Happy Father’s Day! As summer rolls around, it is time to celebrate the special men in your life!! Father’s Day is the perfect time to add a few books to programming about the unique gifts and joy that comes from spending time with an uncle, father, or grandfather. It is also a time to salute your heritage by starting a family tree or making a photo album to honor all those special people in your life. Here are some books that may get your creative juices flowing.
Papa and Me by Arthur Dorros (HarperCollins, 2008) is the perfect way to start Father’s Day! This stunning book, winner of a Pura Belpre Honor Illustrator award, has very brief text and works well read aloud. A young boy wakes his father and begins a day of rituals together as they cook breakfast, then prepare for an adventure in the park and a family party. While the father only speaks Spanish, the boy is bilingual and often answers in English. The vibrant, colorful artwork by Rudy Guttierez, playfully underlines the love between the father and son.
A Beach Tail by Karen Lynn Williams (Boyds Mills Press, 2010) portrays a simple day at the beach with Greg and his father. The adventurous little boy cannot sit still and enjoys exploring and building in the sand, especially because he knows his dad is there to protect him. Lovely, oversized pastel illustrations by talented Floyd Cooper will make this title very enjoyable for young children.
What is it like to work at running and owning a Chinese restaurant? A young boy takes the reader behind the scenes at Big Jimmy’s Kum Kau Chinese Take Out by Ted Lewin (HarperCollins, 2001) as he helps his dad, uncles, and other family members scramble from morning to night to prepare the delicacies that make this place a popular neighborhood destination. Arresting watercolor paintings capture the energy of the hustle and bustle as the restaurant opens for business.
Imagine what it would be like if your grandfather was the town bee expert! The Beeman by Laurie Krebs (Barefeet Books, 2008) is a charming and whimsical look at the many tasks a grandfather performs in his job as a beekeeper and how proud that makes his grandson. Bright acrylic illustrations and simple rhyming text make this a great book for sharing.
What are some of your favorite titles to share on Father’s Day?
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Debby Gold is a Children’s Librarian at the Cuyahoga County Public Library for over 30 years and is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee.