It is beautiful to see fathers reading to their children. Some dads can be so much more animated and make reading fun and imaginative. Reading with your children helps to develop better bonds and encourages a love for reading and books.
Below are some of our top books for fathers, especially those who love reading to their children.
SOMEWHERE
SOMEWHERE by Robie H. Harris is truly a beautiful book that every parent should own.
A dad allows his daughter to explore the forest alone as he observes her. As she enters the forest through mud and trees, she discovers a world of beauty.
From colorful feathers and exquisite butterflies, she delved into the bliss of her surroundings and thought of sharing that moment with her father.
As she retraces her steps out of the forest to find him, she quickly embraces him and tells him of her adventure.
We love stories that encourage a love of nature and exploration, and the illustrations by Armando Mariño are absolutely stunning.
Our first instinct is to protect our children, but a part of protecting them is allowing them to figure things out themselves and explore their curiosity.
This book encourages self-discovery and allows children to make decisions on their own.
TOGETHER WE RIDE
TOGETHER WE RIDE by Valerie Bolling is super adorable. When it’s time to learn to ride a bike, a father prepares his daughter for the task at hand.
With a helmet for safety, they head out to the cul-de-sac to begin. After a few slips and slides, tears, and some reassurances from dad, she decides to get back on her bike and proudly try again.
This time, along with cheers from her father, so rides along as they celebrate their victory.
With bold and vivid illustrations by Kaylani Juanita, this beautiful ode to parenthood and milestones will surely warm the hearts of fathers everywhere.
It encourages children to be brave and to persevere.
THE ONE AND ONLY SPARKELLA
Channing Tatum is back with another gem with THE ONE AND ONLY SPARKELLA MAKES A PLAN.
Sparkella is ready to have a tea party with her friend Tam. She already had the outfit, games, and party guests, but she needs her father’s help to build a castle.
This wasn’t just any castle, it had a moat and an art studio, and a portal that takes you to glimmeria. This wasn’t an easy task. There were boxes everywhere as everything was going wrong.
Sparkella and her dad needed a break to regroup. Encouragement from her dad and a touch of sparkle motivated her to try again.
After painting and glamorizing boring empty boxes, they created the most magnificent castle, and Tam was very impressed.
Kim Barnes always works magic and brought this book to life with magnificent and sparklicious illustrations that children will love.
This book fosters imagination and encourages children to explore their creativity.
The Legend of the Storm Goose
THE LEGEND OF THE STORM GOOSE by Fiona Halliday is such a moving story of strength, love, and family.
Erin loved hearing her pap’s stories about the storm goose. The storm goose protects her papa while he’s at sea. Its big wings shelter him from storms, but it never comes ashore.
One day the storm goose came ashore hurt and though Erin worry her dad won’t be protected at sea without the goose, she nursed it back to health.
As the seasons changed, the bird stayed with her, comforting her and providing shelter because her papa might not return.
After a while, Erin realized the goose’s true reason for coming ashore, so the storm goose took his farewell to the sky.
With mind-blowing and vibrant illustrations that capture the essence of the message, this is an excellent book for children dealing with grief.
It’s never an easy process when dealing with loss, and it’s harder for children. Books like these are absolutely useful and can reassure them that all will ultimately be well.
DUCK, DUCK, DAD?
DUCK, DUCK, DAD by Lorna Scobie is absolutely hilarious.
After living a quiet life, a dog named Ralph stumbled upon an egg that hatched into a duckling. The duckling thought he was his dad and soon enough, more eggs began hatching and Ralph’s dad-duty began.
His life was now noisy and filled with cuddles, fun bath time and bedtime stories. He was enjoying his new duckling brood when their dad arrived after looking for them everywhere.
To their surprise, the daddy duck had been caring for Ralph’s pups all along. Unable to separate, they became one big happy duckling-pup family.
With vibrant and witty illustrations, this hilarious book celebrates the diversity of families.
