Father's Day, 2004
The following reviews were presented in our 2004 Father's Day feature.
Reviews
The 10 Best Things About My Dad
Christine Loomis
Illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic
Amidst all the "guy stuff," such as playing sports and going on hikes telling bad jokes and being silly, there is also mention of the more tender side of dad. Teaching his son right from wrong, patiently helping him clean up messes, hugging his son, getting rid of the monsters during the night and of course reading to him are all included as well. The light tone of the rhymed text keeps this from getting too sentimental. The cartoon-style illustrations work well with the text. Urbanovic has captured a wide range of facial expressions. A simple and straightforward original paperback with a nice tribute to the love between fathers and sons. 2004, Cartwheel Books/ Scholastic, Ages 3 to 7, $3.50. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-439-57769-1
Babar's Rescue
Laurent de Brunhoff
Babar was born in 1931 when Cecile de Brunhoff invented the story of an orphaned elephant for her children and her painter-husband Jean made a picture book of the tale. Since Jean's death in 1937 his son Laurent has ably continued Babar's saga. It is a pleasure to have some of the out of print titles reissued for new generations of youngsters. In Rescue Babar's daughter Isabelle takes over when Papa mysteriously disappears during a father-daughter camping trip, leaving her alone in the jungle wilderness. Pauvre petite! Does she cry? Yes. But after the tears she thinks. Papa would never abandon her, therefore he must have disappeared against his will. Isabelle staunchly sets off to rescue her father, along the way collecting a trio of unlikely allies: Lion, Monkey, and Snake. Will they succeed? Mais, oui! But read the book to your own little ones to learn how. It's a wonderfully enabling story of intelligence, pluck, and persistence--with the added grace of Laurent de Brunhoff's imaginative illustrations. 2004 (orig. 1993), Abrams, $16.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-8109-4839-7
Biscuit Loves Father's Day
Pat Schories
Illustrated by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
As she rises from bed, Biscuit's human companion tells Biscuit that they are "going to spend an extra-special day with Dad" since it is Father's Day. She makes a card, and helps Dad make sandwiches. When you lift the flap, you will see Biscuit pulling his doggie treats from the cupboard. The text says they are all going on a walk, but the illustrations clearly show her mother staying home. They watch for birds. Lift the flap and she is holding the binoculars for Biscuit. They make a fire, although it is clearly daytime and they have brought peanut and jelly sandwiches. The little girl comments to Biscuit that there is always room on Dad's lap for both of them. That's it. A very simple storyline with simple illustrations. Each page has a flap to lift to see what that curious little puppy, Biscuit, is doing next. A marginal book on father/daughter relationships.
2004, HarperFestival/HarperCollins, Ages 2 to 4, $6.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-06-009463-X
Daddy All Day Long
Francesca Rusackas
Illustrated by Priscilla Burris
From morning until night Owen and his Daddy tell each other how much they love one another. It becomes a game of one-upmanship. ("I love you more than FIVE pushes on the big swing!" and Daddy replies, "Well, I love you more than SIX monster tickles!") They eat, they run, they play, they read, and finally Owen falls asleep as Daddy tucks him into bed. The upbeat tone of the text is matched by the exuberance in the illustrations. The pace in both text and illustration appropriately slows down as evening arrives. There is such surprise on the faces of the little piglets as they wait in line to take their turns on the slide after Owen's Daddy. Preschoolers will identify with Owen and his stuffed animal, a cape-adorned frog who becomes a part of the action. This is a fine addition to picture books about fathers and sons. The illustrations are perfect for group sharing. 2004, HarperCollins, Ages 3 to 5, $12.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-06-050284-3
The Daddy Mountain
Jules Feiffer
