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While much of the world celebrates Father’s Day in June, Australian dads get their big day in September. I looked at some gift guides, and the retailers are pretty convinced that the special guy in your life is going to be pumped to get new socks and (another?) new grill brush. Perhaps he will, but while you’re thinking gifts for Dad – especially if children will be doing the gifting – consider a Father’s Day picture book. Picture books give dads and kids a good excuse to snuggle up for some reading time, they present a positive message about fathers, and even if you have a bigger gift in mind, they can serve as a more lasting alternative to a card (consider getting the kids to put their handprints inside the cover).
We are rounding up some of our favorite picture books to celebrate the significant men in your children’s life this Father’s Day.
Picture Books to Gift for Australian Father’s Day
Wild About Dads
by Philip Bunting
Did you know that male hardhead catfish carry their eggs around in their mouths? Or that sandgrouse papas fly fresh water in their feathers long distances for their babies? There are some remarkable fathers in the animal kingdom, and Philip Bunting’s fun information book Wild About Dads gives them their due. Bunting is the master of illustrating bright, expressive animals and presenting information in a clever way. This book is a joy to look at and a treat for information-loving children and dads. Kids are sure to find some of their dads’ best traits among the great fathers of the animal kingdom, and a lot of laughs along the way. (Little Hare Books)
The Daddy Animal Book
by Jennifer Cossins
Even more paternal animals, this petite little book would be perfect to tuck into a gift hamper or slip to a proud new Pop. Each spread gives the name of the father and baby animals, plus a fact about them. The Daddy Animal Book is a beautifully illustrated, and offers a comfortable repetition of language that’s simple enough for dad to read with even very young children (or for early readers to read to him). (Lothian)
My Dad Used to Be So Cool
by Keith Negley
Calling all cool dads! This is your chance to be seen … almost. The little boy in My Dad Used to Be So Cool has a suspicion that his “pretty normal” dad used to be in a rock band. These days, dad seems to be doing a lot more laundry folding and shoelace tying than rocking out, and his kid wonders what happened. Negley’s bold, graphic illustrations tell a lot of the story about a great “still a tiny bit cool” dad. It becomes clear that even if the kids don’t always see it, (formerly) cool dads are amazing. (Thank you to Walker Books for our review copy.)
My Dad is a Robot
by Matt Cosgrove
Speaking of cool dads, it doesn’t get much cooler than being a robot, right? You would think, but this dad is “an older model.” To his son’s chagrin, he doesn’t have the latest features like laser eyes or retractable bendy arms. What he can do might be familiar to most dads … I mean robots. He has X-ray vision (“seeing” through the bedroom door), runs “entirely on leftovers,” and does a great robot dance. I especially love all of the “dad jokes” that are attributed to his being a robot. My Dad is a Robot is such a clever way to look at all those quintessential dad-isms. (Scholastic Books)
Time for Adventure, Daddy
by Dave Hackett
In Time for Adventure Daddy, Dave Hackett has fun flipping the script on a daddy-daughter picnic. When daughter wants to go outside, daddy takes some convincing to be torn away from his housework. When he agrees, it’s he who is packing silly things and fussing about the last toilet trip before leaving the house, while the child is full of good sense. Thanks to her smart planning, the pair have “the most fun adventure EVER.” Hackett’s comic style drawings enhance the good-natured fun of the role-swap, which kids will have a lot of fun with. (Thank you to University of Queensland Press for our copy of Time for Adventure Daddy).
Crabbing With Dad
by Paul Seden
Adventure is at the heart of Crabbing With Dad. Two kids get to go mud crabbing in the boat with their dad. It’s a seemingly simple story that brings back the childhood pride in being allowed to take part in the rituals of a beloved adult, and seeing yourself as a member of a community. If your kids go crabbing, fishing, or just enjoy nature with their father or grandfather, they will love sharing this book. (Magabala Books)
What Do You Call Your Grandpa?
by Ashleigh Barton, Illustrated by Martina Heiduczek
We can’t forget Grandpas! Or, Sabas, Babus, or Nonnos. Whatever your kids call their grandpa, the good ones hold an irreplaceable place in their lives. Each spread in What Do You Call Your Grandpa? features a rhyming stanza and vibrant illustrations introducing us to grandads from around the world. There is a glossary on the final page identifying which country each grandfather is from. We’ve really enjoyed this little tour around the world, and seeing that, no matter the culture, grandpas bring their unique brand of fun, sytle, and wisdom. (Harper Collins)
Love Makes a Family
by Sophie Beer
Some families have one dad. Some have two, or none at all. Some kids live with their dads full time, while others see him on the weekend. Sophie Beer’s bright and joyous board book, Love Makes a Family affirms that no matter the family arrangement, love is what makes it. This is not a book about non-traditional families, but rather each page shows a different domestic scene with text sharing some of the simple things that “Love is…” (“baking a special cake,” “finding the biggest puddles,” “reading one more book,” etc.). This book is suitable for babies on up, and is a celebration of love in all its forms. (Little Hare)
My Dad is Awesome
by Bluey and Bingo
If you’re an Australian family with young kids, you’re sure to know that there is one father that even the greatest dads learn from. Bandit Heeler from Bluey is playful, funny, kind, and up for just about any adventure his kids put him up to (even if he forgets to pack the swimming bag). My Dad is Awesome is a pocket-sized tribute to the man, the myth, the magic claw. “Narrated” by Bluey and Bingo, pictures from the show demonstrate the ways that their dad is awesome, and sometimes a little flawed, too. While it’s not easy to live up to Bandit, kids will definitely see qualities of their own awesome dad in there, too. (Penguin Random House)
Happy Father’s Day to all of the wild, cool, awesome, adventurous dads, grandads, and father figures. May you get a piping hot cuppa in the morning, an afternoon nap, and a nice cuddle together with a good book.
Love picture books? Here are 25 gorgeous ones from 2019.
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