  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 03/01/2012 K-Gr 2—Dads who remember what it's like to be a child know "that milk tastes better through a straw…that bubble wrap is for popping," and that "they love to mix up the words in bedtime stories." In this tribute to fun-loving fathers, Parker lists their many attributes—including an ability to appreciate the unexpected. Detailed cartoons in pen and ink, watercolor, and colored pencil reflect scenes that have plenty of appeal for children and adults alike. The large font and simple text point out the loving understanding that translates into a close relationship between child and parent. The most important word in the book and these dads' lives is highlighted in the largest font as the only text on a spread: "KIDS!" This title also shows different careers that fathers can have: florist, doctor, businessman, or construction worker. It creates easily identifiable images of parents and their children building memories. A surefire hit.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX - Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 03/15/2012 “Some dads just never grow up. You can tell which ones they are.” So begins this amusing picture book, written from a child’s perspective. The narrative points out ways of identifying this distinct class of fathers. They’re the ones who still enjoy comics and cartoons, who love to mix up bedtime stories, and who join their kids in playing sports outdoors—and indoors, too. And when that leads to broken lamps and holes in walls, they also know how to fix things. The simply written text sets the book’s conversational tone and offers many examples of kidlike dads, while the ink, watercolor, and colored-pencil illustrations develop the theme with buoyant good humor and plenty of comic byplay. Alley’s at his boisterous best here, creating a pleasing series of animated illustrations, from full-page scenes to amusing vignettes showing dads and kids in action. The multicultural cast includes both boys and girls enjoying quiet and noisy moments with their fathers. A beguiling look at playful fathers—and their children. - Copyright 2012 Booklist. Bulletin for the Center... - 05/01/2012 This comedic outing follows four dads who show all the signs of never having grown up, from jumping on bubble wrap when a package comes in the mail to diving into piles of leaves during an impromptu football game to cozying up to watch cartoons with a bowl of cereal. The child speaker (“Don’t be fooled. They may look like grown-ups on the outside, but underneath they’re just like us”) is clearly in favor of such dads, loading the text with high praise for both their actions and their attitude (“Dads who never grew up really remember what it’s like to be little”) and emphasizing the positive relationship between kid and dad. The homey, casual pictures accent watercolor and colored pencil images with sketchy ink texturings in spot-art galleries of young-at-heart dads in action: crawling through tunnels at the playground, scooting trains around in the dentist’s lobby, facing off for a game of umbrella hockey. While this is more a list than developed plot, there is lots of potential here for intimate dad-and-child sharing as well as for family storytimes and Father’s Day displays. HM - Copyright 2012 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Loading...
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