Father's Day, 2001
The following reviews were presented in our 2001 Father's Day feature.
Reviews
Daddy Poems
John Mickios, Jr.
Illustrations by Robert Casilla
This is a collection of poems for fathers to share with their children. John Mickios Jr., put together a volume of poems by famous poets such as Nikki Grimes, Deborah Chandra, Janet Wong, and Karama Fufuka as well as several that he has written. Each poem describes a different style of Dad. Some tease or cuddle. Some admonish or play with their children and some do all of the above. There are happy times, when Dad buys baseball mitts for his two boys and there are times of sharing when a father and son, after closing their store at 9 p.m. bless their food sitting on milk crate boxes. Then there are sad times when Daddy has moved away and his visits are infrequent. It is a salute to Dads and fatherhood and provides Daddies with poems that allow them to share their feeling with their children. Keep this book in mind for Father's Day. 2000, Wordsong Boyds Mills Press Inc., Ages 5 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer Leila Toledo
ISBN: 1-56397-735-4
Daddy's Lullaby
Tony Bradman
Illustrated by Jason Cockcroft
A hard-working father comes home on a Friday night after a tough week to find everyone fast asleep... except for the little one in the crib. To try and soothe the baby, the father takes her on a nighttime stroll through the house, visiting the other members of the family who are asleep. The text is rhythmic and soothing, just like the father's lullaby at the end, which is sung to the tune of "Rock-a-Bye, Baby". The pictures follow the lead, and are so warm and soft, a baby could almost look at them and fall right to sleep. In fact, everything about this book is so inviting and comforting, I feel like I need to... zzzzzzz. 2001, Margaret K. McElderberry Books, Ages 3 months to 2, $16.95. Reviewer: Carey Ahr.
ISBN: 0-689-84295-3
Didi and Daddy on the Promenade
Marilyn Singer
Illustrations by Marie-Louise Gay
The Brooklyn Heights Promenade is a well-known walkway in New York that overlooks the Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor and Brooklyn Bridge and offers a wonderful view of the Manhattan skyline. This delightful picture book describes the adventures of one very active toddler named Didi and her father as they jump, twirl and gallop through this unique esplanade. Throughout their wild romp, they experience all kinds of interesting things — they see trucks and boats, they meet dogs of all shapes and sizes, they listen and dance to the sounds of local musicians and they spend time with friends in the playground. Unfortunately, their visit to the Promenade is cut short by unexpected stormy weather, so the giggling pair decides to run through the rain and splash through the puddles, laughing all the way home. Expressive watercolor illustrations perfectly capture the excitement of this amazing experience and enhance the lively text. This charming book offers a great introduction to city life and takes a close-up look at the special relationship between fathers and daughters. It's a wonderful feel-good book for busy kids and their parents. 2001, Clarion Books, Ages 4 to 7, $14.00. Reviewer Debra Briatico
ISBN: 0-618-04640-2
Down the Dragon's Tongue
Margaret Mahy
Illustrated by Pat MacCarthy
For anyone, parent or child, who is having a bad day, reading this enchanting picture book will bring a smile. The Dragon's Tongue is the most colossal of all sliding boards and the Prospero twins are eager to go to the playground to try it out for themselves. The only parent available to take them is Mr. Prospero, who recoils at the idea. He is just getting home from work and is still wearing his best shirt and polished shoes and hand-painted silk tie that looks like a fruit salad. Under protest from father, everyone goes to the park for only one turn down the huge slide. The twins are afraid to go down alone and their prim and proper, well-dressed dad must go down with them. A strange thing happens to Mr. Prospero, who has now kicked off his shoes and removed his jacket for the second time down the slide. Now Mr. Prospero is hooked! The whimsical illustrations by MacCarthy enhance the humorous text and engage the reader. This is a great choice for early childhood and elementary teachers. Also a great selection for any story hour. 2000, Orchard Books, Ages 4 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer Sue Reichard
ISBN: 0-531-30272-5
Fishing in the Air
Sharon Creech
Pictures by Chris Raschka