Even before the title page the little red haired girl peeks up from the bottom of the page. She is getting ready to climb the "Daddy Mountain." After a drink of fruit juice to give her energy, she bravely approaches the mountain's feet. Carefully she begins to climb and includes instructions as she goes higher and higher. "Remember, the Daddy Mountain must wear a shirt. Because if you grab hold of his skin, he'll get mad." It is an amazing feat to reach the top. When the red haired girl climbs on top of the head of the Daddy Mountain, she calls to her mother to share in her success. Mother's reaction is perfect. Feiffer captures the exuberance and imagination of a young child in a highly entertaining story. From the little girl's perspective daddy is strong, steady and rock-solid. Underlying all is the strong bond between father and daughter. This is well executed, right down to the arm shadows where she is slipping. There is a page fold that opens up to reveal the little girl on top of her father's head. Because this can tear easily, it will be a problem for public libraries. However, it is a great title for a Father's Day storyhour and a wonderful addition to the storyhour collection or home library. 2004, Michael Di Capua Books/ Hyperion, Ages 4 to 7, $15.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-7868-0912-4
Daddy's Little Girl
Bobby Burke and Horace Gerlach
Illustrated by Maggie Kneen
Illustrations of a little bunny, her mommy and daddy accompany the lyrics of this song composed in 1949. Adult readers will recognize it as a song popular at weddings. To accompany the words of the song, there are cozy scenes of daddy holding his little bunny while mommy hangs her clothes on the line to dry, decorating the Christmas tree together, sitting in an Easter basket surrounded by little yellow chicks, baking cookies with mommy, and the three of them reading and singing together. The words and music are included in the back of the book. There will not be a dry eye in the house when parents read this sentimental and sweet book to their little girls. 2004, HarperCollins, Ages 3 to 6, $14.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-06-028722-5
Daddy's Little Boy
Billy Collins
Illustrated by Maggie Kneen
In 1950 Billy Collins composed a companion song to his hit, "Daddy's Little Girl." The lyrics to the companion song are illustrated here with a bear cub, his daddy and mommy. There are scenes of the cub being held by his daddy, a picnic with both his parents, and reading a story together. With the words, "You make every day my Thanksgiving" the bears are dressed as Pilgrims and daddy is carving the turkey. The words and music are included in the back of the book. There will not be a dry eye in the house when parents read this sentimental and sweet book to their little boys. 2004, HarperCollins, Ages 3 to 6, $14.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-06-029003-X
I Already Know I Love You
Billy Crystal
Illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles
Celebrity books seems to be the rage at the moment--Jay Leno, Duchess Sarah York, Julie Andrews, Jamie Lee Curtis, Seinfeld and now Billy Crystal. While the message in this one is heartfelt, the rhyming versus sometimes seem a bit strained and don't always work. The shift here is an example -- "I'm waiting to show you oceans/ and explain why the sky is blue. / I want to show you that lying is never as good as true." Not only is there no real connection, but wouldn't the word "truth" been more appropriate even though it does not rhyme with "blue." The soft pastel illustration fit the sappy text. It is of course wonderful to become a grandparent and sharing that joy is also wonderful, but to do it in a picture book with mediocre rhyme is not wonderful. Given the author's fame, the book will undoubtedly sell out its print run, but I don't think it will be a book that will stand the test of time. 2004, HarperCollins, Ages 18 mo to 4, $16.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-06-0590391-1
ISBN: 0-06-059392-X
I Love Daddy
Lizi BoydA little frog recounts activities that he and his dad do together and how he feels about them. "Sometimes things are scary, but when Daddy's there, I feel brave." Boyd captures the viewpoint of the child in statements such as, " 'Why is the sky blue?' I ask. Daddy tells me. He knows everything." In addition to playing King on the Rock and going swimming, they also plant flowers and make a berry pie. Boyd's frog characters are appealing with their big smiles. There is a nice combination of warm, tender moments and busy pastimes. The pages of this "Super Sturdy Picture Book" are a heavier stock than usual and are intended to withstand a toddler turning them. 2004, Candlewick Press, Ages 1 to 3, $8.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 076362217-6
I Love My Papi!
