We have rounded up ten classic kids book from Walker Books Australia to help celebrate the dads and granddads in their lives this Father’s Day.
1. My Dad Thinks He’s Funny (10th Anniversary)By Katrina Germein, Illustrated by Tom Jellett
A book for anyone whose dad has made them laugh – or cringe!
My dad doesn’t like babysitting. He says no one should sit on babies. My dad doesn’t eat seafood. He says there’s something fishy about it. My dad doesn’t lie in bed. He says you should always tell the truth. My dad thinks he’s funny.
2. My Dad Used to Be So CoolBy Keith Negley
Did your dad used to be cool? Wondering what happened to his rock band playing, skateboarding days? This funny and relatable story shows children how their parents are still cool after all, even if it’s not in quite the same way!
Parents and children will both enjoy engaging with this book, presented in Negley’s unique style where words are minimal and the emotive illustrations really carry the story along.
3. Guess How Much I Love You (25th Anniversary Edition)By Sam McBratney, Illustrated by Anita Jeram
“I love you right up to the moon – AND BACK!”
Sometimes, when you love someone very, very much, you want to find a way of describing just how much you treasure them. But, as Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare discover, love is not always an easy thing to measure! Since its publication in 1994, children and parents worldwide have cherished the heartwarming tale of Little Nutbrown and Big Nutbrown Hare so much that it has become one of the most enduring bedtime classics of our time. Join us in celebrating its 25th Anniversary with this beautiful paperback edition of the beloved story.
4. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt By Michael Rosen, Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
We’re going on a bear hunt. We’re going to catch a big one. Will you come too?For thirty years, readers have been swishy-swashying and splash-sploshing through this award-winning favourite. This new anniversary paperback edition brings the story to life for a whole new generation of readers. Follow and join in the family’s excitement as they wade through the grass, splash through the river, squelch through the mud and brave their way through the swirling, whirling snowstorm in search of a bear. What a surprise awaits them in the cave on the other side of the dark forest!
5. Searching for CicadasBy Lesley Gibbes, Illustrated by Judy Watson
This lovely story about a child and their grandfather searching for cicadas is part of the award-winning narrative nonfiction Nature Storybooks series.
In the summertime, Grandpa and I go cicada-watching. We put our camping gear into my wagon and walk down to the local reserve. Last year we saw five Green Grocers, three Yellow Mondays and one Floury Baker. Can we find the rare Black Prince this year? This heartwarming nonfiction picture book is written by award-winning author Lesley Gibbes and gorgeously illustrated by Judy Watson
6. The Corner of My EyeBy Colin Thompson
A book about a special relationship between a grandfather and his granddaughter who tries to see life through his eyesWhen you are very, very young or very, very old, you can see things out of the corner of your eye. In between, all you can see is all you can see. Unless you are very, very lucky. Then the corner of your eye stays awake forever.
The story of an ageing man who has lost something. But what and where? His granddaughter, Sally, helps him find it. Subtle and touching, this is an emotional response to people trying their best to live in an imperfect world.
7. The Stone GiantBy Anna Hoglund
A story of cunning, courage and survival, in which a girl sets out to save her father from the giant who turns people to stone
When her father leaves to fight the giant, the child in the red dress is left alone. Many days and many nights go by. Every evening the girl says good night to herself in her mirror. When the last light burns down, the girl takes her mirror and a knife and sets out to find her father. The Stone Giant is a contemporary and timeless fairytale that tells of a child who succeeds where adults cannot.
8. Just BecauseBy Mac Barnett, Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
Why is the ocean blue? What is rain? What happened to the dinosaurs? It might be time for bed, but one child is too full of questions about the world to go to sleep just yet. Little ones and their parents will be charmed and delighted as a patient father offers up increasingly creative responses to his child’s night-time wonderings. Any child who has ever asked “Why?” – and any parent who has attempted an explanation – will recognize themselves in this sweet storybook for dreamers who are looking for answers beyond “Just because”.
9. I Want My Dad By Tony Ross
The Little Princess wants an exciting daddy who can teach her new things: will the King measure up?
The Little Princess is jealous – all her friends’ dads can do amazing things. The Cook bakes delicious cakes: the King burns buns. The Gardener takes his daughter on adventure-walks through the forest: the King gets lost on his way to bed. When the Maid volunteers to do these things with the Little Princess, it looks like her problems are over. But what if she has more in common with her dad than she realises?
10. Nights With DadBy Karen Hesse, Illustrated by G Brian Karas
A luminous and lyrical tribute to the enduring, everyday sort of love between a boy and his father.
When the sun sets, Dad’s night shift as a school caretaker is just beginning. What is it like to work at night, while the rest of the city is asleep? There’s the smell of lilacs in the night air, the dusky motorway in the moonlight and glimpses of shy night-time animals to make the dark magical. Playing basketball in the half-lit sport’s hall, sweeping the stage with the match on the radio, and reading out loud to his father in the library all help the boy’s time pass quickly. But what makes the night really special? Just being with Dad.