The unnamed boy in this charming, lyrical story of a fishing trip is extraordinarily lucky. His father knows how to describe to his young son even the most ordinary objects and make them magical. Street lamps become tiny little moons, and trees become sentries on guard duty. The breeze comes in bubbles. Birds singing become angels. The father would like to "take those clouds, that sun, those bubbles of breeze, and those angel birds home with me." As the two of them fish companionably, the child, who has a feather on his line instead of a hook, casts the line higher and higher. He asks his father to describe the house in which he grew up, and his own first fishing trip. "And who taught you to fish...?" asks the child His father says, with his eyes closed tight, "it was my father." Now each cast the child makes 'catches' one of the things they have talked about. He will take home more than the fish his father caught. 2000, Joanna Cotler, Ages 5 to 8, $15.95 and $15.89. Reviewer: Judy Silverman
ISBN: 0-06-028112-X
Galileo's Treasure Box
Catherine Brighton
What would it be like to be the child of a scientist? Brighton explores this question through the eyes of Galileo's young daughter, Virginia. Virginia's father works in the darkness. Her house, then, is very quiet during the day while her father sleeps behind a fine curtain. Tip toeing about, the long afternoons feed her curiosity about this man and his explorations. She is drawn to his study and a box that holds fascinating things — a piece of round glass, which magically makes things look bigger than they are; glass of red and blue that changes the way the world looks; and a feather from a great bird, light yet strong. Her father tells her that the feather is very important to his work and places it in Virginia's hair. She wears it proudly. She loves her father, this curious man. Though the words are simply said, they reveal the depth of a child's curiosity and admiration for her father. The accompanying paintings reflect the amazement in Virginia's eyes and the beauty of her world. As Dava Sobel says in her introduction, "the magic of Catherine Brighton's book is the creation of a wonderful place where a child can play with the very tools an adult uses to understand the laws of nature." 2001, Walker Publishing, Ages 4 to 6, $17.85 and $16.95. Reviewer Leslie Julian
ISBN: 0-8027-8770-3
ISBN: 0-8027-8768-1
Giggles With Daddy!
Photographs by Elizabeth Hathon
There's nothing quite as cute as a picture of a father laughing with his child. In this board book, the photographs are colorful and vibrant, and the children, ranging in age from infants to toddlers, are about the same age as the children the book is meant for. Different cultures are shown, and it looks like not all the fathers have wedding bands, which makes the book a more correct representation. Score one for single fatherhood. Interesting note: it appears as if a couple of the pictures were reversed to preserve symmetry, because the rings are on the right hand (though in some European countries, the wedding band is worn on the right ring finger). 2001, Grosset & Dunlap, Ages 3 months to 3, $5.99. Reviewer: Carey Ahr
ISBN: 0-448-42548-3
Good Morning, Little Fox
Marilyn Janovitz
What could be better than snuggling in bed on Saturday morning with Dad? Little Fox loves the weekends when he does things with his Dad. But first it is time for breakfast and when Dad decides that he doesn't want to try the porridge that Mother Fox made, so does Little Fox. They decide to fix something else for breakfast but the larder is bare, so Mother announces that she will go to the market. While she is gone they have a great time cleaning up the house and also work up pretty big appetites. The porridge sitting on the stove is tempting and it doesn't taste so bad after all as they both clean up their bowls. There is plenty of humor in both the drawings and a story that presents a very loving and wonderful relationship between father and son. 2001, North-South, Ages 2 to 5, $15.95 and $15.88. Reviewer Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-7358-1440-6
ISBN: 0-7358-1441-4
Good Night, Princess Pruney Toes
Linda McCourt
Illustrated by Cyd Moore
This cleverly written book goes through the process of a young girl getting ready to go to bed at night with the help of her father. After a long bath, he names her "Princess Pruney Toes," so she decides to act like a princess the rest of the night by wearing a gown instead of jammies, eating a star sandwich, and making a wish at the end of the night. The book very nicely describes the process for getting ready for bed at night, and the illustrations are vibrantly designed to catch a child's attention while telling the story. The story line is simple and can be used to teach a child about bedtime. 2001, BridgeWater Books, Ages 3 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Nicole Peterson
ISBN: 0-8167-5205-2
Growing Up Is Hard
Laura Schlessinger
