I am a daddy's girl, so I LOVE dad books. I loved this sweet little story and the illustrations! Definitely a great book for little ones.

In a Nutshell: Awww, this is so cute!! Loved this picture book about little animal babies and their wonderful animal daddies. Excellent writing, adorable illustrations, fabulous sentiments. Much recommended!

This book was first published in 2002 in Switzerland under the title, “Wozu is ein Papa da?” An English translation titled “The Best Father of All” was published in the USA in 2003. This new English edition, translated by Johanna McCalmont, is due to be published in April 2025.

Dads hardly ever get a good representation in children’s fiction. Many picture books are filled with stories of mothers or of both parents. So such picture books, which speaks only about dads, come as a wonderful way of valuing what dads do for their kids. To be specific, what animal dads do for their little ones.

The books begins with a little tortoise named Sebastian sitting comfortably on the grass with his dad. When Sebastian remarks that it is quite nice and warm next to his father, Daddy Tortoise says that it is just one of the things dads do: keep you warm. Sebastian now wants to know what else dads can do. Thus begins a lovely riddle game, when Daddy Tortoise offers some clue to his son about a special dad, and young Sebastian has to guess what animal dad does that. He is thrilled to know so many amazing animal fathers, but he is also certain about who is the best daddy of all.

Sebastian and Daddy Tortoise roam all through the forest while playing this game, and thus we get a luscious glimpse at the beautiful forest and its denizens. The changing locations on every page creates a pseudo-movement effect and we feel like we are right there, walking next to the tortoise duo.

The riddles, while being a great way of meeting multiple animals, would also offer a great call-and-respond experience as little human readers could answer the same questions when going through this book along with their human daddies. The variety of animals explored through the story is excellent. I love that all of them are common enough animals so little ones won't get overwhelmed by too many new names, and will also find it easy to guess the correct answer at least a few times.

At the same time, it is probably important to remember that this is a story and not an animal documentary. Not all of the facts that Daddy Tortoise presents to Sebastian are accurate. The hedgehog trivia, about adult hedgehogs carrying fruit on their spikes, is a myth. Daddy grasshoppers technically die immediately after mating, so they can’t practically be around for their young ones. All this can be put down to creative license. As long as you aren’t using the book to teach your child animal facts, it ought to be fine.

The story is written in simple prose but is filled with chock loads of info. The textual content is divided into smaller segments, enhancing the readability of the book. No page feels cluttered.

The heartwarming cover art is what first led me to this picture book, and the inside illustrations are even more stunning. I noticed on Goodreads that the 2002 English edition had been illustrated by a different artist. Based on the cover, I can affirm that this version is so much better! Every single page is a feast for the eyes! There is so much beauty and life in the graphics. Painted in watercolour style, there is such intricate detailing that the background also has as much vividness as the foreground. It is fun to look for the animals camouflaged in the artwork on almost every page. The illustrations of this book are probably the best I have seen in a long while. I would rate them ten stars if I could!

All in all, this is one delightful picture book filled with joy, warmth, laughter, and bonding. The story itself is charming, and the animals and the illustrations are a bonus.

Much recommended to little readers aged 3- 8. It would make the perfect accompaniment to bedtime reading of parent-child storytelling sessions.

Human daddies, this book would be a great way of bonding with your little one. If you read it well enough, who knows? Maybe you could surpass Daddy Tortoise as the “Best Daddy of All.” 😉

4.75 stars. (I’d have given this the full five stars had the animal facts been right.)

My thanks to North South Books for providing the DRC of “The Best Daddy of All” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This is probably one of the cutest books ever written. I have literally nothing bad to say about this book, so this is going to be a short review. The author did a phenomenal job of combining animal education with a message of familial love. I absolutely love how this book naturally and smoothly included gratitude of fathers, because it isn't always a common theme in kids' books. I know for sure that kids and dads everywhere will adore this book just as much as I did, and it will likely be a repeat read. Bravo!!

This book is a long day with a tortoise and his daddy. As they use the signs in nature to figure out, who is the daddy of the different things that they see. This book has been done before, but this version is particularly lovely. The best part of this version is the illustrations. I would hang any of them as art on my walls. I want to see more work in this style by this illustrator. I would buy this book for the artwork alone.

My husband got a little misty eyed as I read this story and my children listened intently while also rattling off all the amazing things their daddy does. I think it's a great book that shows just how great all daddies are, all over in every form, human or animal. I think this would be a great Father's Day or Birthday book for any dad. A little appreciation in the form of this book in words said in ways littles can't express yet. I believe dad's and kids alike will love this book.

Thank you Negalley and NorthSouth Books for a chance to read an ARC of " The Best Daddy of All" by Peter Horn, releasing April, 8 2025.

This was such a cute story. I think it would make a great gift for dads from their kids too! The illustrations were really nice throughout the book. It was also cool to learn little things about the animals and try to guess which dad it was, which would be fun for kids when they're reading it. Great addition to a library of a child, classroom or community!