Alison Inches
Illustrated by Dave Aikins
Dora the Explorer and her Papi enjoy doing a variety of things together. They play sports, such as soccer and baseball, they go to the beach, they bake cakes and have picnics. At bedtime, he reads a book to her. The characters in this Level 1 "Ready To Read" paperback book will be familiar to those children who watch the television series. Emergent readers might have difficulty with some of the words, such as "taught," "sometimes" and "giant." Since there are pictures scattered throughout the text, this would be a good book for an adult to read and have the child name the picture so they are "reading" together. The illustrations clearly show what is presented in the text. At this price, it is just right for fathers and their children who are not quite reading yet to share. 2004, Simon Spotlight/ Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Ages 5 to 8, $3.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-689-86495-7
Grandpa and Me
Karen Katz
A little girl and her Grandpa are going to make pizza together. She begins by asking, "Where are our chef hats?" The reader lifts the flaps that open the blue closet doors and there they are. Each page contains a question that is answered by lifting the flap on the page. Lifting the last flap reveals the two of them eating their pizza. The chef hats are a nice touch to the illustrations that show the little girl and her grandfather mixing and rolling out the dough, tossing the pizza in the air, and adding the cheese. Pizza is a favorite food, and Grandpa is certainly a favorite person. They come together in a fun and simple lift-the-flap board book. 2004, Little Simon/ Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Ages 2 to 5, $5.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-689-86644-5
Give Her the River: A Father's Wish for His Daughter
Michael Dennis Browne
Paintings by Wendell Minor
The poem is set against beautiful illustrations of a river as it flows through a bucolic countryside. Through his words, the father wishes all the wonders of the world for his daughter and these thoughts are expressed in his comments about the river. It opens at dawn, which is also a parallel for the dawn of his daughter's life, with beautiful swans gliding down the smooth water. The same wish would be for her life to be smooth and filled with the delight each new day brings. As the seasons transition so does the life of his daughter. We see the growth of blue wildflowers and the fully sprouted oak leaves in late spring and early summer. During the hot days of summer, father and daughter relax and enjoy reading and just spending time together. In the fall, the fiery orange leaves are a startling background for the black Scottish terrier. That glowing autumn is followed by the frozen, snow covered ground, but a river that is still flowing . The year begins again and so does this child grow older. The father warm wishes are to share the last light of the evening and celebrate the arrival of baby ducks (new life) on this ever moving, ever flowing river of life. Wendell Minor brings all of the seasons and the delight that this young girl and her father take their life together which is metaphorically symbolized by the river. While it is a picture book for younger children, older girls and women will recognize the message. Some men (Dads) are unable to express their real feelings in words and this book may be a perfect way for them to show how much they really do care about their daughters. 2004, Atheneum, Ages 4 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-689-84326-7
I Love My Daddy
Sebastien Braun
A bear cub explains why he loves his daddy. Each double-page spread has a luminous illustration of the cub and his father doing something together. For instance, "My daddy washes me" shows the two splashing in a sun-lit stream while a trio of frogs looks on. They eat together, play together, and just sit together. In the end, they snuggle close and the cub states, "I love my daddy." This quiet, gentle book would be a great bedtime story for fathers to share with their own little cubs. The illustrations are evocative and calming. I would not try it with older, literal-minded children who will remind you that male bears do not usually assist in rearing the cubs. 2004, Boxer Books/HarperCollins, Ages 3 to 7, $12.99. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen
ISBN: 0-06-054311-6
Little Polar Bear: Just Like Father!
Hans de Beer
Lars, the little polar bear spends the day with his father. They dive into the Arctic waters to fish, they make snow piles to block the wind and take naps. Then Lars climbs on his father's back and they go home. "Lars wants to be just like his father when he grows up." The antics of the happy, smiling father and baby polar bear will appeal to the toddler set, for Lars is always safe and secure with his father. The white snow, icy blues and violets of the illustrations give the feeling of the cold climate. Little hands can easily grasp this small board book, part of the series, "A Little Polar Bear Story." 2003, Sterling, Ages 2 to 4, $3.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 1-4027-1289-8
Meet the Family My Dad
Mary Auld