Sammy has had a very bad day and is sitting unhappily on his front steps when dad arrives home from work. Sammy isn't ready to talk to dad about what's wrong, but as dad takes the time to walk with his son and listen, Sammy begins to tell his dad that he doesn't like the way things are changing. Dad is quick to tell Sammy that things are changing because he is growing up. As Dad and Sammy talk about Sammy's chores, his drawings in class and his friends, Sammy begins to understand that these changes can be a good thing if he takes the time to look at them that way. This is a beautifully told story of a young boy and his father talking about the important things in life. This is one of those books that make adults look for a child to share it with. I recommend this title for all collections that serve the preschool child. The book would make a great Father's Day gift. 2001, Cliff Street Books, Ages 3 to 7, $21.27. Reviewer Joyce Rice
ISBN: 0-06-029200-8
ISBN: 0-06-029201-6
I Lost My Dad
Taro Gomi
It is all too easy to be looking at toys in a department store and lose, or be lost by, your dad. Our hero keeps spotting what looks like dad behind the varying shapes of the cut-out pages, only to find that it is not when we turn the page. From one area to another we search with him, even in the Men's Room, until their paths finally cross on the escalator. Dad looks as if he's had enough, but our narrator is ready to go back to the toys and make his purchase. Judging by the picture on the back, he is successful. Gomi paints solid, unmodulated, simplified shapes, but the department store scenes include details of sections such as musical instruments and clothing along with many shoppers. The distinctive feature here is the variety of those die-cut pages. Each one is different, each exploiting a feature of the scene, the most inventive being the diagonal slash of the escalator. A sign may be in Japanese, but the story is universal. 2001 (orig. 1983), Kane/Miller, Ages 3 to 6, $12.95. Reviewer: Ken and Sylvia Marantz
The Janitor's Boy
Andrew Clements
Some kids' fathers are lawyers or doctors. Jack Rankin's dad is the janitor at his school. Embarrassed by his dad, Jack manages to keep his secret until the day in fifth grade when his dad acknowledges him and says hello. Angered and humiliated, Jack plots an act of revenge. He smears a desk with a huge, disgusting wad of Bubblicious gum, only to get caught in the act. The principal's punishment is for Jack to spend three weeks as the janitor's assistant after school. In quiet classrooms at the end of the day, scraping gum from library chairs, and deep in a tunnel that runs under the school, Jack has time to reflect. He discovers there is much about his father he does not know, nor has he taken the time to care. This fine coming-of-age story has a very likeable kid hero and a quiet, unassuming parent who have much to teach each other. Credible emotions and dialogue move the story to a warm and satisfying conclusion. 2000, Simon and Schuster, Ages 9 to 12, $15.00. Reviewer Beverley Fahey
ISBN: 0-689-81818-1
Just the Two of Us
Will Smith
Illustrations by Kadir Nelson
Will Smith, star of television and the big screen and Grammy Award winner, successfully turns his talent to picture book writing. The rhythmic rap lovingly relates the depth of feeling a father has for his son. From the moment he first holds his precious creation in his arms, through haircuts and basketball moves on the asphalt, to the young boy's emergence into adolescence, theirs is a celebration of love and interdependence. Couched in the lines of admiration are admonitions to lead a good life and grow to be a proud man. Because it is a rap, the poem scans better when read aloud. Alone, this piece might seem quite ordinary but paired with Kadir Nelson's bold and dramatic illustrations it becomes an eloquent tribute to a father and his son. 2001, Scholastic, Ages 6 to 10, $16.95. Reviewer Beverley Fahey
ISBN: 0-439-08792-9
Just Us Two: Poems about Animal Dads
Joyce Sidman
Cut-Paper Illustrations by Susan Swan
Good father-child bonding books are rarer than hens' teeth, but Sidman and Swan pull it off with this charming offering. Joyce Sidman's poems are humorous, meaty, and adventurous in their construction from free-form to haiku, while Susan Swan's cut-paper illustrations swim and hop off the page in busy colors. The back matter of real photos and further information about the nurturing animal daddies covered — such as peregrine falcons, klipspringer antelopes, giant water bugs, and the Nile crocodile — add the touch of reality to the conceit. All that's missing is bedtime and Dad's strong arm around small shoulders. 2000, Millbrook Press, Ages 3 to 7, $22.90. Reviewer Kathleen Karr
ISBN: 0-7613-1563-2
Let's Play Rough!
