definitely in the details. Which little parenting moments are you going to choose to highlight to capture the magic of the relationship? Here we have moments like a dad acting goofy, and teaching his son it’s okay to cry. And obviously I love that this is a dad that reads to his son every night:
He always reads with me at bedtime. He says that a child without books is like a house with no windows.
This is a very handsome book too. And it’s very heartfelt and heartwarming. It reads like a personal love letter, but parents and kids everywhere will find themselves in this sweet love letter to families and generations. Make sure to keep an eye out for the release on April 3rd.
Norman Didn’t Do It! (Yes, he did.)
Written and Illustrated by Ryan T. Higgins
Every home library needs some picture books that exist solely to make you belly laugh. Ryan T. Higgins is definitely one of our favorite humor writers, and many of his picture books are genuinely hilarious. And his latest book Norman Didn’t Do It! is no exception. And we really all love his bright and colorful style. All of his books look like they’re ready to be animated.
Seriously, what are the odds that we end up with two picture books about being friends with a tree during the same month on Dad’s Bookshelf? I swear I didn’t do that on purpose. In this one, a porcupine named Norman is best friends with a tree named Mildred. But then a new little tree pops up nearby and Norman gets jealous. And soon he does the unthinkable!
Much of the humor is in the art - and of course it’s tied to the absurdity of being jealous of another tree. The comedy and the timing is pretty masterful, which makes it the perfect read aloud book. Plus, it actually turns out to be a pretty sweet story about friendship and jealously at the end of the day - lessons that go down very smoothly with the laughs.
Have you read any of the books on Dad’s Bookshelf this month? What picture books have you been enjoying at home? Let us know in the comments!
