My Dad

Review to come April 12th to blog, and a week later to Goodreads/Amazon.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

A book all about dads with a super adorable cover! Yes, really adorable and I am giving extra credit points because the front cover shows the boy peeking from behind the dad's legs and the back cover you see the back of the boy and his father's legs. I found that so cute!

In this heart-warming and gorgeously drawn book we learn about our MC's dad. How he isn't famous, how he isn't an astronaut, but how everything he does is super and wonderful. From making mornings special to flying a kite to sledding down a hill during snow to imagination during bath time. This dad makes every day, every season something special and something warm for this little boy and I was just smiling so much while reading this one as it was just the cutest thing. I loved seeing the bond between the father and his son. I loved seeing how much fun they had together, even for something like going grocery shopping things become fun. I am all warm and fuzzy at the moment! Just what I wanted to feel as lately, with COVID/pandemic my body is just not too happy. This is perfect. Warming me up again!

The last picture... that was just such a wonderful way to end this book!

The illustrations were fantastic. Marina Ruiz has an amazing style that really fit with this warm and fuzzy book and enhances those warm and fuzzy feelings.

Highly recommended!

What a beautiful book! I love to see some much needed diversity in kid's stories and it was the main reason why I requested this book.

The illustrations were truly amazing; colorful and full of life. I love the groundbreaking story of how the little things count as a lot, that those everyday moments spend together are all a kid needs to feel loved and see their parent as extraordinary. I really liked the rhymes, which makes it the perfect bedtime story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC!

Look no further for the perfect book that captures the genuine love that a boy has for his father.

'My Dad' is a stunning story celebrating the important role and influence that Dads have on their children. This book follows a young boy and his love and admiration for his father.

Is his father a secret agent? No. An astronaut? Nope. His Dad cleans the house, bakes "the best" cookies, tends to the garden and takes him along to the grocery store. In the eyes of a child, his Dad is FANTASTIC!

The gorgeous illustrations showcase the boy and his Dad enjoying a picnic, flying a kite and reading bedtime stories. So many readers will feel the love pouring from the pages about the enjoyable things they do together.

It is so refreshing to see a Dad being celebrated for the simple things that make them so special. I love everything about this book from the beautiful illustrations to the thoughtful words. Thank you so much to Quarto Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.

This is a picture book with fun, colorful illustrations and about one sentence per page, perfect for Father's Day. It is a sweet story of a very lucky child with a dad who spends a lot of quality time with him. It will bring back happy memories from your childhood or when your own children were young. The book doesn't address this directly at all, but seeing all the activities the child does with his dad is also a gentle reminder to put down your phone and be present creating happy memories with your kids. Five stars. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free digital copy.

Such a sweet book about a child’s love for their dad. It reminds me of my own dad and my children’s love for my husband/their father. The pictures are that fuzzy, gentle quality and they fit with the tone of the book.

4.66 stars

I really enjoyed the concept of this story, quality time with a parent is always important. As most books tend to focus on cis female parents, I always appreciate stereotype-busting literature.

Marina Ruiz’s illustrations are so beautiful and I love how she captured the diversity of real life in her drawings. Susan Quinn’s story is equally amazing, the rhymes make it easy and exciting to read to children and for children to read it themselves, the examples of little things a parent does and how important it is for their children, are on point and attainable. Susan did a great job sharing that to be a hero to your child, being present in their lives is the best way.

I will for sure be adding this to my work library.

Thank you Quarto Publishing Group, Susan Quinn and NetGalley for an advanced copy of My Dad in exchange for an honest review.
#MyDad #NetGalley

A heartwarming, rhyming picture book told from the perspective of a son about his single-father. Not only does this book challenge gender stereotypes, but also the idea that, for whatever reason, single men tend struggle as fathers. This is a sweet story of love and appreciation for a strong single-parent, told with the aid of beautiful illustrations.

Great book!

The main idea of this book is to appreciate all the efforts that father is doing, and show how those little things make a huge impact on child image of a father.

Beautifully illustrated book too.

Not only does this picture book has beautiful illustrations, it places the father figure doing all things that is stereotypically the mother's job but I love how this shows the male figure doing all aspects of parenting.