Lynne Jonell
Illustrations by Ted Rand
This is a story of "rough housing" play between a little boy and his dad. The delightful vignette is told with brief, clear dialogue and illustrations that bring the story to life! The familiar scene of Daddy sitting down with the paper after a day at work is interrupted by his little boy pouncing on him and excitedly calling, "Let's play rough!". They proceed to tickle, toss and wrestle playfully, but when his son decides to pretend he is a bear, Daddy, in turn, transforms himself into a big hairy monster bear. Suddenly his son has second thoughts. But as Daddy reassures him, "I'm not a bear anymore. I'm just your Daddy..." that is all the child needs to feel reassured enough to begin the whole routine over again. The animated expressions on father and son tell the whole story! Though targeted to beginning readers, this book will also bring a smile to the face of any dad who treasures those moments of play. 2000, G.P.Putnam's Sons, Ages 3 to 7, $13.99. Reviewer Kathleen Orosz
ISBN: 0-399-23039-4
Loon Summer
Barbara Santucci
Illustrated by Andrea Shine
Dealing with the pain of parents' separation is never easy for children. Rainie reveals her sadness when she and her father spend their first summer at the lake without her mother. The hurtful memories are everywhere. Two loons there are raising their chicks together, while Rainie's father does his best to fill the gap in her life. The reassurance of his love and the permanence of some things bring peace to her as the summer ends. Shine's double-page, watery watercolors reflect Rainie's changing emotions, with distant landscapes across changeable water, skies shifting from pale blues to yellow to violet. The portraits of parent and child round out their characters. Shine integrates bits of cut papers so subtly that one is at first surprised, then intrigued to find more, as they seem to reflect Rainie's internal emotions. 2001, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, Ages 5 to 8, $16.00. Reviewer Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 0-8028-5182-7
Louie's Search
Ezra Jack Keats
"Nobody notices a kid around here." That is what Louie thinks about as he goes in search of a father. Walking through his own neighborhood, Louie happens to catch an old-fashioned music box as it is jostled from a truck marked "Barney's Wonderful Things." Barney, the driver (and owner) of the truck misjudges Louie's move to replace the box as thievery and begins to act accordingly. Louie's mother, hearing the ruckus, intervenes, revealing a kinder, gentler side of Barney. She thus becomes the deus ex machina to accomplish a successful outcome for her son's search. Barney will now do fine, thank you. 2001 (orig. 1980), Puffin Books, Ages 7 to 9, $15.99 and $5.99. Reviewer Carolyn DCL Michaels
ISBN: 0-670-89224-6
ISBN: 0-14-056761-5
Max the Stubborn Little Wolf
Marie-Odile Judes
Illustrated by Martine Bourre
Max's ambition to be a florist when he grows up exasperates Papa Wolf. For wolves "have always been hunters...And that is that!" But Max, clutching his stuffed lamb, cannot be persuaded. Papa devises scheme after scheme to change Max's mind, in vain. Each time Papa has to eat his hat, or his pillow, or... We can't help but cheer as Max persists in being true to himself. The humor in the reactions of Papa as father and as wolf to Max's good-natured but atypical, even outrageous determination is reinforced by Bourre's delightfully exaggerated depictions of the increasingly frustrated Papa and consistently innocent Max. The vitality and imagination of her color, dry-brush renderings supply just enough mundane details to enhance the anthropomorphic thrust of this universal story of father and son. 2001 (orig. 1996), HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 8, $14.95. Reviewer Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 0-06-029417-5
Muffler Man/ El hombre mofle
Tito Campos
Illustrations by Lamberto Alvarez and Beto Alvarez
Translated by Evangelina Vigil-Piñón
Chuy has worked hard in a muffler repair shop to earn enough money to leave Mexico with his mother and join his father in America. Unfortunately his father has not found work. Chuy remembers the "man" outside the muffler shop that his father had made from cast-off parts. He and his father find a shop willing to buy one. Soon many of his father's artistic creations appear around town. The text in English and in Spanish fills the left-hand pages while the right sides are filled with almost literal illustrations of parts of the action. The illustrators use thick black outlines and intense shadings of colors to create images of rough-hewn figures with dramatic combinations of purples, oranges and greens, very appropriate for the subject. 2001, Piñata Books/Arte Público Press, Ages 6 to 9, $14.95. Reviewer Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 1-55885-318-9
My Dad
Anthony Browne
