Dad's Bookshelf: June 2020
This month, in honor of the most sacred of holidays, we gathered up all of our favorite picture books about dads to display on our shelves. And they also just so happened to be the books we read the most often this month. In fact, all three of the picture books featured on Dad’s Bookshelf this month were previously featured on our list of the best picture books for Father’s Day.
If you’ve read that list before, you know that these are books that celebrate the special relationship between father and child - and highlight some very top-notch dadding along the way. I think it’s easy to say that all three dads here are true role models.
All three of these books that we want to highlight this month expertly blend comedy with sincerity. And I love how the comedy is derived straight from the pure essence of childhood that was captured by the authors. I see a lot of my own children in these books, and I bet you will too.
And, like I mentioned, the dads in these books are deserved of quite a bit of admiration. They handle their kids’ childhood fears and eccentricities like true professionals, and I’m not exaggerating when I say I hope to be able to mimic their patience and love.
Happy belated Father’s Day to all the dads out there, and I hope you enjoy a closer look at the picture books on Dad’s Bookshelf this month!
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 IndieBound.
Ask Me
Written by Bernard Waber and Illustrated by Suzy Lee
Ask Me makes me laugh so much. The little girl in this book is so much like our 4-year-old daughter. It’s very hard to put into words - but it’s a blend of confidence, bossiness, and sweetness. The girl in the story is on a walk with her dad, and she keeps telling him which questions to ask her. In a way, it’s almost like she’s having a conversation with herself.
Ask me if I like ice cream cones.
Do you like ice cream cones?
No. I love, love, love ice cream cones.
Their relationship is beautiful and it brightens my heart. I love the willingness of the dad to go along with the sweet-intentioned orders, and the never-ending love and patience he displays. The rhythm of the way they communicate with each other is adorable. If you have a little one that has very specific ideas for playtime, and lets it be known, there’s a good chance you’ll see yourself in this book.
Jabari Jumps
Written and Illustrated by Gaia Cornwall
Jabari is scared to jump off of the high dive, but he’s determined to do it today. The greatness of this book in my opinion is the relationship between Jabari and his dad. I love how his dad doesn’t push Jabari to do something he doesn’t want to do, but is there to hold his hand and show him love and support.
It’s very cute how Jabari won’t openly admit that he’s scared. Instead, he lets people cut in line, or he comes down the ladder to rest because he’s tired. And his dad remains 100% supportive with no teasing or prodding. Facing childhood fears is a very big deal, and Jabari Jumps masterfully represents what kids so often go through - and blends in the role of a very good dad as well.
Daddy Long Legs
Written by Nadine Brun-Cosme and Illustrated by Aurélie Guillerey
Daddy Long Legs is hilarious and the pictures are really fantastic. The basic plot is that a boy is scared about what will happen if his father’s car breaks down. How will he pick him up from school? And the father comes up with a string of increasingly elaborate and absurd ways that he will pick up his son from school no matter what.
The structure is similar in a way to the classic book The Runaway Bunny, because it follows the pattern of “What if… Then…”. And, just like The Runaway Bunny, the illustrations are a big part of the fun. The dad comes up with great ideas like sailing in a toy boat down a stream that the neighbor makes with his garden hose - and it only gets zanier from there. And, in the end, it’s clearly a very sweet way of soothing a child’s separation anxiety and letting him know he’ll always be there for him.
Have you read any of these picture books before? What has your family been reading this month? Let us know in the comments!