Fathers who love you are wonderful!
The story is about fathers who care and are appreciated by the child. It doesn't matter if it is a one parent home, a split custody home, or if this just shows the time spent with dad on his days off. Or maybe the dad is a writer and is home most days. Irrelevant. The only thing that matters is that dad spends good times with the child who is learning all there is to know. The story is simply written and with great sensitivity. The illustrations are equally basic but intrinsically beautiful.
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Quarto Publishing Group – words & pictures via NetGalley. Thank you!

My Dad by Susan Quinn is a beautiful book that celebrates all the things a little boy's father does. It shows the breadth of responsibilities a father takes on when supporting his family. The story revolves around a little boy and the time he spends with his father doing activities and bonding. In the book the father's role is a little ambiguous. He could be a stay at home dad or a single dad. The illustrations are stunning and sweet. A wonderful book for young kids! This would be a great gift for Father's Day to say "thank you."

Thank you Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

This book is visually stunning. The illustrations, like watercolor are so beautiful while remaining child friendly (not too stodgy). This book is of course perfect for single fathers, but also for any parents who feel like they're not measuring up to society's standards of a "good parent." The story touches on all of the little things that children and parents do together that are so much more important than making all the money and being a superhero. What our children will remember is our laughter, our playfulness, and our spirit.

This is a lovely and very sweet book about the relationship between a child and his dad. It celebrates the ways in which dads care for kids every day. They might cook together, go to the park, attend soccer practice or read bedtime stories. Each of these activities, along with the many others found in this title, show how brilliant it is to be the child of a caring parent. The gentle illustrations enhance the text beautifully making for a book to enjoy.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

My Dad was an incredible homage to amazing Dad's everywhere. So often we see Dad's in the working and busy role, but Quinn does a wonderful job of portraying a present, loving and in touch father who is very loved by his son. I loved the idea and presentation of this book. It will be a perfect title to add to our "family study" in preschool.

This book is so sweet!!! We really loved this story about a cute little boy and all of the things he does with his dad. It breaks the stereotype that dads are not as involved and shows how important of a role they play for children The story is beautifully written and the artwork is fantastic!

This was beautifully illustrated— each page was its own work of art. The story was simple but sweet, and would be a good way to teach young children about how all dads are different.

I received access from Netgalley to a digital ARC of My Dad by Susan Quinn, illustrated by Marina Ruiz. The cheerful, detailed illustrations pair nicely with the easy going text of a child enjoying time with his father. The homey family scenes of playing, gardening, and bathtime will be relatable to children and parents. Fatherhood is portrayed in a warm, convivial way. The characters are shown enjoying activities like being outside, flying kites, and playing. This would be a sweet gift for a father to be or any family who likes to read about the simple joys of everyday life.

I loved this! It really shows appreciation for the things that a father does. It also helped show that fathers can do the things society puts on mother’s mostly! This would be a perfect gift for Father’s Day from a child!

What a beautiful book that's all about dad! The main character describes how his dad isn't famous or an astronaut, but still is a super special dad to him. I think there are way more books about moms/mothers, but not as much about fathers. This book also breaks the gender stereotype for fathers, because the dad bakes, cooks, gardens, does the groceries, reads bedtime stories, and so on so forth. The story clearly shows the loving relationship between the kid and dad. So heartwarming! We need more books like this!

Oh, I love, love, love the watercolor illustrations. It's so colorful, soft, and so appropriate for the tone of the story.

All of us think of our dads - and moms - as some sort of superheroes. Rearing children, working long hours, doing the running around that needs to be done to ensure a steady ship, it's quite the challenge. While the child-like idea of a parent possessing superpowers is spectacular in its own way, it's the smaller, simpler, day-to-day things that are often forgotten.

Susan Quinn and Marina Ruiz's "My Dad" is beautiful because it celebrates the simple joys. Quinn's verses communicate so well the affection the young boy in the book feels for his father. Ruiz's illustrations are wonderfully-done, apt for the book this is, and richly-detailed for anyone who cares to take a closer look.

The titular Dad is hands-on, ever-ready to do anything. Something that I really related with was the involvement of the father in the activities - he wasn't doing them because he had to, he enjoyed doing it all.