"He's all right, my dad," the narrator states at the beginning and repeats the phrase throughout this tribute to fatherhood. The child sees his father as the bravest, strongest, fastest, funniest man, while we see him pictured in his blue striped pajamas, brown plaid bathrobe and red slippers and later transformed into a number of things, among them a horse, a fish and a wise old owl, and always in his signature clothing. Browne's artwork extends and exaggerates the praise and humor. When dad is sending the Big Bad Wolf out the door, we see Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Pigs peering out from behind a tree. There are other allusions to nursery rhymes and intriguing elements such as the socks sitting atop the clothesline, a king in the audience at a wrestling match and a runner on his cell phone. It is full of similes and humorous illustrations that give literal interpretations of them. Browne has successfully captured the admiration and love of a child for a parent. The sun plays an important part in the illustrations, and can be seen in a variety of ways as a corona around dad's head. From the brown plaid toast at the beginning to the child jumping into his father's arms at the end, this celebration is "all right!" 2001, Farrar Straus Giroux, Ages 3 to 7, $16.00. Reviewer Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-374-35101-5
My Dad
Anthony Browne
For Father's Day or all year long, this narrator celebrates the qualities of his dad and the joy of the relationship. He is sure his dad can do almost anything, from jumping over the moon to dancing, singing and playing a great game of soccer. But most important of all is that "HE LOVES ME! (And he always will.)" While the text is a simple series of kid comments in very large type, the full-page, seemingly realistic illustrations are products of the artist's tricky imagination. So while we smile as the plaid-bathrobed dad goes about doing the impossible, we must be on the look-out for details3/4like the runaway dish and spoon as he jumps over the moon, or the geometry diagram on the chalk board that seems to be the wise "owl" dad's mortarboard hat, or the happy-face buttons on his pajamas, or the look on the faces of two of the famous tenors as he joins them in song. Browne keeps us chuckling as well as on our perceptive toes. 2001 (orig. 2000), Farrar Straus Giroux, Ages 3 to 6, $16.00. Reviewer Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 0-374-35101-5
My Mannequins
Sydell Waxman
Illustrated by Patty Gallinger
Dora is helping her father in his shop and though she does what he tells her to do, boring things, she thinks about the things she would like to do, creative things. With just that vague suggestion of possible magic, the author weaves a wonderful tale about how a girl and her father discover that making something for a living can have a joyous and creative side to it. Dora's father has a clothing store and he has very conservative tastes. The mannequins in the window and in the store wear clothes in dark and drab colors. As she works, it seems to Dora that the very mannequins are speaking to her, encouraging her to make them clothing that is more colorful, that is trimmed with ribbon and sequins. By the time Dora has finished both her work and her experimenting, the mannequins are sporting all sorts of outrageous outfits and accessories. What is her father going to do to her when he finds out and is it really the mannequins who are speaking to her after all? In this story about hearing the creative voice, the author is also telling the story about a time in American history when a whole section of American society worked in the garment industry. The reader will find a fascinating historical note in the back of the book which describes this time.
2000, Napoleon Publishing, Ages 7 to 9, $16.95. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber
ISBN: 0-929141-73-3
Night Shift Daddy
Eileen Spinelli
Illustrations by Melissa Iwai
This touching tribute that reveals the special bond between a little girl and her daddy will be welcome by most parents but especially by those dads for whom the night shift is the norm. At the end of the day a little girl and her daddy share a snack, a bedtime story, and a special kiss good night as he tucks her in for the night. Little does the dad realize that two little eyes follow him down the dark, cold street to the bus stop. While his daughter sleeps, he cleans offices. In the morning, daddy and daughter share pancakes, a story, and a kiss as she tucks him in bed before going out to play. Told in gentle verse with accompanying illustrations painted with the dark tones of night and winter, this loving story is perfect for bedtime sharing. 2000, Hyperion, Ages 4 to 7, $14.99. Reviewer Beverley Fahey
ISBN: 0-7868-0495-5
The Night Worker
Kate Banks
Pictures by Georg Hallensleben
Construction sites are always of interest to youngsters, with their fascinating sounds, huge equipment and constant motion. Papa, the night worker, is an engineer who always goes to the job when it is time for Alex to go to sleep. How exciting it is when Alex is finally invited to come along and taste the mysteries of his father's life! The illustrations are warmly dark with vivid brush strokes that somehow convey a great sense of trust throughout what could have been a daunting experience to a young child. Alex will never forget his first "take your child to work" night, and neither will the readers of this book, which has a reverse classic ending: going to sleep as dawn breaks. 2000, Farrar Straus Giroux/Frances Foster Books, Ages 3 to 8, $16.00. Reviewer Judy Chernak
ISBN: 0-374-35520-7
Number 21
