Father’s Day is coming up and along with a funny card, a new tie, some handy tools or other gifts – what many fathers really want is a chance to spend some quality time with their kids. A favourite way for many fathers to bond with their little ones is to read stories. A great book is a wonderful thing to bond over and dads love to entertain their little ones with a fun story – making silly voices and sounds while telling the tale.
On Father’s Day, why not read some books with your little ones that are all about fathers? Here are some great suggestions of Father’s Day books to read:
Just Me and My Dad by Mercer Mayer
This sweet and charming story is about a father and son critter on a camping trip. Along the journey the little one makes a few mistakes, but the dad is always there to help him. In spite of the difficulties, the father and son are able to catch some fish for dinner, set up the tent and fall asleep under the stars. The illustrations are bright and colourful and the story is light and humorous, making this book a perfect pick for young kids.
The Day I Swapped my Dad for Two Goldfish by Dean McKean and Neil Gaiman
This funny and playful book tells a story about a young boy who got tired of his father doing nothing but sitting and reading the newspaper. So, he trades in his dad for two goldfish instead. However, his mother finds out and tells him to go get his dad back. Things are not as easy as they seem and his dad gets traded all over town before the young boy is able to get him back! This book is sure to produce a few laughs when dad reads it out loud on Father’s Day. This book mentions adoption, just so that you are aware in case this is a sensitive topic for you.
The Berenstain Bears and the Papa’s Day Surprise by Stan and Jan Berenstain
The Berenstain Bears books have been favourites for a long time – Dad might even remember reading them during his childhood! “The Papa’s Day Surprise” tells the story of grump Papa Bear, who thinks that Father’s Day is only a greeting card holiday and doesn’t really mean much. However, when the day comes around and he doesn’t receive anything – he is very upset. This is a fun story about Father’s Day that kids of all ages will love.
I Love You Daddy by Jillian Harker and Kristina Stephenson
This sweet and charming book has beautiful and vibrant illustrations and a lovely and heart-warming message. Little Bear is growing up, which means that he is ready to try new things and take on more adventures. But is he brave enough? Daddy Bear is there to support Little Bear in his adventures – a positive message of love and encouragement.
How Many Stars in the Sky? By Lenny Hort and James Ransome
When a young boy can’t sleep, his father takes him out on a drive into the countryside where they look up at the night sky and try to count the stars. This beautiful book is illustrated with rich paintings and it tells the story of a beautiful and loving relationship between a father and his son.
Daddies Are For Catching Fireflies by Harriet Ziefert
This book is all about the fun and wonderful things that daddies do, such as fixing toys when they break, reading bedtime stories, giving you the best seat at the parade and catching fireflies. The illustrations are particularly beautiful in this story and the soft, expressive watercolour paintings are made interactive with lift-the-flap elements. The writing is sweet and meaningful, without being too corny. Many of the illustrations feature a father and daughter, so this is a wonderful book for dads to read with their little girls.
The Emperor’s Egg by Martin Jenkins
This beautifully illustrated children’s book is not only fun to read, it’s also very informative and educational. It’s all about the Emperor penguin, who is the most devoted dad in the world. He will stand with the egg on his feet, even in the freezing cold, keeping it warm and safe for two entire months! This is a sweet story about fathers and what they do for their children as well as an opportunity to learn about nature.
These are just a few of the many fantastic Father’s Day books that Dads can read with their little ones while spending time together on this special day. These stories are all about the special bond that dads have with their kids and the wonderful love that they share, so they will likely become favourite stories to read any time of the year!