Family doesn’t have to look alike. Once they’re full of love and fun, a family can be anything you want it to be.
THE ONE AND ONLY SPARKELLA
Channing Tatum’s debut picture book, THE ONE AND ONLY SPARKELLA was an instant favorite of ours.
It features a girl named Ella as she prepares for the first day of school. She loves sparkles and so does her dad.
Adorned with all things sparkly, from head to toe, she enters the classroom and notices she doesn’t look like everyone else.
After being teased about her appearance, she returns to school the next day without her sparkles but doesn’t feel much like herself.
With a heartfelt pep-talk and some twisty-twirly fun with her dad, she realizes that not being herself meant she lost her sparkle and returned to school in full sparkle apparel the next day.
With vibrant and bold illustrations by Kim Barnes, this book transcends a message of love and acceptance. It celebrates fatherhood and encourages children to be themselves.
It’s perfect for girl-dads and even more perfect for the first day of school jitters.
YOU BE DADDY
Do you think your child can be a daddy for a night?
In Karla Clark’s new release, YOU BE DADDY a little boy pretends to be his father, so his dad can rest after a long day.
Between bike rides, building forts, and cleaning the yard, daddy is just too tired. When the tables turn, it proves a daunting task for the little one, and he’d rather his dad be the dad instead.
YOU BE DADDY is a celebration to dads everywhere who work just as hard when they get home.
This book is hilarious and relatable, and children will love the bright and vibrant illustrations by Steph Lew.
MY DAD'S JOKES ARE VERY BAD
MY DAD’S JOKES ARE VERY TERRIBLY, AWFULLY, PAINFULLY BAD by Jacob Eckeberger is ridiculously hilarious.
It features a boy warning readers about his dad’s jokes. He’s embarrassed, but no matter how he tries and warns us not to laugh, he can’t help himself and bursts out laughing.
I knew I was going to love this book from the moment I saw it. The illustrations by Keith Zarraga are colorful and witty, and it’s guaranteed to induce some chuckles.
THREE SQUEEZES
THREE SQUEEZES by Jason Pratt is a guaranteed tearjerker. It portrays the intimate bond between a father and his sons.
From nightmares to skinned knees, baseball matches to the occasion arguments, he is always there for his son. Through every hurt and milestone from birth to adulthood, his dad is right by his side. Teaching, loving, protecting and giving him three squeezes. The same heartwarming gestures he shows to his own child when he grows older.
The watercolored yellow-orangish illustrations by Chris Sheban exudes a sense of comfort and warmth that children will love and parents will be excited about.
It also makes the perfect graduation and baby shower gift. AGE:4-8
HAIR TWINS
HAIR TWINS by Raakhee Mirchandani is a celebration of hair and fatherhood.
It features a Sikh dad and his daughter as they take us through their daily hair routine.
Every morning he combs and oils her hair the same way he does, and whether it’s braided or in a bun like his, their bond is magical, fun, and full of love.
HAIR TWINS is movement and melodies. It’s metaphorical and magical with innovation, humor, and tradition wrapped in one.
With vivid and magnificent illustrations by one of our favorite illustrators, Holly Hatam, HAIR TWINS pays homage to the Sikh culture as it channels ancestors and escapes the norms of a “traditional” father-daughter relationship. How awesome is that?
MY DAD IS NOT A MOM
MY DAD IS NOT A MOM by Jalal Wilson is one of the most anticipated books of the year.
It features a boy paying homage to his dad for raising his four children. Though his father may burn cookies and struggle with hairstyles for his sister, he knows he does his absolute best.
The boy wonders why he differs from his friends who live with their mom, but with positive references from his father, he is reassured and understands that every family is different.
With bold and vivid illustrations, MY DAD IS NOT A MOM breaks stereotypical norms and portrays a positive representation of single black fathers and single fathers.