by Nancy Hundal with illustrations by Brian Deines. There is much shouting and jumping up and down when Dad rolls the new, big, read company truck into the driveway. The kids climb aboard investigating all the buttons and levers, trying out the radio, and taking in the "new truck" smell. Just when they think it doesn't get much better than this, Mom calls them to put on their bathing suits. Dad fills the huge dump box with water and the kids squeal with delight in their wonderful "truck pool." All good things must come to an end and Dad pulls the lever that dumps the contents of the box in a crashing waterfall on the driveway. Vibrant pastels bring to life the exuberance of the children and the excitement that shiny read truck brings on a muggy afternoon. 2001, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, Ages 5 to 9, $16.95. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey
On a Wintry Morning
Dori Chaconas
Illustrated by Stephen T. Johnson
When a Daddy bundles his baby girl for an early morning outing, there is much to see and do — harness the farm horse for a sleigh ride, make snow angels in the front yard, or check for bunny prints in the snow. This heartwarming, picture book is as comforting as a steaming bowl of oatmeal. The dreamy, lilting verse is a pleasure to read aloud. In fact, young listeners will likely ask to hear this graceful celebration of wintertime pleasures again and again. The luminous illustrations shine like sun through a frosty windowpane. Johnson's soft watercolor and pastel chalk paintings combine with the gentle text to perfectly capture the love between father and daughter. 2000, Viking, Ages 1 to 4, $15.99. Reviewer Dianne Ochiltree
ISBN: 0-670-89245-9
Papa's Song
Kate McMullan
Pictures by Jim McMullan
It's tough creating bedtime stories that can compete with, or even transcend the classics. Tenderness is necessary. An unmistakable feeling of love is necessary. A small child needs to be lulled to sleep knowing absolute security. The McMullans have achieved all of these in their tender tale. Baby bear stays wide-awake through Granny's, Grandpa's, and Mama Bear's lullabies. Then it's Papa's turn. Instead of singing, Papa takes Baby Bear for a starry ride on the bear boat. Now it is the night creatures along the river that sing the lullabies. Finally Baby Bear sleeps. The husband and wife McMullan team has found perfect coordination between Kate's lilting yet humorous prose and Jim's quiet, but evocative watercolors that mesh perfectly with the grain of rich papers. The book makes one long for a baby to read it to. 2000, Farrar Straus Giroux, Ages 2 to 6, $15.00. Reviewer Kathleen Karr
ISBN: 0-374-35732-3
Piggy and Dad
David Martin
Illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
This charming set of four books is perfect for a beginning reader. The four books include Piggy's Bath, Piggy's Bedtime, Piggy's Pictures, and Piggy's Sandwich. Piggy is a young pig who is learning daily activities with his father. Dad makes a sandwich; Piggy learns to make a sandwich from watching dad. In Piggy's Pictures, piggy draws pictures and dad writes the name of the picture underneath. Piggy's Bath catalogues all of the toys necessary for taking a bath. Piggy's Bedtime shows dad reading a bedtime story to piggy, followed by a rousing pillow fight. Each page is composed of a large colorful picture and a simple sentence that demonstrate the action taking place. Depicting everyday activities, this set offers beginning readers easy and fun stories to help them learn the actions taking place in the pictures. Part of the "Brand New Readers" series. 2001, Candlewick Press, Ages 4 to 6, $4.99. Reviewer Danielle Williams
ISBN: 0-7636-1327-4
Rainy Day
Emma Houghton
Illustrations by Angelo Rinaldi
The tender and fragile relationship between a boy and his recently divorced dad is explored in this reassuring book. On a dark and rainy day, boy and father, set out in rain gear to make the best of the dreary weather. They follow a stream through the trees and eventually to the waterfront where the smell of fish is strong and the taste of sea spray, salty. In wet and muddy clothes they munch on broken cookies. Handsome illustrations convey the weight of the oppressive weather and the apprehension of the boy on his first arranged visit with his dad. The bright spots in the sky and the patches of blue are symbols that reassure the reader and the boy that this relationship is headed for happy times. This quiet and comforting story will bring hope to any child caught in the confusion of change. 2000, Carolrhoda, Ages 6 to 9, $15.95. Reviewer Beverley Fahey
ISBN: 1-57505-452-3
Reading With Dad
Richard Jorgensen
Illustrated by Warren Hanson
Again and again we hear how important it is to read with children, even after they can read just fine on their own. Besides the academic benefits, there is also the strengthening of the relationship between the "reader" and the "readee". Richard Jorgensen's rhyming story of a father and daughter who spend their nights reading to each other is a delight for children and the adults who read to them. From The Cat in the Hat and The Wind in the Willows to The Lord of the Rings and David Copperfield, each book they read is a new adventure for them, but for the daughter, "the greatest adventure was reading with Dad!" For the father, the greatest joy is seeing his daughter read with her own children. Warren Hanson's illustrations ooze with the nostalgia of the daughter looking back on her life of reading, starting with a wonderful drawing of a photograph that captures the notion that reading together isn't just reading together; it's also sharing, talking, and laughing together. 2000, Waldman House Press, Ages 6 and up, 15.95. Reviewer: Carey Ahr.
