Dad's Bookshelf: March 2021
This month on Dad’s Bookshelf we have three amazing picture books that appeal to our interests and sensibilities in a big way. They appeal to my inner geek as well as my inner softie and champion of empathy. And I’m very excited to share them with you.
As usual, they aren’t all newly published, but rather they’re currently being read and loved by our family this month. And that’s because they are all special books that stand out for us and demand our attention. Two of them make me tear up when I read them out loud, but of course that’s not unusual from me.
Typically what I do on Dad’s Bookshelf is simply grab the books we’ve been excited about and loving recently. And after that I can’t help myself but try to look for some sort of overarching theme. Maybe it’s the puzzle-solver in me, but I assure you common themes between the books on Dad’s Bookshelf aren’t intentional.
However, with all that being said, empathy and inclusion seems to be on full display in the books this month. That’s obviously not uncommon for the books we fall in love with, but it’s glaringly obvious this month. I’ll let you see if you notice the connection I’m talking about after I introduce all the books to you.
I hope Dad’s Bookshelf helps you find a new book to fall in love with this month. Enjoy taking a closer look at what we’ve been enjoying in our house, and, as always, happy reading!
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.
Doctor Who: The Runaway TARDIS
Written by Rebecca Gyllenhaal and Illustrated by Kim Smith
If you hadn’t heard, the 13th iteration of Doctor Who features the first woman to play the role - Jodie Whittaker - and she’s the Doctor in this amazing new book. Of course that choice was a big deal for such an enormously popular franchise. And you’ll be happy to know that no galaxies collapsed or imploded because of the change. My young kids have yet to be introduced to any of the famous TV show, however, so the awesome Doctor in this book is actually the only one they know.
This is also one of the newest Pop Classics books from Kim Smith - and you’ve probably noticed how much we love all of her creations. Perhaps the best thing about it is that it stands alone as a fun and engaging sci-fi adventure whether or not you’re familiar with the show. It features a young girl who accidentally stumbles upon the TARDIS and goes on an adventure with the Doctor. And, of course, fans of the show will adore it even more.
Milo Imagines the World
Written by Matt de la Pena and Illustrated by Christian Robinson
Milo Imagines the World is already the front-runner for the best picture book of 2021, mark my words. The creators of one of our favorite picture books ever made - Last Stop on Market Street - have teamed up again to craft an incredibly touching story. And it simply can’t be underestimated how important this book is either, and how much it will mean to a lot of kids out there.
To be honest, I don’t want to spoil anything about the book. I think it will have a stronger emotional impact the less you know going into it. But I will say that Milo is riding on the subway with his sister. We don’t know where they are going, but we do know that Milo is imagining the lives of all the other passengers he sees. It’s simply a beautiful story, and an extremely powerful lesson in empathy and prejudging others. And I promise you, many kids out there will see themselves in this book and it is going to mean a lot.
The Bravest Knight Who Ever Lived
You might be aware of this one because of the popular TV show on Hulu. If so, I strongly encourage you to check out the book it’s based on. The Bravest Knight Who Ever Lived is the touching story of Cedric - a boy who used to play knights with his friends by donning pretend armor made of pumpkin shells. One day, through bravery and good luck, he happened to become the squire of a real knight.
The story itself is a well-written and exciting knight’s tale. Cedric grows up to become a true knight, and faces off against a fierce dragon who has stolen the prince and the princess both. But the book is about a lot more than that. There’s more than one way to be brave. It’s also about being true to yourself and telling your own story. Ever since he was little and playing knights with his friends, Cedric knew that rescuing the princess and marrying her wasn’t the way his story ends. Instead, Cedric and the prince fall in love and marry each other. The writing and the illustrations are both fantastic, and the message of true love and being true to yourself are perfectly delivered.
Have you read any of these books yet? What picture books have you been enjoying recently? Let us know in the comments!
