This month we are celebrating all the dads out there with this list of books featuring fathers spending quality time with their kids. Taking time out of our busy schedules to read with our children is an enjoyable way to spend some quality bonding time. I still have fond memories of bedtime stories with my dad. There is selection for a wide variety of ages on this list from littles to school aged kids. Check your local library or bookstore for one of these great titles and Happy Father’s Day!
Hair Love By Matthew A. Cherry, Illustrated by Vashti Harrison
When mommy is away, it’s up to daddy to do his daughter’s hair in this ode to self-confidence and the love between fathers and daughters from former NFL wide receiver Matthew A. Cherry and New York Times bestseller Vashti Harrison.
Zuri’s hair has a mind of its own. It kinks, coils, and curls every which way. Zuri knows it’s beautiful. When mommy does Zuri’s hair, she feels like a superhero. But when mommy is away, it’s up to daddy to step in! And even though daddy has a lot to learn, he LOVES his Zuri. And he’ll do anything to make her—and her hair—happy.
The Girl with Two Dads By Mel Elliott
Matilda is a new girl at Pearl’s school, but there’s something really different and cool about her family she has TWO dads!
Pearl is sure that Matilda’s family must be very different to her own but, as they become friends, she starts to discover that maybe Matilda’s family aren’t so different after all …
Just Me and My Dad By Mercer Mayer
Father and son go camping, but who is really taking care of whom?
This heart-warming tale of a father-and-son camping trip is filled with Little Critter’s mistakes and good intentions. In spite of the difficulties, however, the happy father and son manage to put up their tent, catch fish for dinner, and sleep beneath the stars.
My Papi Has a Motorcycle By Isabel Quintero, Illustrated by Zeke Pena
When Daisy Ramona zooms around her neighborhood with her papi on his motorcycle, she sees the people and places she’s always known. She also sees a community that is rapidly changing around her.
But as the sun sets purple-blue-gold behind Daisy Ramona and her papi, she knows that the love she feels will always be there.
With vivid illustrations and text bursting with heart, My Papi Has a Motorcycle is a young girl’s love letter to her hardworking dad and to memories of home that we hold close in the midst of change.
Made for Me By Zach Bush, Illustrated by Gergario De Laurentis
Of all the children that ever could be, You are the one made just for me.
From a child’s first uttered “Dada” to his or her first unsteady steps, nothing can adequately convey the joy and awe of watching the birth and growth of a new child. Filled with adorable illustrations and the refrain, “You are the one made just for me,” Made for Me is a winning presentation of tender moments that tie a father and his new child together forever.
And Tango Makes Three By Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, Illustrated By Henry Cole
In the zoo there are all kinds of animal families. But Tango’s family is not like any of the others.
This illustrated children’s book fictionalizes the true story of two male penguins who became partners and raised a penguin chick in the Central Park Zoo.
At the penguin house at the Central Park Zoo, two penguins named Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the others. But their desire for a family was the same. And with the help of a kindly zookeeper, Roy and Silo got the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own!
Hike By Pete Oswald
In the cool and quiet early light of morning, a father and child wake up. Today they’re going on a hike. Follow the duo into the mountains as they witness the magic of the wilderness, overcome challenges, and play a small role in the survival of the forest. By the time they return home, they feel alive—and closer than ever—as they document their hike and take their place in family history. In detail-rich panels and textured panoramas, Pete Oswald perfectly paces this nearly wordless adventure, allowing readers to pause for subtle wonders and marvel at the views.
Hair Twins By Raakhee Mirchandani, Illustrated By Holly Hatam
Every morning Papa combs through his daughter’s waves like he does his own—parting it down the middle, using coconut oil to get all the tangles out.
Some days he braids her hair in two twists down the side of her face. Other days he weaves it into one long braid hanging down her back, just like a unicorn tail.
But her favorite style is when he combs her hair in a tight bun on the top of her head, just like the joora he wears every day under his turban. They call this their hair twin look!
Owl Moon By Jane Yolen, Illustrated by John Schoenherr
Late one winter night a little girl and her father go owling. The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream. Whoo-whoo-whoo, the father calls to the mysterious nighttime bird.
But there is no answer.
Wordlessly the two companions walk along, for when you go owling you don’t need words. You don’t need anything but hope. Sometimes there isn’t an owl, but sometimes there is.
Yo Soy Muslim: A Father’s Letter to His Daughter By Mark Gonzales, Illustrated By Mehrdokht Amini
From Muslim and Latino poet Mark Gonzales comes a touching and lyrical picture book about a parent who encourages their child to find joy and pride in all aspects of their multicultural identity.
Dear little one,
…know you are wondrous.
A child of crescent moons,
a builder of mosques,
a descendant of brilliance,
an ancestor in training.
Written as a letter from a father to his daughter, Yo Soy Muslim is a celebration of social harmony and multicultural identities.