Book Bites: Fabulously Funny (and not so funny) Dads - This Is For You!
OK so not all dads are funny. Neither are all mums attempting dad jokes but with this selection of father-inspired picture books, you’ll come a lot closer to coaxing a smile or five from your under eights this Father’s Day – or any day. I’ve included a few touching tales too to ensure story time shared by any father figure in your child’s life is meaningful and filled with tenderness. Enjoy and Happy Father’s Day to all the awesome role models out there who inspire, entertain and most importantly, embarrass their kids! You rock.
My Dad Thinks He’s Super Funny
Katrina Germein has done it again, for the third time actually. This instalment in the picture book series, My Dad Thinks He’s…, began life as a collection of ludicrously lamentable rib-tickling jokes aimed squarely at inducing eye-rolls. It is also a harmoniously hilarious homage to family units applauding the unique foibles and quirks employed by the (older) members that bond relationships and cement memories. And it’s FUNNY!
Expand your dad joke repertoire with this joyfully illustrated collection packed with gags and wisecracks that roll effortlessly off Dad’s tongue as he initiates the newest member of their family in the fine art of buffoonery. Perfect for that first-in-bed-morning-read together on Dad’s Day or any time that chuckles are required. Highly recommended.
Title: My Dad Thinks He’s Super Funny
Author: Katrina Germein
Illustrator: Tom Jellett
Publisher: Walker Books Australia, $24.99
Publication Date: August 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760652234
For ages: 3 – 101!
Type: Picture Book
Buy the Book: Walker Books Australia, Boomerang Books
Stop The Dad Jokes!
If it’s more cringe-worthy humour you need to brighten your day or humiliate someone else’s grab a copy of this rhyming verse picture book by Adrian Beck and Simon Greiner. Stop The Dad Jokes! is the lament of a young lad visiting the zoo with his dad. The trouble is, Dad can’t seem to let a moment pass without ruining it with a little dad-joke humour. From the minute they enter the gates, Dad feels the need to justify the questionable dad-trait that is ‘telling feebly funny bad jokes’. He argues that no father whether hooved, feathered, finned or furred can resist the chance to share this great talent which essentially equates to unmeasurable dad daughter / son quality time; that is time spent together not the calibre of the jokes! With its vibrant illustrations depicting a number of animal faves, brisk pacing and hilarious twist at the end, Stop The Dad Jokes! will have youngsters begging to ‘Keep the dad jokes coming!’.
Title: Stop The Dad Jokes!
Author: Adrian Beck
Illustrator: Simon Greiner
Publisher: Puffin, Penguin Random House, $17.99
Publication Date: July 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9791761043086
For ages: 4 – 8 Type: Picture Book
Buy the Book: Booktopia, Boomerang Books, Readings
My Summer With Grandad
With time and good fortune, dads may eventually become grandads. This touching tale by Tom Tinn-Disbury, highlights that elusive quality grandparents possess that enamour them to their grandbabies. Eric loves spending the summers with his grandfather and is especially excited one summer to accompany him on his fishing boat. Eric has grand images of himself as an accomplished fisherman but it is not to be so his grandfather delegates him to an equally important job on the fishing boat: chief seagull chaser.
All goes well until one day, Eric rescues a baby seagull caught in the nets. With due patience, a little research and a ton of love, Eric nurtures the fledging back to health. Fortunately for Eric, his grandad is there when Eric has to ‘let go’ of Beaky, aka the gull and move on with life. Gently relayed and beautifully illustrated, My Summer With Grandad is one of those moment-marking books which emulate real-life moments in a young person’s life.
Title: My Summer With Grandad
Author / Illustrator: Tom Tinn-Disbury
Publisher: New Frontier Publishing, $24.99
Publication Date: October 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922326140
For ages: 3 – 6
Type: Picture Book
Buy the Book: Booktopia, Boomerang Books
With time and good fortune, dads may eventually become grandads. This touching tale by Tom Tinn-Disbury, highlights that elusive quality grandparents possess that enamour them to their grandbabies. Eric loves spending the summers with his grandfather and is especially excited one summer to accompany him on his fishing boat. Eric has grand images of himself as an accomplished fisherman but it is not to be so his grandfather delegates him to an equally important job on the fishing boat: chief seagull chaser.