There is no need to compare a father to a mother or assign a specific role to a specific gender. This book encourages all fathers to be their best and defies all odds. AGE:4-8
CAVE DADA
Do you have a picky eater? In CAVE DADA, Picky Eater by Brandon Reese, a caveman dad struggles to make breakfast for his son.
Dada is all out of eggs and is too tired to go out. Whatever he offers, his son gets thrown on the grill. When all else fails, he heads outside for eggs and creates the most delicious omelet by accident.
CAVE DADA is absolutely hilarious and totally relatable to parents. It’s not easy to please a picky eater and this book ensures that with a bit of patience and creativity, you’ll get the job done.
With bold pencil gouache and gaegu text, this book is guaranteed to be a household favorite, especially for dads. AGE:2-6
A PIZZA WITH EVERYTHING ON IT
What is your favorite pizza topping? A PIZZA WITH EVERYTHING ON IT by Kyle Scheele is a deliciously hilarious book that celebrates food and fatherhood.
Have you ever ordered a pizza with everything on it? Well, for a boy whose father owns a pizza shop, that’s exactly what he ordered and that’s exactly what he received.
Adding apples and chips did not impress the boy, so with a bit of creativity and imagination, he and his dad added everything from a treehouse to a particle accelerator to the pizza. But will the pizza be able to withstand all those things?
With yummy, vibrant illustrations by Andy J. Pizza (no pun intended), children will love how fun and imaginative this book is.
The bond between a father and son is unmatched and food is a great way to explore creativity while learning about art and science and best of all… pizza.
WHAT WE'LL BUILD
WHAT WE’LL BUILD :Plans For Our Together Future by Oliver Jeffers celebrates the bond between a father and daughter. Together they build their future, starting with a door to a house that provides security, and later a fire to keep them warm.
Along the way, he encourages her to be strong and also to show kindness to people. This book is so much fun to read and full of metaphors that awaken children’s imagination, so prepare for lots of questions.
Oliver Jeffers creates such vibrant illustrations that combine well with the theme of the book. It’s about family and community and provides hope when we need it the most. AGE:4-8
HAIR LOVE
Matthew A. Cherry’s HAIR LOVE is one of my favorite books so far this year.
It features a little girl named Zuri, who has a lovely head of hair. It’s coiled and curled and changes every which way.
Her mommy is returning from a trip and Zuri wants the perfect hairstyle. With the help of her dad, she tried many styles. None were perfect, but they did not give up. By watching a hair tutorial online, her dad was able to pull off the perfect style for the perfect little superhero.
This book is absolutely beautiful and delightfully written. The father-daughter relationship is too cute. The representation of a black father taking care of his child and family and going the extra mile is absolutely necessary and I love that Matthew A. Cherry portrays a happy, healthy black family.
Every single thing illustrator Vashti Harrison touches turns to MAGIC. The illustrations are vibrant, comprehensive and absolutely breathtaking and assists in breaking down stereotypical barriers about black families and especially black fathers.
It’s like you can feel the textures of their hair through the pages.
For most black people, Hair has a whole community on its own lol and HAIR LOVE promotes self-acceptance and self-confidence while still being funny and fun to read.
Every child would love it, especially little black girls. AGE:4-8
LION NEEDS A HAIRCUT
LION NEEDS A HAIRCUT by Hyewon Yum is perfect for Father’s Day. Lion cub needs a haircut, but he’s hesitant. No matter how many roars and convincing he receives from his father, he just doesn’t want to do it.
The cub uses reverse psychology and suggests the only way he’ll get one is if daddy gets one with him.
Getting a haircut for the first time can be a challenge for both parent and child, and this book can help you erase fears and make children comfortable. They can even read it while they get their haircut. First haircuts are special to most parents and it creates a special bond between father and son.
LADYBUG GIRL'S DAY OUT WITH GRANDPA
In LADYBUG GIRL’S DAY OUT WITH GRANDPA by Jacky Davis, our favorite Ladybug girl Lulu is heading to The Museum of Natural History with her grandpa.