ISBN: 0-931674-41-7
Sleepy Me
Marni McGee
Illustrations by Sam Williams
Perfect for settling down active toddlers before bedtime, this tranquil book features a young sleepy child slipping into the peaceful world of sleep. Readers can follow along as a father carries his tired child into the house after a busy day. Throughout the story, the young boy sees all kinds of sleepy things including a cat, a chair, a bookcase, a mirror, a star and a teddy bear. After the father brings the child upstairs, he rocks him for a while, reads him a story, gives him to his mother for a hug and kiss and then tucks him in for the night. Delicate, pastel watercolor paintings and repetitious, simple text perfectly capture the calm and peaceful mood of a nightly slumber. Similar to Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon, this delightful picture book will encourage youngsters to identify sleepy objects in their own homes. Not only will this book make an excellent choice for bedtime reading, but it also will help young children prepare themselves for a restful night's sleep. Parents should definitely add this title to their collections. 2001, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Ages 2 to 5, $14.95. Reviewer Debra Briatico
ISBN: 0-689-82378-9
Sleepy Time Olie
William Joyce
Olie Rolie Polie robot awaits his father's return home at the end of the day. But Pappy arrives home late and out of sorts. He's "bonked" his head and "broke" his smile and heads straight to bed. That's when Olie Rolie Polie sets off to create a "super silly ray" to make his father all well. He adds a funny bone and "shot of uncle Gizmo" and a "book of jokes." He springs into his father's room with his bubble ray, and the whole family participates in the fun. Once his father is feeling like his old self, the family snuggles together for lullabies and carefree sleep. The bedtime story of a mechanical space-age robot family appeals to young readers who like the rhyming text and bright, busy, computer-rendered futuristic illustrations. Other Rolie Polie adventures include Rolie Polie Olie, Snowie Rolie, and George Shrinks. 2001, Laura Geringer Books, Harper Collins Pub., Ages 2 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer Valerie O. Patterson.
ISBN: 0-06-029613-5
Ted
Tony DiTerlizzi
Children enjoy having imaginary friends, so on the morning that large, lovable, raspberry-colored Ted appears in the living room, the young boy accepts Ted just as naturally as if the child next door has come to play. Ted and the boy become fast friends...they do all the mischievous things that young children typically do. Dad is not happy and banishes Ted, so the young boy runs away. He meets Ted under the playground slide where Ted explains how he had been Ned, the secret friend to the boy's father, but had been banished then, too. When the father finds his son, the boy tells him about Ted/Ned and where he can find the Atomic Blaster he hid as a child. The father realizes that he and his son have much in common and need more time with each other. DiTerlizzi's drawings of Ted are humorous, never scary, and express the feelings of joy, sadness, and hope found in the text. 2001, Simon & Schuster, Ages 5 to 8, $16.00. Reviewer: Jenny B. Petty
Tender
Valerie Hobbs
When her grandmother dies, a devastated Olivia Trager must move from her home in Manhattan to a small California coastal town to live with her father, who abandoned her as a child. This coming-of-age novel chronicles fifteen-year-old Liv's inner world as she mourns the loss of her "gran" and adjusts to life with her father, an abalone diver. The move to California is softened by Sam, her father's girlfriend, who befriends Liv, regardless of the teenager's bristly personality and wild appearance. Liv struggles and fails to relate to her gruff and distant father until Brian Spinuchi, her father's "tender" who monitors the air supply during dives, breaks his arm. Liv fills in for the injured Spinuchi, and out at sea father and daughter "tend" to each other in ways neither one could have predicted. The first person narrative focuses primarily on Liv's psychological state, and the reader must wait until the last several chapters for the plot to gain momentum. Hobbs ends her novel on a cautiously optimistic note, and suggests that Liv, her father and Sam will work through any adversity that comes their way as a family. 2001, Farrar Straus & Giroux, Ages 12 up, $18.00. Reviewer Elizabeth Marshall
ISBN: 0-374-37397-3
Uncle Daddy
Ralph Fletcher
Ralph Fletcher's Uncle Daddy, a contemporary novel, may be short on words but is long on feelings. Nine-year-old Rivers' father went out to get pizza one night when River was three and never returned. Ever since, Uncle Daddy, his mother's uncle, has become River's stand-in father. Uncle Daddy, a beloved school principal, has a magical way with students and his grandnephew. When River's father returns, all the characters are concerned and confused, but they are so well developed that none are villains and all viewpoints make sense. Rivers' father is penitent and eager to earn back his family's respect. Rivers' mother is angry, but has to admit she admires River's fathers' persistence. Uncle Daddy is protective, but finally sees the good in this man. Rivers' ambivalence is as convincing as his young perspective. At one point, he asks his father: "Did you eat the pizza?" demonstrating his need for concrete explanations. The emotional complexities are revealed through the characters with clarity, thoughtfulness and large print. 2001, Holt, Ages 7 to 10, $15.95. Reviewer Susie Wilde
