Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, Everyone!
In my typical yes-sure-I-was-totally-organized-ahead-of-time! fashion 🙂 I am writing this post on an airplane on my way home from California. We are somewhere over Utah experiencing the kind of turbulence that makes people gasp and clutch their arm rests, and I’m busily typing away hoping the internet actually works and this post will post! Who can tell? I guess if you’re reading this it worked!
First things first!
The lucky winner of Penny Klostermann’s fabulous new picture book, A Cooked-Up Fairy Tale, from last week’s giveaway is ANGELA VERGES!!! Congratulations, Angela! I will put you and Penny in touch! And thank you, Penny, for offering the giveaway!
Now then! I have a terrifically fun yet sweet book to share with you today about the special relationship between dads and kids – in this case, specifically, a daughter. I think it’s a book you’ll want to share with your little ones 🙂
Title: Daddy Depot
Written By: Chana Stiefel
Illustrated By: Andy Snair
Feiwel and Friends, May 2017, fiction
Suitable For Ages: 2-5 (according to publisher info, but I think 3-7 works)
Themes/Topics: family relationships, appreciation, love
Opening: “Lizzie loved her dad, but he was always watching football.
‘Dad! Check out my new ballet twirls.’
‘You’re a star, Lizzie… TOUCHDOWN!'”
Brief Synopsis: (from the Amazon description) “Lizzie loves her dad, but he tells the same old jokes, falls asleep during story time, and gets distracted by football while Lizzie does her ballet twirls. When she sees an ad for a store called Daddy Depot, she decides to check it out―and finds dads of all kinds!”
Links To Resources: draw a picture of yourself and your dad; cut a piece of paper into the shape of something your dad loves (a football, a motorcycle, YOU 🙂 ) and write a note to him telling him what you love about him; things for dads and kids to do together; invent your own “perfect dad” – draw him on paper, or use felt or cut foam, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, glitter, cotton balls, whatever! – maybe he’s different from your actual dad… or maybe he’s just the same 🙂
Why I Like This Book: I’m guessing pretty much every kid has wished for a different mom or dad at some point along the way! It’s a very grass-is-always-greener kind of feeling 🙂 The idea of a megastore that sells dads is such a fun concept! So many possibilities! Rocker Dad, Astro Dad, Chef Dad… Surely there’s someone out there who will make a better dad for Lizzie then her football-obsessed, boring-joke-teller, often embarrassing dad! But though they all look good at first, in the end none of those dads are for Lizzie. The story is a humorous and sweet reminder that sometimes what we have is just right 🙂 The art is bright and cheerful – I love that Dad makes pancakes while wearing a monkey hat 🙂 – and suits the story nicely.
Text copyright Chana Stiefel 2017, Illustration copyright Andy Snair 2017
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 🙂
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific links (and any other info you feel like filling out 🙂 ) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 🙂
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Susanna, hope your flight settled down. I really like this book. It reminds me a bit of THE CHANGE YOUR NAME STORE by Leanne Shirtliffe. Who hasn’t wanted a different, parent, name, sibling, teacher, etc. Thank you for a great summary.
Sweet! Another book for me to consider adding to the PA Young Reader’s Choice nominee list.
The opening line really says it all! Every child will relate to this story — I know the child in me did! Especially the embarrassing moments. Great pick!
I had the privilege of reading Daddy Depot as a manuscript years ago at an SCBWI regional conference & thought it was wonderful. I love how it has evolved since then & the illustrations are hilarious! You’ve listed some great activities to accompany the reading, Susanna. Welcome home!
Yay Chana! Such a fun book which has been making our bedtime rounds this week:)
The image of a megastore with a wide variety of dads to choose from is hilarious. Thanks for sharing, Susanna. I’ll check it out!
YAY for all of these fabulous 2017 debut picture books! I reviewed one today also, Susanna! It makes me so happy that there are such talented authors and illustrators out there who are providing wonderful picture books for young kids.
It’s such a clever premise…I’m sure most of us wanted to exchange one or more of our parents when we were kids! Congrats, Chana…your story is filled with heart and humor!
Daddy Depot – I have GOT to read that. And all these other cool books that people are featuring on their blogs. Yay for PPBF!
Glad you made it home safe and sound, Susanna. Thanks for sharing Chana’s clever book. I’m sure it will resonate with lots of kids (and dads!). Can’t wait to read it.