This is a truly delightful book, sure to bring a smile to your face.

Thank you, Net Galley and Words & Pictures, for the ARC.

What a fabulous book.

I really enjoyed the refreshing nature of the book as it shows a positive male role model. Most of the ones that depict care givers are moms where the dad is at work.

It is well written and flows really well. It is illustrated beautifully and has very interesting pictures with other things to spots on the reading journey through the book.

I will read this again with my daughter.

I absolutely loved this book! The illustrations were gorgeous and so well thought out. After reading each page I found myself studying each picture taking it all in. They complement the story perfectly.

This book is another that would fit in perfectly with a unit on family dynamics or could be read at Father’a Day as well. We don’t know if there is a mother in this story but it could be read as either an example of a single father or one where the child admires his father. I loved how the story was told from a child’s perspective and usied child friendly language. I thought this story portrayed father son relationship really well!

This book is lovely! In My Dad, the author tells a story through the eyes of a child who spends time with his father. The story identifies all the amazing thing that the father does as a single dad. Though he may not be an astronaut or a racecar driver, the child sees the dad as fantastic. This book is so sweet to identify how single dads can shine for their kids. I would definitely consider reading this to my class during our unit on different kinds of families as it highlights a family dynamic rarely explored in children’s literature, but that is important and deserves recognition and conversations.

Sometimes the best books are the most simplistic, especially for use in therapeutic settings. “My Dad” by Susan Quinn is a perfect example of a book in this lane. This sweet picture book begins by the main character, a young boy, acknowledging that his Dad isn’t a superhero or celebrity but then spends the remainder of the book detailing all of the extraordinary things his Dad does in their ordinary life. The little boy recognizes that his Dad loves to be with him and gives examples of how he knows his Dad loves him. I love how tender the moments shared between this little boy and his Dad are throughout the book. So often Dads are depicted as saviors, protectors, or disciplinarians but in this treasure, the Dad is a nurturer, caregiver, and teacher. The Dad’s biggest gifts are the time and attention he gives to his child which results in the reader being given the gift of witnessing an intimate view of their relationship.

This book is ideal for use in parenting classes or family counseling sessions. I would love to incorporate this book for use with children being fostered or adopted who have not previously had safe, healthy relationships with a male caregiver as a way to introduce healthy expectations. Additionally, this would be a fantastic gift for a new Dad! I encourage you to check out this book, which hit stores TODAY, as an addition to your collection!

A sweet and charming, rhythmic and rhyming celebration of a little one’s special relationship with their dad. Thoughtful, charming, and tender, with warm illustrations.

I really love this book. The simplicity of the story together with the brilliant illustrations really work well together. I love the possibilities of using the pictures to create many stories with the reader as possible. Imaginative, bright and a perfect book for celebrating the fathers in our lives.

A dad does not have to be a superhero or an astronaut to be awesome; it is what is inside that matters most. In this story, a young boy shares his feelings about his dad, juxtaposing him against other dads he sees in the world. Though his dad is not super busy like some can be, he is important to this boy for everything he is. Whether baking cookies, tending the garden, or reading a bedtime story, the dad in this book is truly fantastic.

The design of this book is extremely approachable for young children. A limited amount of text appears on each page and it follows a comfortable rhyming pattern. Occasionally, the font is enlarged or changes shape to add to the visual appeal of the book as well. While the illustrations are the primary feature of the story, the text is placed as an intentional accent to the visuals.

From the first page, readers notice the watercolor design of the illustrations and the soft hues used to create them. Recognizable landscapes and backgrounds connect readers to the story, and inclusions of the little boy’s artwork add another familiar dynamic to the images. The dad and son in this story are depicted with dark skin and hair and appear in a community that varies in skin tone. Expressive faces and interactions build a sense of appreciation and love into the story that is mirrored in the text, as well.

This artfully crafted book is filled with emotion and emphasizes the good feelings that come from having a dad who is as attentive and supportive as the one featured in this story. It is a highly recommended addition to library collections for young children, especially to be read aloud in celebration of the fantastic dads in the world.