ISBN: 0-8050-6663-2
Uncle Daddy
Ralph Fletcher
What happens when your father disappears one day and shows up just as suddenly six years later? Rivers is not sure, but one reaction is anger and hitting his father in the stomach. Rivers is a typical fourth grader who lives with his mother and great uncle, whom he calls Uncle Daddy. Uncle Daddy is an Elementary School Principal and lets Rivers and four friends have the run of the school to celebrate Rivers "un-birthday" on June 25 (his real birthday is December 25). They run and yell in the halls, play in the gym, ring the bell and make announcements — the wishes of every school child. Rivers must still deal with his father, and how do you trust someone who said he was going out for pizza and never came home? Rivers' father is very patient and slowly wins himself back into the family. This is a wonderful story of love, patience, tolerance and acceptance. The characters are believable, even with the fairy tale ending, but the story may leave many children hopelessly wishing for their parents to reunite. 2001, Henry Holt, Ages 8 to 11, $15.95. Reviewer Janet L. Rose
ISBN: 0-8050-6663-2
What Dads Can't Do
Douglas Wood
Pictures by Doug Cushman
The love between father and son is the theme in this book, but it is presented with a touch of irony and lots of humor. The youngster is a little green reptile and Dad is a big green reptile and the son begins with a litany of things that Dads can't do. For example, they can't cross the street without holding hands, when they play hide-and-seek they always get found, but they can't seem to find you. Cushman's pictures are totally in sync with the text and really bring out all of the humor. The ending is an affirmation of a dad's caring — "No matter how tired a dad gets, or how hard life gets, a dad never quits. And most of all, whatever happens a dad never ever stops loving you." 2000, Simon & Schuster, Ages 3 to 8, $14.00. Reviewer Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-689-82620-6
Willie Wins
Almira Astudillo Gilles
Illustrated by Carl Angel
Willie is not happy; he has struck out in a baseball game and is still hurting from his classmate Stan's criticism. Dad is there and lends his support, ruffling Willie's hair and telling him that he is his favorite baseball player. When Willie gets home, he remembers that he is supposed to bring a bank to school for a lesson about earning money and saving. The student who earns the most gets tickets to the circus. His Dad, a native of the Philippines, brings out the special bank he was saving for Willie's birthday. It is a coconut shell with something very special in it that his dad received when he was a boy. Willie does accumulate the most money and his very special surprise even impresses his bullying classmate Stan. Willie happily goes home knowing that his Dad has really come through for him. A good story with a multicultural cast and one where the apparent single parent is Dad. 2001, Lee & Low, Ages 5 to 8, $16.00. Reviewer Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 1-58430-023-X
Winter Waits
Lynn Plourde
Illustrated by Greg Couch
Like any busy mom, Mother Earth sends her son, Winter, off to find his Father Time. Father is too busy to play. So Winter waits. He paints the grass a frosty hue, he makes the world glisten white, and carves ice sculptures that look like "chimmers and chisels/waterfalls and brooks. Then whizzles and whittles/mountainside nooks." With dad still too busy for fun, Winter cuts out snowflakes and sprinkles them on meadows and pines. He presents his father with a snowflake so beautiful that Time cries. And then father and son play, shaking out "a blizzard that swirls all around." Finally, an exhausted father and son snuggle up together. And Mother Earth tiptoes past, to make sure her offSpring doesn't oversleep. Plourdes's rhyming text is at once soothing and captivating. Couch's illustrations are sparkling and magical, from the snowflakes in Winter's eyes to Father Time's face — half daytime, half nighttime and one eye a watch. 2001, Simon & Schuster, Ages 4 to 8, $16.00. Reviewer Julie Steinberg
ISBN: 0-689-83268-0
Winter Waits
Lynn Plourde
Illustrated by Greg Couch
Picture Winter not as the usual "Old Man" but as the frisky son of Mother Earth and Father Time. As he waits for his father to come play with him, Winter magically transforms our world. "He whistens and glistens/ the world in white/ till it spangles and sparkles/ ever so bright." In brief verses he freezes waterfalls and cuts out snowflakes, until his Father can proudly admire his work and join him in a happy blizzard frolic. When they finally fall asleep, it's up to Mother Earth to "make sure Spring doesn't oversleep." The jacket/cover illustration sets the stage for the double-page spreads that house the verses and imaginative acrylic and colored pencil pictures. Couch plays with the color blue; he saturates the pages with its many variants, creates sprays of snow crystals, a Milky Way, swirling clouds and more, as young, not-quite-real Winter dances. Father Time's strange round face is part white and part night-dark, but his feeling for his son is strong. 2001, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Ages 4 to 8, $16.00. Reviewer Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 0-689-83268-0
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