What makes a father? What name do you call your father? When did he meet you? Some fathers know their children the minute after they are born. Some, those who have adopted children or are step dads, become families later. This book will make a lovely Father's Day companion for small children. The book's photographs illustrate various cultures, ages, physical abilities, and socioeconomic groups. Occupations are shown as the children interact with their fathers. Also, the book tells young children what a father can do with them. The words and pictures show things such as buckling up seatbelts, fishing, cooking, reading and brushing teeth. The final page of the text asks, "What is your dad like?" The book's focus is the various types of fathers. It does not address situations where a child does not have a father at home. 2004, Gareth Stevens Publishing, Ages 3 to 7, $19.93. Reviewer: Nicole Peterson
ISBN: 0-8368-3925-0
My Dad Can Do Anything
Stephen Krensky
Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka
The pictures and the text are telling the same story but in very different ways. The text touts all the great things each dad can do, put his head in a lion' s mouth, hunt for buried treasure, cut his way through a jungle and so on. The pictures do not show a lion tamer or pirate or explorer hacking his way through a jungle. Rather we, see a variety of ordinary dad's undertaking ordinary chores. The lion is the car and dad has his head under the hood trying to repair something, the hunt for buried treasure is spade work in the garden and mowing the lawn is dad hacking his way through the jungle. There is humor in the art and the artist's interpretation of the story. The closing line is what will resonate with kids and dads-"But the thing that he does best of all...is spending time with me." The book even comes with stickers to place on the pages. A personal rather than library or classroom purchase and pleasant enough for anytime, but especially Father's Day. 2004, Random House, Ages 2 to 5, $3.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-375-82627-0
Papa Small
Lois Lenski
According to the jacket copy, Lois Lenski is providing the fans of Mr. Small what they wanted-a look at his family. However, fifty years ago fans may have been interested, but today the family does look like one that most kids would recognize. Mrs. Small wears a dress and hat and high heeled shoes even when she is cleaning the house and cooking. She only seems to own one dress. The wringer washing machine will not be familiar either. The most amusing scene is the smalls at the supermarket, by today's standards they look like they are ready for a Sunday church service. The milk in bottles is not refrigerated and the bred doesn't even appear to be wrapped. The most amazing thing is getting the whole family and their groceries into a really small car. Kids used to being toted around in today's big vans with built in car seats, TVs and the like, may find that quite a surprise. The book and artwork even with full color are dated, and I guess I would be surprised if kids will find this story interesting since it really is so different from their known world. For me, it was a touch of nostalgia. My grandmother always wore a hat and heels and my grandfather wore a hat, they had a small car and a washing machine with a hand cranked wringer; so those who may find it most appealing are the generation that fondly remembers that lifestyle. 2004 (orig. 1951), Random House, Ages 3 up, $11.95.
Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-375-82749-8
ISBN: 0-375-92749-2
Quiero a Mi Papa Porque.../I Love My Daddy Because...
Laurel Porter-Gaylord
Illustrations by Ashley Wolff
Translated by Eida de la Vega
Portraying the theme of fatherly love, this bilingual boardbook presents 20 baby animals interacting with their fathers in various activities. After an opening page showing a little girl playing puppets with her father, following pages depict a variety of father and baby animals engaged in activities that a young child can relate to. The last page shows the human father holding his sleeping daughter, with the text explaining that she loves her daddy because he loves her. Besides the colorful appealing illustrations of the animals, each page consists of one short Spanish sentence in dark print, followed by its English translation in smaller, lighter print. A similar method is used at the top of each page for supplying the names of each animal. A note on the bottom of the copyright page states that the animal behavior depicted has been verified by wildlife biologists. This seems strange because a few of the animals seem somewhat anthropomorphized, such as the father gorilla teaching his baby to "be brave." This slight criticism is probably not very important given the audience and use of the book as a baby or toddler lap book depicting a warm father and child bond rather than strict biological realism. 2004, Dutton's Children's Books, Ages 2 to 6, $ 6.99. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan
ISBN: 0-525-47251-7
Razzamadaddy
Linda Walvoord
Illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa
Bubbly rhyme and colorful, whimsical illustrations follow a young boy and his father on a special day together at the beach. They swim, build sand castles, eat junk food, and generally get silly-"Race me and chase me, I'll run away! Tackle me, tickle me, Ho Daddy, hey." Seashells and seaweed convert daddy into a charging dragon to the boy's knight, armed with a sand shovel. At the end, daddy returns the boy home to his waiting mother-this illustration will resonate with children of divorced parents, whereas kids from two parent households will just assume they are both coming home. The book celebrates the bond between parent and child, and the different way dads relate to their children. 2004, Marshall Cavendish, Ages 3 to 7, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen
ISBN: 0-7614-5158-7
A Song for Ba
Paul Yee
Illustrations by Jan Peng Wang
