Fathers' Day is a big card giving holiday, but also a great day for giving books. What are Dad's favorite hobbies (hiking), historical people/events (Lewis and Clark), teams (Beavers), vehicles (motorcycles), sports (tennis), or cuisine (Italian)?
All great ideas, but there are also children's books that either feature a Dad or hook Dad with one of his favorite things. Some of these include: Take Me to Your BBQ by Kathy Duvall, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton, Even Monsters Need Haircuts by Matt McElligott, Bad Boys by Margie Palatini, and My Father Knows the Names of Things by Jane Yolen.
Dad and kids can celebrate the day by reading about Dad-like things -- complete with sound effects. Happy Father's Day!
-Q
As we begin another writing and critiquing year, I am amazed at all the interesting ways children's writers tell stories. Take Lee Wardlaw's Won Ton - A Cat Tale Told in Haiku. As the title describes, the story is told via page after page of haiku. Clever!
Will I ever write a book in haiku? Who knows? But now I have a role model and trail blazer to look to in case I want to try it.
Or how about How the Dinosaur Got to the Museum by Jessie Hartland that tells a historical story and slips in tons of science details. Super!
Will I be writing about dinosaurs soon. No, but thanks to this book, I have a excellent example of how interweaving science and history can be done.
There are lots of other examples. I save mine at Picbooksrock on Pinterest. Then, I can go back and reference my favorites whenever I want.
-Q
