Father’s Day Book Picks To Make Dad Smile

by Julie on June 18th, 2015 at 8:05 AM

Cuddle up with dad on Father’s Day with these books that are guaranteed to make him smile.

Your Baby’s First Words Will Be Dada by Jimmy Fallon Everyone knows that fathers wage a secret campaign to ensure that their babies’ first word is “Dada!”But how does it work?

One of the most popular entertainers in the world and NBC’s The Tonight Showhost, Jimmy Fallon, shows you how. Order on Amazon Here!
How to Babysit a Grandpa by Jean Reagan A New York Times bestselling picture book–from the creators of the hilarious HOW TO… series–about a child spending time with his grandpa. Written in a how-to style, the narrator gives important tips for “babysitting” a grandpa, including what to eat for snack (anything dipped in ketchup, ice cream topped with cookies, cookies topped with ice cream) what to do on a walk (find lizards and dandelion puffs, be on the lookout for puddles and sprinklers), and how to play with a grandpa (build a pirate cave, put on a scary play). Available on Amazon
I Already Know I Love You by Billy Crystal Starting with the anticipation of a new baby’s arrival, this book from Emmy Award-winning comedian Billy Crystal celebrates all the moments, great and small, that a new grandpa is ready to share. Whether it’s taking a nap together or attending baseball games, this grandpa just can’t wait for his grandchild to be born.
On Our Way Home by Sebastien Braun. Boxer Books, 2009. A bear cub and his dad take a journey home enjoying all the details of their walk together. This is a great book for an emerging reader. Simple text and colorful pictures make it ideal for toddlers and preschoolers as well.
For all Star Wars loving dads these books are for you: Vadar’s Little Princess and Darth Vadar and Son. Written by Jeffery Brown
My Love Will Be With You by Laura Krauss Melmed, illustrated by Henri Sorensen. HarperCollins Publishers, 2009. “Said the father eagle to his child, ‘Someday you’ll soar through a high mountain pass.'” Each animal has a wish for the child in this story including the human father at the end. The pictures are amazing and the sentiment heartfelt. Suitable for babies to preschool age.
ButterFly Kisses by Bob Carlisle. Every daughter’s bookshelf needs this book. Inspired by the song this book uses the words to tell a wonderful story of love between a father and daughter.
Why a Daughter Needs a Dad: 100 Reasons by Gregory Lang Why A Daughter Needs a Dad has been bringing together fathers and daughters for over a decade, and makes the perfect gift for dads everywhere.
Confessions of the World’s Best Father by Dave Engledow A hilarious pictorial parody of a clueless father and his adorable daughter
The Best Father of All by Peter Horn, illustrated by Cristina Kadmon. North-South Books,2002. All the ways a father helps his child in the wild told by a father turtle to his son. Pre-K to elementary age. The father turtle gives his sons clues and the son guesses which animal family he’s talking about. Fun book.
The Best Father’s Day Present Ever by Christine Loomis, illustrated by Pam Paparone. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2007. Langley Snail is looking for the perfect Father’s Day present and he’s ready to spend his allowance for a snazzy gift instead of his usual homemade concoctions. A funny story with a great message. Pre-K to elementary age.
Daddies Do It Different by Alan Lawerence Sitomer. Daddy sure doesn’t do things the way Mommy does! Just in time for Father’s Day, this hilarious picture book takes a high-spirited look at the way dads put their own spin on different parts of a child’s life–from going to a birthday party to bathtime. Alan Sitomer’s debut picture book is inspired by his own experiences as a father and winningly complemented with delightful art by Abby Carter.
Me With You by Kristy Dempsey, illustrated by Christopher Denise. Philomel Books, 2009. The father/daughter (or grandfather/grand-daughter) team in this book have a lot of fun spending time together in this beautifully illustrated book. Gardening, coloring, playing games – connecting with each other. For ages 2 – 6.
Sleepy Boy by Polly Kanevsky, illustrated by Stephanie Anderson. Athenum/Richard Jackson Books, 2006. A father helps his young boy to fall asleep. They talk quietly about their trip to the zoo earlier in the day complete with pictures of a mother lion and her cub. A tender book to read with your 2 – 6 year old. You’ll love the pictures.
Those Darn Squirrels by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri. Clarion Books, 2008. This funny book details the plans of Old Man Fookwire who is trying to get rid of the very smart squirrels who pillage his birdfeeders. The illustrations are hysterical as are the squirrels with a nice dose of caring at the end. Pre-K through elementary age.
Dad’s Playbook: Wisdom for Fathers from the Greatest Coaches of All Time by Tom Limbert. This gift book for dad collects more than 100 inspiring quotes from the greatest coaches of all time. After all, dads do what the best coaches do: they motivate, mentor, discipline, and love
Handy Dad: Twenty-Five Awesome Projects for Dads and Kids by Todd Davis. Illustrated step-by-step instructions for a variety of way cool projects that Dad and the kids can work on together. Twenty-five projects divided into sections by time commitment, easy projects, afternoon projects and weekend projects. This just published book is available from Bas Bleu Society book catalog. Info here.