The setting is a Chinatown by the Pacific Ocean "many years ago." Young Wei lives with his father and grandfather. He hopes to be a star in the Chinese opera as is his father and was his grandfather; he really loves to see it. But his father Ba refuses to teach him, feeling that there is no future for the opera. Secretly, however, his grandfather teaches him the special way to sing. Grandfather goes back to China while Ba is touring with the opera troupe. When they return, Ba is ill and they have almost no money. His classmates tease Wei, saying that the days of the opera are over. The company plans one last money-raising performance. But Ba seems too sick to sing. Wei manages to coach him, however, with what he learned, for a triumphant evening. Wang's naturalistic paintings on textured surfaces emphasize both the drama and the emotional atmosphere of the human interactions of the very real characters. He also gives us a complete picture of the costume, make-up, theatrical gestures of the Chinese opera, a very different and unfamiliar art form which still exists today in China and Taiwan. 2004, Groundwood/Douglas & McIntyre, $16.95, Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature)
Paul Yee's many award-winning books have contributed greatly to awareness and understanding of the hardships and achievements of Chinese immigrants to North America. The unusual setting for this story is early twentieth-century Canada, where the traditional Chinese opera faces possible extinction before newer entertaiments like the motion picture. Wei Lim lives in an all-male community (female parts are sung by men) with his grandfather and father Ba, who, as a star of the opera, plays traditional warrior roles. Ba discourages Wei from learning to sing in what may be a dying form, but Grandfather secretly coaches the boy in the high vocal range needed for portraying a maiden or princess. When the opera troupe is at its lowest ebb, Ba must assume a female role, which he is unable to sing until Wei teaches him Grandfather's technique. Even after a triumphal performance, the future of the art remains in doubt. Accompanying this affecting story are paintings by Jan Peng Wang, Chinese-Canadian artist making his debut as children's book illustrator. With their subdued colors and pensive faces, the pictures project a nostalgic, even melancholy, sense of a faded era, as well as the transcending magic of theater. The artist has not quite mastered the art of picture book illustration; while many of the double-page spreads sweep the eye along, there are several very awkward transitions from page to page. Subject matter, historical context, and the subtle paintings make this fascinating tale suitable for readers older than the very young. 2004, Groundwood, $16.95, Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-88899-492-3
The Very Best Daddy of All
Marion Dane Bauer
Illustrated by Leslie Wu
From morning to night animals and birds take care of their young. Some animal daddies "comb your hair," others "build you a house," and some "play with you too." There is a wonderful feeling of warmth and security in the combination of text and illustrations. They celebrate both the protectiveness and the gentleness of a good father. In using the words "some daddies" Bauer makes this a very inclusive book, for certainly each child will find some characteristic of his or her father. The luscious colors in Wu's palette show the golds of the prairie, the greens and blues of the sea and yes, even purple mountain majesty while presenting cozy scenes of a wide range of animals and their young. Humans appear in the last two spreads with the final words, "My daddy....the very best daddy of all." This is a very appealing Father's Day book, and one to use all year in storytime themes of fathers and their children. A free greeting card of an illustration from the book is included. This is a lovely companion to Bauer's My Mother Is Mine. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Ages 1 to 4, $12.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-689-84178-7
While You Are Away
Eileen Spinelli
Illustrated. by Renee Graef
Told in the voices of three children whose parents are away serving in the US Military this picture book paints a tender and poignant portrait of life separated from a parent. In the first vignette, the boy misses his Daddy who serves on a Navy ship at sea. The boy says all the things he misses, like "baking brownies, hunting for salamanders, collecting river rocks." He wonders about what his Daddy is eating, where he is sleeping, and he sends his father a care package. The second vignette is told from a voice of a girl whose mother flies airplanes in the military. The girl wraps herself in her mother's "old green sweater" and she dances with her pillow. At night she blows kisses for her mother to catch. In the third vignette a boy misses his father who drives a jeep. He wants his father to know he is taking care of the garden and remembers what his father has told him about doing his homework and giving his mother hugs. In the last picture spread the day has come that all of the children had waited for--the day their parents return home. The illustrations are warm and soft, comforting readers and bridging the distance. This is a timely book for children whose parents are away in military deployments domestically and abroad. 2004, Hyperion Books for Children, $14.99, Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Valerie O. Patterson (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-7868-0972-8
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