Dad's Bookshelf: July 2021
This month on Dad’s Bookshelf features three picture books that I haven’t seen many people talking about yet. Which is something I really love about being a part of the picture book community - there are just so many hidden gems out there. And I always secretly hope that I’m able to help you uncover some of them.
As is always the case, I chose to share these books because my family has been excited about them recently - and I personally think they’re fantastic picture books. It is Dad’s Bookshelf after all. And you can rest assured that they’re going to be beautiful, because I tend to put a large emphasis on being attracted to the aesthetic of the books.
Being added to Dad’s Bookshelf also definitely means they’ve left a lasting impression on us. We check out and purchase and receive quite a few books every single month, so I like to think that narrowing it down to 3 additions each month means quite a bit. And I take the decision making process very seriously.
With all that being said, I hope you enjoy taking a closer look at these beautiful books. They’re thought-provoking and sweet, and they were all clearly crafted with a lot of care and attention. Tundra and Scribble are two of our favorite book publishers after all, and they have a great track record. So you can go find all of them at your local library or bookstore with confidence!
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 links in this article are affiliate links that will lead you to view the books’ listings on Amazon or Bookshop.org. Anemone is Not the Enemy was shared with us by Scribble Books.
Ten Little Dumplings
Written by Larissa Fan and Illustrated by Cindy Wume
Sometimes I feel very lucky when I bump into books and fall in love with them. Personally I learned about this book on Instagram from Eric Fan of the Fan Brothers. He was actually posting about it as a proud brother, because author Larissa Fan happens to be his sister - leaving me wondering how one family is filled with so much artistic talent. I’m so very happy that I did discover this one, because it’s a spectacular book. It works on multiple levels, with definite opportunities to reflect on the feelings of the story below the surface.
I love how personal the book is too - being based on the family of the author’s father. He was one of 10 brothers, and this was considered to be incredible luck in Taiwanese culture where sons are prized over daughters. What inspired the story is that people talked about these 10 brothers so much, that it wasn’t until Fan was older that she even heard that his father also had a sister.
This is a meaningful true story that certainly invites you to consider the social structure that allowed this aunt to almost be forgotten - and it’s a very heartfelt and beautiful attempt to shine the light on her and consider her perspective. But what I really love about this book is how incredibly adeptly Fan delivered this tribute. There’s certainly no ill-will from the little girl - she loves her brothers. And any sympathy for her blending in the way she does is skillfully left for you to conjure up on your own. But the message that we are all just as lucky to have little girl dumplings is delivered just the same.
Anemone is Not the Enemy
Written and Illustrated by Anna McGregor
This book is bright and colorful and quirky and it’s easy to fall in love with. It tells the tale of poor Anemone, who stings all the fish that she wants to play with. It’s like a classic playground story of struggling to make friends and being lonely, only in this case the playground is a pool by the ocean that raises and lowers with the tides. In that sense it kind of reminds me of the hilarious We Don’t Eat Our Classmates where the little t-rex kept eating the other kids.
Anemone can’t help that she stings the other fish, but that doesn’t stop them from being grumpy and mean and avoiding her. They won’t even tell her about the things they’ve seen out in the ocean. It’s a lonely life for Anemone until she makes friends with Clownfish. As you can imagine, this relationship works out pretty great, and in the back of the book you even get a chance to teach your kids about symbiosis - making it a pretty great choice for a fun intro to a science lesson as well.
I’m a really big fan of Anna McGregor’s cute illustrations in this book, and I can’t wait to see what she does next. Without a doubt the presentation adds a lot to the charm of this story, and I think a lot of kids are going to love it.
This is Ruby
Written by Sara O’Leary and Illustrated by Alea Marley
This is Ruby is a companion book to one of our favorite picture books ever made - This is Sadie. We loved that book so much that it was one of our very first featured articles. It focuses on the magic and potential of childhood imagination, and I think This is Ruby does a magnificent job following in its footsteps.
Just like in This is Sadie, “there are so many things she wants to do and make and be.” I love this line, and it just captures the essence of excitement and childhood play so well. And we’re introduced to a lot of Ruby’s interests. In fact, most of the book is structured around her interests and what she might be when she grows up. It’s a book about curiosity and possibilities and childhood - and you absolutely know I’m a sucker for that.
And there are some remarkable moments in the book to make it easy to fall in love with Ruby and this book - like when she goes back in time to see when her parents first met, or when she makes a book with smells instead of words so her dog can read it. It’s another special book from one of our personal favorite authors and definitely one to be treasured.
What picture books have you been enjoying in your house this month? Have you read any of these yet? Let us know in the comments!