All goes well until one day, Eric rescues a baby seagull caught in the nets. With due patience, a little research and a ton of love, Eric nurtures the fledging back to health. Fortunately for Eric, his grandad is there when Eric has to ‘let go’ of Beaky, aka the gull and move on with life. Gently relayed and beautifully illustrated, My Summer With Grandad is one of those moment-marking books which emulate real-life moments in a young person’s life.
Title: My Summer With Grandad
Author / Illustrator: Tom Tinn-Disbury
Publisher: New Frontier Publishing, $24.99
Publication Date: October 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922326140
For ages: 3 – 6
Type: Picture Book
Buy the Book: Booktopia, Boomerang Books
Shu Lin’s Grandpa
This divine picture book by Matt Goodfellow and Yu Rong is an exquisite testament to the quiet yet powerful influence of grandparents in a child’s life, in Shu Lin’s case, her grandfather. Shu Lin finds her new school a strain to understand and fit into. Her English is limited and her obvious differences and shyness secludes her from playground interaction. Shu Lin’s lunchbox is filled with extraordinary food which one bright spark, Barney, uses as further proof that Shu Lin is too different to contribute productively to their school lives. In short, she is shunned by her classmates because of her cultural characteristics, until one day her grandpa is invited to show his paintings to the class.
Grandpa’s artwork and the sweeping story behind it silence the class with awe-filled respect and wonder, as it will every reader after they open the magnificent double-gatefold spread. Accenting the most exquisite Chinese paintings this tale is an emotive story demonstrating the transformative power of art and imagination. It is told through the eyes of one of Shu Lin’s more critically-thinking classmates which promotes a personal brand of empathy and cultural understanding. Shu Lin’s Grandpa is a story to cherish quietly and revisit often. Highly recommended.
Title: Shu Lin’s Grandpa
Author: Matt Goodfellow
Illustrator: Yu Rong
Publisher: (imprint Otter Barry Books) Walker Books Australia, $29.99
Publication Date: April 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781913074209
For ages: 4 – 9
Type: Picture Book
Buy the Book: Walker Books Australia, Boomerang Books
There’s Only One Grandpa Like You
This divine picture book by Matt Goodfellow and Yu Rong is an exquisite testament to the quiet yet powerful influence of grandparents in a child’s life, in Shu Lin’s case, her grandfather. Shu Lin finds her new school a strain to understand and fit into. Her English is limited and her obvious differences and shyness secludes her from playground interaction. Shu Lin’s lunchbox is filled with extraordinary food which one bright spark, Barney, uses as further proof that Shu Lin is too different to contribute productively to their school lives. In short, she is shunned by her classmates because of her cultural characteristics, until one day her grandpa is invited to show his paintings to the class.
Grandpa’s artwork and the sweeping story behind it silence the class with awe-filled respect and wonder, as it will every reader after they open the magnificent double-gatefold spread. Accenting the most exquisite Chinese paintings this tale is an emotive story demonstrating the transformative power of art and imagination. It is told through the eyes of one of Shu Lin’s more critically-thinking classmates which promotes a personal brand of empathy and cultural understanding. Shu Lin’s Grandpa is a story to cherish quietly and revisit often. Highly recommended.
Title: Shu Lin’s Grandpa
Author: Matt Goodfellow
Illustrator: Yu Rong
Publisher: (imprint Otter Barry Books) Walker Books Australia, $29.99
Publication Date: April 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781913074209
For ages: 4 – 9
Type: Picture Book
Buy the Book: Walker Books Australia, Boomerang Books
There’s Only One Grandpa Like You
Complete your There’s Only One…picture book family collection with this sumptuously presented picture book from Jess Racklyeft; creator of family magic. Despite exploring the grandfather / offspring relationships between a veritable zoo of critters and creatures, the overwhelming sense that one’s grandfather is the best most unique, brightest, patient, cleverest funniest one of all is the key takeaway point. Lavishly illustrated in stirring water colour, There’s Only One Grandpa Like You strengthens family bonds whether those family members are near or far away and encourages gratefulness and love. Perfect for Father’s Day sharing this year.
Title: There’s Only One Grandpa Like You
Author / Illustrator: Jess Racklyeft
Publisher: Affirm Press, $19.99
Publication Date: July 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922400840
For ages: 3 – 7
Type: Picture Book
Buy the Book: Affirm Press, Boomerang
Comments