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Here are several books that honor dads this month. Set aside some time
to share these super stories with someone(s) you love.
Thunder Boy Jr.
by Sherman Alexie
illustrated by Yuyi Morales
Thunder
Boy’s name might sound unusual, but it is not. His name and his dad’s are the
same. They are called Big Thunder and Little Thunder. Little Thunder loves his
dad, but he has a secret: “I hate my name!” he says and “I want my own name.”
He wants a name that expresses who he is. All through the pages of this book,
Thunder Boy describes names that might fit him. Some of the names he mentions
announce what he’s done; other names he considers value his Native American
ancestry.
However, Little Thunder wants more
than a name; he wants to be identified as himself. In this digitally colored picture
book, Morales uses earthy shading by scanning clay brick colors and wood
textures from parts of an antique house. This technique produces sensory
illustrations that weave energetically through Alexie’s story.
An ingenious method of text use intersperses
a conventional font with comic book type bubbles. Little Thunder’s sister and
dog are his companions on each double page spread. These additions add humor
and movement to expand the emotional depth of this tale. The seamless blend of
Alexie’s and Morales’s work creates an accessible story book for young readers
and listeners that addresses acceptance and identity issues.
Little Brown, $17.99
Interest Level: Junior Kindergarten – Grade 2
Dad and the Dinosaur
by Gennifer Choldenko
illustrated by Dan Santat
There are many things Nick is afraid
of: the dark, giant bugs, manhole covers and what might be underneath them.
"His dad was not afraid of anything." Nick wants to be brave like his
dad, but he thinks he needs a dinosaur mascot to make it true. With the
dinosaur tucked in his pocket or hidden inside his soccer sock, Nick can climb
rock walls and score astonishing soccer goals.
But when the dinosaur is lost,
everything seems creepy to Nick: "The night was black as octopus ink,
giant bugs were everywhere." When Nick tells his father that the dinosaur
is the brave one, his Dad takes him searching again. When they find the
dinosaur, Nick is reassured, especially after hearing dad say, "It's okay
to be afraid. All guys are now and then."
The mixed-media artwork by Caldecott
winner Santat makes effective use of dark and light. Particularly expressive
are the nighttime scenes, as Nick's imaginary fears suggestively sneak along
the bottom of the page and at the edges of his vision. The spooky, fanciful
illustrations keep this tale from becoming too frightening. This whimsical
story invites young readers to safely explore what it takes to be brave and
what is hidden within.
Putnam, $17.99
Interest Level:
Kindergarten – Grade 3
and Tango Makes
Three
by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
illustrated by Henry Cole
In this tale -- based on a true
story about a penguin family living in New York City's Central Park Zoo -- Roy
and Silo, two boy penguins, are "a little bit different." They are
always together, even sharing a nest like the other penguin couples. When other
penguin pairs start hatching eggs, Roy brings an egg-shaped rock to their nest,
and Silo carefully sits on it.
Silo and Roy are eager and
hopeful in their care. “But nothing happened.” A watchful zookeeper notices an
egg in need of fostering, and places it in their nest. The devoted dads become
experts, not only as the egg hatches, but caring for the hatchling as she grows.
The watercolor illustrations for
this outstanding story feature irresistible penguins with expressive faces and attention-grabbing
body language. Text and pictures are well matched, allowing readers the chance
to simultaneously watch and hear the story unfold.
An author's note at the end supplies
additional information about Roy, Silo, Tango, and other chinstrap penguins.
Simon &
Schuster, $9.99 (paperback) $17.99 (hardcover)
Interest Level:
Pre-School – Kindergarten
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