⭐️ 5/5
Children’s Illustrated
Publication Date: April 8, 2025

This is a heartwarming, enlightening children’s book that follows a dad turtle and his child. They go around encountering other animal dads who are helping and showing their love for their own child. The young turtle realizes that so many things can make a daddy the best daddy of all! The pictures and illustrations were beautifully done and my 4 year old loved just looking at the pages.

Thank you NorthSouth Books Inc. for providing this advanced reader copy of the book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is a great bedtime book that shows how fathers take care of their children in lots of different ways. It also encourages children to guess along with the baby turtle, making it interactive and memorable. By far my favorite part, though, was the art. It was whimsical and cozy and really brought the words to life. The artist even managed to make centipedes look not-revolting.

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

First I fell in love with the illustrations of this picture book, they deserve awards for their beauty and creativeness. Second the picture book itself is so well written and heart filled that I fell in love with that too. I loved that they used unexpected animals to tell the story of what daddy's do. I wonderful book!

This is a cute riddle book starring Daddy and son turtle. Daddy asks his son several riddles about what a daddy can do with his children. His son figures out each one.

This book has colorful illustrations and a predictive text, making it interesting for young children.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

See my full review of this beautiful children’s book at http://michelleardillo.com/2025/02/28/book-review-the-best-daddy-of-all/..

As the owner of pet tortoises, this cover immediately drew me in. Peter Horn has crafted a beautiful, charming narrative about a small tortoise called Sebastian and his father, who shows him all the ways different animal dads take care of their offspring. It's really cute and lovely.

Thank you to Netgalley and Northsouth Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Every page radiates love and care in a read that demonstrates all dads do while exploring the animal kingdom.

A little turtle enjoys spending time with his dad and wonders what dads, in general, can do. So, his father takes him on a walk through the area and introduces the little turtle to all of the different things dads can do, while placing the explanations in simple riddle form to create a fun game, where the little turtle tries to guess which type of animal does those things.

This is a warming read, perfect for a snuggle-time between a child and father. The little turtle, of course, is adorable in the illustrations, making him very easy to like, and the care is obvious in each scene. There's just enough humor built in to draw some smiles without going over-board. No matter what animal the pair encounters, the love between the parent and children is obvious, making this a wholesome read through and through.

The text is a tiny bit drawn out, at times, not much but enough to maybe create problems for impatient, young listeners. It's still never over a short paragraph or so, though, and very appropriate for most listeners. The vocabulary adds a few more difficult words, which is great for word-building, and it flows well enough. The illustrations are detailed, inviting, and can be visited easily on their own for those, who may not be able to read but want to enjoy the story themselves. The scenes and animals are very inviting.

Not only is this read about caring moments between a child and a father, but the riddles add a touch of interactive fun. These aren't always easy to guess (the illustrations do help, though). Through the riddles, readers learn a few animal facts and several of these are lesser known. It adds to the fun and helps to make this more than a simple read-aloud. It's a lovely read in many ways.

This lovely book is a tribute to daddies everywhere as seen through the eyes of a son.
The illustrations by Jessica Meserve are @delightfully detailed, realistically colorful, and FUN!
Well suited for reading WITH someone any age from 4 and up, including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but ESPECIALLY to a school or your local public library!
Translated from the German by Johanna McCalmont.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected eGalley proof on Netgalley Reader from NorthSouth Books Inc. | NorthSouth Books via NetGalley. Avail Apr 8, 2025
#TheBestDaddyofAll by Peter Horn with illustrator Jessica Meserve @jess.meserve and translator Johanna McCalmont @johanna_mccalmont @northsouthbooks #NetGalley @goodreads #@bookbub @librarythingofficial #barnesandnoble #waterstones ***** Review #booksamillion #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #childrensbookcouncil #childrensbookillustration #childrensbook #picturebooks #kidlit

All the amazing things that a dad can do. It was a cute story all about dad. My kids would have enjoyed trying to guess along with the book.

4 stars

The illustrations in this are perfect for children. Light and fun, with so many different animals. It’s a great concept to teach kids that everyone dads look / act a little differently. Very heartwarming.

I received an advance review copy for free from the publisher via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book is a guess who for nature's dad. With beautiful, subtle art and some descriptions you can try and guess what dad is being described. The book ends with the best dad of all being guessed. With the more involved text and the guessing game, I'd recommend this book for ages 4+. #NetGalley #NetGalleyARC #ARC

The first thing that immediately grabs my attention is the gorgeous and fantastic illustrations by Jessica Meserve that bring Peter Horn's story to life.
The tortoise daddy takes his son Sebastian through their "neighborhood" and shows him all of the daddy's big and small and what they do for their children or families while having him make guesses on who each one is.. A beautiful story.

I will be buying this book when it comes out 4/8/25.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This is wonderful book, both the story and the illustrations. It's also a fun way to show children a variety of animals often found in their own environment. Highlighting this for fathers is extra special and it will be fun for daddies to share with their children.

I highly recommend this book.

In this sweet book about Dads, little tortoise Sebastian and his Dad talk about many of the things that dads can to for their kids. It turns into a fun guessing game about different animals and the ways that their dads help them. Beautifully illustrated with colorful watercolors, this book is perfect for snuggling up with a dad and talking about all of the amazing things that dads can do.