She is super excited and can’t wait to explore everywhere and see everything. They visit the dinosaurs, elephants and sea creatures, but Lulu still wants to see more. Grandpa suggests she slow down and savor the moment to learn about each exhibit.
He finally takes her to see the beautiful butterflies, and Lulu is in awe. She eventually calms her excitement and learns about the butterflies. She observed their colors and learned about metamorphosis.
Taking things slow is never easy for some children, especially when there is an enormous world of wonder for them to explore. However, sometimes it’s great to experience things slowly, so they can learn.
The illustrations by David Soman are always vibrant and bright.
MADE FOR ME
MADE FOR ME by Zack Bush celebrates the joys of fatherhood. From the time his child is born, he adores every single moment.
As he takes his first steps on the first day of school… HE’S MADE FOR ME.
What I loved most about this book is that it’s filled with warm, soft, and delicate words, yet features a big, muscular man who is so sweet and cuddly.
Being a father is so beautiful. They are the protectors of the family and a daughter’s first love. From the moment his child enters the world, his life completely changes, and he begins a lifelong journey of love.
The father smiles throughout the entire book and every day brings a new discovery because he is also learning and growing.
Dads will love this book and Gregorio De Lauretis’ beautiful and heartwarming illustrations are guaranteed to jerk a tear or two.
The red hues are captivating and children will love them. OF ALL THE CHILDREN THAT EVER COULD BE, YOU ARE THE ONE MADE JUST FOR ME.
THE BIG BED
“Hey Dad, we need to talk,” says a little girl who isn’t happy that her daddy is sleeping in “the big bed” with her mommy.
In Bunmi Laditan’s THE BIG BED, a girl refuses to share her mommy’s bed with her daddy.
She has a meeting with him explaining why it’s in his best interest to sleep somewhere else.
In order for him to not feel bad, she provides ideas and solutions that she has written on her little whiteboard and even tries to reassure him she just wants him to be happy.
This book is hilarious and is written in the child’s point of view.
It is a funny way of showing how children may express themselves when dealing with issues that affect them. They are very territorial with their mommies.
THE BIG BED also shows parents what can happen when they allow children to sleep in their beds and how children feel after they start sleeping on their own.
The illustrations by Tom Knight are stunning and colorful, and blends well with the nature of the book. AGE 4-8
FRANNY'S FATHER IS A FEMINIST
FRANNY’S FATHER IS A FEMINIST salutes all Fathers who allow their little girls to be brave and be whatever they want to be. Her dad believes that she can be anything she want to be and do anything she wants to do.
He is not afraid to pretend to be a girl with her and her seeing her father like this can make her grow up to be confident and smart. Daddies will love this book because it portrays the non-traditional dad who works at home and still support his family in every possible way.
PET DAD
PET DAD by Elanna Allen is such an adorable book. It’s about an adorable little girl named Plum and her daddy.
Plum wants a pet, but her dad says “no way,” so she pretends her dad is her pet.
She rubs his tummy, tickles his ears and daddy loves play time. What he doesn’t love is to play fetch or sit when she commands.
Apart from her beautiful illustrations, I love that it teaches children they can’t always get what they want. It also teaches manners because dad wouldn’t do anything without Plum saying please.
Ultimately, Plum realizes she doesn’t need a pet. Her dad might not roll over, fetch or chase on command, but he is fun and is all she will ever need.
YOU AND ME, ME AND YOU
YOU AND ME, ME AND YOU is such a great book and it’s perfect for busy Fathers. It portrays a special bond a father has with his son as they travel through the city enjoying the day.
I love that the boy is unintentionally enlightening everyone around him and is such a joy to his father. The father sees the world through his son’s eyes as they enter a world of wondrous imagination; convert boxes and brooms into a kayak fishing adventure, then building forts with books. How awesome is that?
Sometimes as parents, all you need to do is just relax and view the world through the eyes of your child. Miguel Tanco’s illustrations are absolutely amazing and flows well with the entire content of his book.
