Like Father, Like Son

March 1, 2024
Preschool-Grade 2 In this comforting picture book, each page turn introduces a different young boy who explains how his dad is special. One father makes clothes for himself and his son, while the next bakes "yummy cakes," and another shows his son how to grow flowers on their balcony. Shared activities include singing, practicing yoga, and observing birds and other animals. These loving fathers are supportive when their sons break a lamp, cry, have scary dreams, or just feel sad. The final double-page spread features a panoramic lakeside scene where boys and their dads can be found picnicking, fishing, canoeing, setting up campsites, kicking a soccer ball, and enjoying the view. Ford's appealing illustrations, created with pencil and watercolors, depict diverse families in which boys share experiences with just their fathers. On every two-page spread until the end, each boy expresses himself in a simply worded rhymed couplet, while the final verse affirms the gratitude they share: "And every single day I'm glad / That I'm his son, and he's my dad." A natural for Father's Day.

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April 1, 2024
Newman and Ford pay tribute to the relationship between fathers and sons. Dads and sons learn important life lessons while taking part in a variety of activities, from running along the beach and sitting by the campfire strumming a guitar to gardening and riding bikes. Newman showcases moments that help cement that unbreakable bond, as well as those that help young people learn what it means to be an emotionally intelligent person. We see dads and sons participating in activities that knock down gender stereotypes, such as sewing and baking--a longtime hallmark of Newman's work. The fathers also teach their sons about the importance of empathy ("The day I broke his favorite lamp, / My daddy said, 'That's okay, Champ.' / He didn't yell or punish me. / He acted kind and lovingly"), being in touch with one's feelings ("When I fell down and scraped my knee, My daddy took good care of me... / 'It's OK, Bud, ' he said, 'to cry'"), and providing comfort when things get overwhelming. Newman's singsong-y text gets these points across without ever veering toward didacticism or mushiness, although adults may want to pre-read before storytime due to some awkward wording in places. Rendered in neutral tones, Ford's watercolor and colored pencil illustrations capture the warmth of parent/child bonds. Characters are diverse in skin tone and ability; one child uses a wheelchair. A celebration of modern-day fatherhood. (Picture book. 4-7)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

April 8, 2024
Newman’s jaunty rhymes challenge common gender stereotypes in this openhearted ode to dads. “My daddy knits, my daddy sews,/ He makes us both fantastic clothes,” reads opening text alongside an image of an adult figure working a sewing machine while a child knits. Domestic spreads follow, casting fathers as bakers and flower cultivators, while later outdoorsy moments describe guitar-playing and animal appreciation. After mishaps, including a broken lamp and a tumble, a speaker highlights their caregiver’s loving-kindness, culminating in the straightforward, message-driven lines, “My daddy teaches me each day/ To be strong in a gentle way.” Employing precise lines, careful coloring, and an idyllic, Norman Rockwell–esque vibe, Ford depicts in watercolor and colored pencil father-child relationships between individuals of various abilities and skin tones. Ages 4–8.

January 1, 2024
A singsong first-person rhyming text accompanies warm watercolor-and-ink illustrations of pairs of fathers and sons as they enjoy knitting, cooking, and gardening together and navigate minor conflicts (a broken lamp, a skinned knee). A welcome positive portrayal of men relating sensitively and modeling activities beyond the traditionally masculine.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)