ShareThisJust in time for Father's Day, here's a look at some new books that star some special dads:-- Tim is at the train station with his mother, waiting for his dad's train to come. When it does, Tim and his dad head off for a day of fun -- going to the movies, eating pizza, reading books at the library. Yet, as all good things do, the day comes to an end, and Tim's father must head back to the town where he lives. It's hard to say goodbye, but Tim understands that he will soon have another day with his dad.Author Bo R. Holmberg and artist Eva Eriksson combine talents to create a story that is both realistic and hopeful in "A Day With Dad" (Candlewick Press, $15.99). Holmberg wisely keeps his text matter-of-fact, understanding that the story really speaks for itself. Eriksson's illustrations, done in muted colored pencil, underline the pain of even temporary separation as well as the strong bond between father and son. (Note: If you don't know Eriksson's work, look for the "Sam" books or "The Wild Baby" series, both written by Barbro Lingren.) (Ages 4-7).-- Today is a special day with dad, and a young Latino boy wants to make use of every minute. The two begin the morning by making pancakes together then head to the park for some playtime.It's a simple story, but author Arthur Dorros and artist Rudy Gutierrez make it sparkle in "Papa and Me" (HarperCollins, $16.99). Dorros' story celebrates the bond between a bilingual son and his father, who only speaks Spanish. The text, mostly written in English, flows effortlessly, moving back and forth from English to Spanish as it follows the conversation between father and son.Gutierrez' art, meanwhile, spectacularly spotlights the close relationship between father and son. His unusual style uses joyous colors and flattened perspective to highlight the connection between the boy and his dad. (Ages 4-7).-- Ace's father is a cool dude who plays jazz and sings scat all around the city. So it's not surprising that Ace decides to join his dad one day by jumping into his string bass case. His dad's not happy at first when he discovers Ace hiding in the case, but finally decides to take him along, and their toe-tapping adventure begins.In "Cool Daddy Rat" (Putnam, $16.99), author Kristyn Crow offers young readers an ebullient look at jazz and scat. Her text is definitely meant to be read aloud; the story part of the text is printed in black, while the be-bop, scat part is printed in bright colors. The illustrations by Mike Lester are cartoonish and a bit wild -- just right for the story. Pair this book with last year's wonderful ode to jazz for the picture book set, "Jazz Baby" by Lisa Wheeler, for a great real-aloud session. (Ages 4-7).-- All animal dads are different. Some are spiky, some jiggle, some buzz, and some splash. But, as author Tim Warnes and illustrator Jane Chapman show in "Daddy Hug" (HarperCollins, $16.99), all have one thing in common: they love their children.Warnes' rhyming text and Chapman's illustration work perfectly together to convey the differences among animal daddies. For example, Warnes' text -- "Daddy busy/Daddy strong/ Daddy slimy/ Daddy long" -- is paired with Chapman's illustrations showing a daddy bird busily feeding his offspring, a baboon dad holding a pack of little ones, a slug carrying his baby on his back and a father snake whose children are peeking out of his spiraled body.Young readers will learn a bit about animals as they enjoy the rhyming text and Chapman's illustrations. And they'll especially enjoy the two, two-page spreads where the illustrations are vertical, instead of horizontal. (Ages 4-7). -- Part parenting manual, part joke book, "The Dads' Book: For the Dad Who's Best At Everything" (Scholastic, $9.99) is entertaining, if not exactly illuminating. Written by Michael Heatley and illustrated with old-fashioned-looking line drawings, the book features helpful sections like "Tips for a Stress Free Morning" and "Ten Things to Know By Heart" (about your child.). Then, there are the sections titled "How to Avoid Changing a Dirty Diaper," "Ten Ways to Get Some Peace and Quiet," and "Ten Best Bribes."Written mostly in an ironic style, "The Dad's Book" is really meant to be taken all in good fun. Yes, there are some useful tips in it, but it's mostly designed to make Dad laugh. And that's certainly a great way to celebrate Father's Day. (Ages - adult). (Karen MacPherson, the children's/teen librarian at the Takoma Park, Md., Library, can be reached at Kam.Macpherson(at)gmail.co
Childrens books for Father's Day
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