HEY, COACH!
HEY, COACH! by Linda Ashman is absolutely funny and totally relatable. It’s about a very patient soccer coach to a bunch of toddlers.
They love soccer but they’re still toddlers, so they still want to naps, eat, and one kid even wanted to potty during practice.
They hold the ball with their hands and there are kids who wouldn’t even share the ball. They are literally sending him bonkers lol.
Through all the chaos, he does his absolute best as a coach which ultimately leads them to victory.
This book is perfect for children and parents who love sports. It’s funny yet it also teaches the importance of team work, patience and working hard while still having fun.
The illustrations by Kim Smith are sure to make children want to play soccer. I just love this funny little book.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
A magnificent book that can help with children’s understanding of who they are and where they’re from is WHERE ARE YOU FROM by Yamile Saied Mendez.
He takes her on a heartfelt ancestral journey of life back on the island and tells the story of the gaucho, rivers and mountains and reminisces about the warm beaches and even the hurricanes on the island.
ANIMAL DADS
ANIMAL DADS by Ami Dobelle is such a fun book to read and will definitely be a great addition to our Best Daddy Books on the blog.
It’s filled with information about some male animals who take the lead in reproducing and raising their young ones.
Did you know that Darwin Frog dads store their eggs in their mouth until they are ready to hatch? Super cool, right?
This book allows children to explore their curiosity and learn about these unique animals.
Dedicated to her dad and coupled with vibrant and colorful illustrations, Animal Dads is perfect for little animal lovers and amazing Fathers who go above and beyond for their children. Thank you for writing this wonderful dedication to your father and sharing it with us. AGE: 2-8
YOU'RE MISSING IT
If you own YOU’RE MISSING IT by Brady Smith and Tiffani Thiessen you would know that my pics are completely unfiltered.
The illustrations by Brady Smith are absolutely vibrant and breathtaking. I love how colorful this book is.
The book centers on a busy city park and features a little boy and his dad who’s supposed to be playing but is busy on his phone. This book has so many details and though there are a lot of funny moments, there are moments that make you realize that bad things can happen in a split second.
You’re Missing It, brings awareness to how work and everyday tasks can rob us of experiences with our children. We all have to work and provide for our children’s future, but it is also important to not just be around them, but be wholeheartedly present. AGE: 2-6
BIG BOYS CRY
BIG BOYS CRY by Jonty Howley is such a universal and reassuring book. It’s Levi’s first day of school, and it scared him. To encourage him, his father told him that “big boys don’t cry.” On the way to school, he noticed a fisherman crying. Though puzzled, he reassured himself that big boys don’t cry.
As he walked along, he then saw rich men, poor men, old, young and both big and small men crying everywhere. When he got to school, it wasn’t so scary but when he got back home, he realized his own father had been crying because he was scared. He reassured his father that big boys DO cry, and it was okay. We often think boys and men are not allowed to be vulnerable or express emotions. They are not supposed to cry, and that’s far from the truth. It’s okay to express emotions without feeling bad. The story is set along the ocean so the illustrations are oceanic and rustic and absolutely magnificent. AGE 3-6
HOME FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR
HOME FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR by Wei Jie and Xu Canis is a delightful story of family and love. Written in both English and Chinese, it features a little boy named Jaijun awaiting the return of his father on Chinese New Year.
His father works at a construction site and was very excited about going home after he got his ticket. When the time came to travel, there were so many people at the train station and everyone rushed.
This book showed the distance a father traveled to get home to see his son. First, by train, then a long-distance bus, followed by a three-wheel motorcycle, a ferryboat and on foot through heavy snow. Along the way, Jaijun’s father lost his water bottle, apple, and scarf, but he made sure to secured Jaijun’s New Year gift in his pocket.
It is a Chinese tradition for everyone to return home on New Year’s Eve to reunite with their family and enjoy a reunion dinner. No matter the circumstance, Jaijun’s father persevered and made it home in time, even though he had to leave soon after.