We have rounded up ten classic kids book from Walker Books Australia to help celebrate the dads and granddads in their lives this Father’s Day.
1. My Dad Thinks He’s Funny (10th Anniversary) By Katrina Germein, Illustrated by Tom Jellett
A book for anyone whose dad has made them laugh – or cringe!
My dad doesn’t like babysitting. He says no one should sit on babies. My dad doesn’t eat seafood. He says there’s something fishy about it. My dad doesn’t lie in bed. He says you should always tell the truth. My dad thinks he’s funny.
2. My Dad Used to Be So Cool By Keith Negley
Did your dad used to be cool? Wondering what happened to his rock band playing, skateboarding days? This funny and relatable story shows children how their parents are still cool after all, even if it’s not in quite the same way!
Parents and children will both enjoy engaging with this book, presented in Negley’s unique style where words are minimal and the emotive illustrations really carry the story along.
3. Guess How Much I Love You (25th Anniversary Edition) By Sam McBratney, Illustrated by Anita Jeram
“I love you right up to the moon – AND BACK!”
Sometimes, when you love someone very, very much, you want to find a way of describing just how much you treasure them. But, as Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare discover, love is not always an easy thing to measure! Since its publication in 1994, children and parents worldwide have cherished the heartwarming tale of Little Nutbrown and Big Nutbrown Hare so much that it has become one of the most enduring bedtime classics of our time.
Join us in celebrating its 25th Anniversary with this beautiful paperback edition of the beloved story.
4. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
By Michael Rosen, Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
We’re going on a bear hunt. We’re going to catch a big one. Will you come too?For thirty years, readers have been swishy-swashying and splash-sploshing through this award-winning favourite. This new anniversary paperback edition brings the story to life for a whole new generation of readers. Follow and join in the family’s excitement as they wade through the grass, splash through the river, squelch through the mud and brave their way through the swirling, whirling snowstorm in search of a bear. What a surprise awaits them in the cave on the other side of the dark forest!
5. Searching for Cicadas By Lesley Gibbes, Illustrated by Judy Watson
This lovely story about a child and their grandfather searching for cicadas is part of the award-winning narrative nonfiction Nature Storybooks series.
In the summertime, Grandpa and I go cicada-watching. We put our camping gear into my wagon and walk down to the local reserve. Last year we saw five Green Grocers, three Yellow Mondays and one Floury Baker. Can we find the rare Black Prince this year?
This heartwarming nonfiction picture book is written by award-winning author Lesley Gibbes and gorgeously illustrated by Judy Watson
6. The Corner of My Eye By Colin Thompson
A book about a special relationship between a grandfather and his granddaughter who tries to see life through his eyesWhen you are very, very young or very, very old, you can see things out of the corner of your eye. In between, all you can see is all you can see. Unless you are very, very lucky. Then the corner of your eye stays awake forever.
The story of an ageing man who has lost something. But what and where? His granddaughter, Sally, helps him find it. Subtle and touching, this is an emotional response to people trying their best to live in an imperfect world.
7. The Stone Giant By Anna Hoglund
A story of cunning, courage and survival, in which a girl sets out to save her father from the giant who turns people to stone
When her father leaves to fight the giant, the child in the red dress is left alone. Many days and many nights go by. Every evening the girl says good night to herself in her mirror. When the last light burns down, the girl takes her mirror and a knife and sets out to find her father. The Stone Giant is a contemporary and timeless fairytale that tells of a child who succeeds where adults cannot.
8. Just Because By Mac Barnett, Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
Why is the ocean blue? What is rain? What happened to the dinosaurs? It might be time for bed, but one child is too full of questions about the world to go to sleep just yet. Little ones and their parents will be charmed and delighted as a patient father offers up increasingly creative responses to his child’s night-time wonderings. Any child who has ever asked “Why?” – and any parent who has attempted an explanation – will recognize themselves in this sweet storybook for dreamers who are looking for answers beyond “Just because”.
9. I Want My Dad By Tony Ross
The Little Princess wants an exciting daddy who can teach her new things: will the King measure up?
The Little Princess is jealous – all her friends’ dads can do amazing things. The Cook bakes delicious cakes: the King burns buns. The Gardener takes his daughter on adventure-walks through the forest: the King gets lost on his way to bed. When the Maid volunteers to do these things with the Little Princess, it looks like her problems are over. But what if she has more in common with her dad than she realises?
10. Nights With Dad By Karen Hesse, Illustrated by G Brian Karas
A luminous and lyrical tribute to the enduring, everyday sort of love between a boy and his father.
When the sun sets, Dad’s night shift as a school caretaker is just beginning. What is it like to work at night, while the rest of the city is asleep? There’s the smell of lilacs in the night air, the dusky motorway in the moonlight and glimpses of shy night-time animals to make the dark magical. Playing basketball in the half-lit sport’s hall, sweeping the stage with the match on the radio, and reading out loud to his father in the library all help the boy’s time pass quickly. But what makes the night really special? Just being with Dad.
Happy Reading!
Want more? Click here for Three Books to Read Now and here for Five Classic Cookbooks Every Home Cook Should Own.
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