I really like the simplicity of this book and the way it clearly shows the bond between father and son and all the fun they have together. The illustrations complement the text perfectly.

At first, I thought that this was such a simple little book meant for just any other bedtime story, but this book blew my mind away. It made me nostalgic in the best way possible and for some lovely reason made me want to go and hug my father. Everything about this book is just wow~!
Every single day, we tend to overlook the miracle that is our fathers, and how much they sacrifice and how much they are responsible for many of our "happy childhood", and this feels like a perfect ode to them.
Writing style: 10/10
Graphics: 10/10
Concept: 10/10

If this doesn't convince you to give this book a read, I don't know what will. Heartbreakingly sweet and hauntingly beautiful, the pictures will make your childhood come alive and gift it to you on paper!

It is a cute little book about son and dad. It explores their relationship in an intimate way. It is cute, simple and arouses positive emotions. Artwork is great. I liked the book very much and recommend to all little readers and their parents.

The best kind of heroes are ones who we share experiences with. “My Dad” is a story filled with charming illustrations and a loving message about the positive impact the narrator’s father has with them. The book showcases the importance of having a parent(in this case dad) take on an active role in their child’s life through play and everyday routines. I appreciate how some of the font’s shape and size encourages the reader to have fun with the text. I can see toddlers as young as one or two and definitely preschool age children enjoy the pace of the story and being read to by their own dad.

This was a cute book about a baby and their father, focusing on how dad can be awesome without being superheroes or astronauts, but just by being there. And I liked this a lot. A charming little book.

The book is solely about the relationship between the child and the dad, and that's all we get. There is no other context, not even a mention regarding the other parent and I think that was nice because it keeps the book open for more types of family.

What a wonderful surprise to see a dad in the role of a primary care giver!
The characters enjoy a beautiful bond; the love all but jumps off the page right at you.
It is busting gender stereotypes, and does so beautifully (both in text and illustrations). It is a wonderful homage to all the caring, involved fathers in a child's life!

I am typically hesitant to buy books about parents, because every family looks so different and every parent behaves differently. I would actually buy this book, however, because it is so nice to see a book showing a father who is doing activities that are stereotyped as mom activities. This dad gardens, bakes, does the grocery shopping, bathes the child and reads a book at bedtime. There are also several pages showcasing all of the fun things they do together, like sledding and sports. To top it all off, the illustrations are beautiful and feature a father and son with more melanin in their skin, normalizing healthy father-son relationships in communities of color. There is an over abundance of media showing fatherless homes, neglectful or abusive fathers, and we need more media showing how great dads can be.

This lovely tale is just a boy telling you all the reasons he loves his dad. He doesn't need to be a superhero or a secret agent, he just needs to be a dad. The illustrations are lovely, and the main characters are people of color. This simple book with a simple message is sure to stay on library shelves for years.

This sweet, well-illustrated picture book describes all the things that a boy and his dad do together. The rhyme scheme is somewhat inconsistent, but the text flows well, with vivid language and a joyful tone. This would be great for Father's Day, and is a wonderful book for people who are interested in multicultural, non-stereotyped depictions of dads.

A wonderful story about one of world's superheroes. My dad. He might not be somebody famous, but father who spends time with their boys is a superhero indeed. He knows what we need, what we feel, and how to have fun in this life. A role that most dad neglect, some forgot, and so many didn't do as much. What makes a dad so special is his presence.

There isn't one right way to be a parent and in this splendid ode a child shares with us why their dad is fantastic in a myriad of ways. Refreshing, delightful, and heartwarming - this story is perfect for dads everywhere.

Readers are invited to see a man through the eyes of his child. The effortless rhyme is poignant in its simplicity, relatable in its breadth, and paired beautifully with warm and inclusive illustrations.

More complete review to come - @thelarkspurandthewaterlily

It is so refreshing to see a picture book entirely focused on a child's relationship with their father. I love how this book smashes stereotypes and shows that dads can love to bake and can do the shopping - something commonly represented as tasks carried out by mothers.

The illustrations compliment the story well and are full of happiness and love.

I think this book would be a lovely read for a 'Special Person' day at school where fathers and grandfathers are invited into school to complete an activity with their child.