HOME FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR teaches perseverance and is full of hope and love and portrays the dedication a father has to his son and family. The illustrations are realistic and vibrant and capture the spirit of the entire story. AGE: 4-9
MY DAD IS AMAZING
MY DAD IS AMAZING by Sabrina Moyle is another wonderful and funny tribute to daddies of the world. Seen from a child’s point of view, it features daddy yetis and all the things they do. They like being funny, smart and silly with their young Yeti kids and the illustrations by Eunice Moyle are bright, vibrant and absolutely beautiful. It is such a quirky little books that daddies will love reading with vivid colors that children will love.
MY DAD IS THE BEST PLAYGROUND
MY DAD IS THE BEST PLAYGROUND by Luciana Navarro Powell is one of the best picture books for dads. When a dad returns home from work, he is greeted by his children and they definitely made sure he didn’t miss out on the fun they probably had during the day.
They have so much fun at the playground, but their dad is the best playground ever. He’s the highest swing and bounciest trampoline and merriest merry-go-round. This book is full of joy and laughter and it’s a celebration to all hardworking dads who can’t wait to get home to play with their children.
HOW TO BABYSIT A GRANDPA
Jean Reagan’s, HOW TO BABYSIT A GRANDPA is full of fun and funny surprises for grandpa when he visits. They yell surprise and put on a show for him.
They go on walks and make sure he has on sunscreen, build pirate caves and as he naps, draw pictures for his fridge.
I love these books because they are so interactive and the illustrations by Lee Wildish are always bright and make it so much fun to read. Grandpas are very special and will do every and anything for their little ones.
MY PAPA IS A PRINCESS
It is said that a girl’s first love is her father and in MY PAPA IS A PRINCESS by Doug Cenko it celebrates the special bond a father has with his daughter.
They play and sing and make meals together and in her eyes, something as little as combing her hair, seems mundane to him but to her, he’s a famous hairstylist.
MY PAPA IS A PRINCESS is a wonderful ode to daddies who will do just about anything to make their children happy…including wearing a dress and makeup.
Love has no limits and should never be restricted to secular norms.
This book is funny and engaging, and also inspiring with vibrant illustrations that children will love. Single dads and stay-at-home daddies will also appreciate this book.
MY PAPI HAS A MOTORCYCLE
Are There Any Biker-Dads here? Isabel Quintero’s MY PAPI HAS A MOTORCYCLE, features a little girl named Daisy anticipating the arrival of her Papi from work.
He works hard all day, yet still has enough time to take her for a spin around the neighborhood on his motorcycle.
As they ride, her papi smells like work and the dust from his hair and clothes leave a trail behind them. They explore the history of their neighborhood, like the supermarket and businesses old and new and even get chased by dogs. They rode past murals that tell stories of immigrant workers and road races that happened long ago.
This book is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, with illustration by Zeke Peña that are vibrant and breathtaking.
Children will love this book because they get to ride along on the journey that’s full of history, culture and community. It’s perfect for little mechanics and children who love cars and bikes. Written in both Spanish and English and a dedication to her own father. How awesome is that? Happy Father’s Day to all the biker-dads.
MOTHER BRUCE
MOTHER BRUCE by Ryan T. Higgins is a cute, funny story about a grumpy bear. He doesn’t like sunny days or rainy days and he definitely didn’t like animals. Bruce did, however love eggs. He loved cooking the eggs from recipes he found online.
One day he bought some eggs that accidentally hatched into goslings. They thought he was their mama. No matter how much he tried to get rid of them, they never left.
He even tried returning them to Mrs. Goose, but she had flown south, so he just left them there, but the goslings followed him home.
Bruce eventually caved and started treating them like his own until the goslings grew into geese. Bruce reminds me of my grumpy old childhood neighbor who had no children but secretly loved them. Children will love the humor of the book and the mischievousness of the little goslings.
