Dads Read Too

JER: “ The Going to Bed Book” by Sandra Boynton is one of my favorite bedtime boardbooks.  It has a great rhythm, and it always makes me smile when they all “go up to exercise”.

JER: “ Big Momma Makes the World ” by author Phyllis Root and illustrator Helen Oxenbury is a re-imagination of the biblical creation story. “When Big Momma made the world, she didn’t mess around [and it w]asn’t easy, either, with that little baby sitting on her hip”. I love this book and this reinterpretation if the creation story, because it centers around the realities of being a parent.  Why did Big Momma make “earth/mud”? Because she would “need a place to put my feet down when they needed putting down [and] when that baby if hers got to growing more”. She was working hard, but all the while “laundry was piling up and the dishes needed doing.  She figured she better finish things off in one Big Bang”. But even then, Big Momma wasn’t done.  She needed some folks to keep her company.  So she scooped up some leftover mud “and the next thing you know, there were folks everywhere.  Big folks and little folks.  Fat folks and thin folks.  All k...

JER: “ Sam & Dave Dig A Hole ” by author Mac Barnett and illustrator Jon Klassen (one of my favorite artists/authors BTW) is all about expectations and the innate randomness of life. “Sam and Dave are digging a hole and they will not stop until they find something spectacular” (inside front cover). The reader watches in frustration as Sam & Dave narrowly miss digging up larger and larger pink gems.  Are the gems supposed to be the “something spectacular”? Ultimately, “something spectacular” does happen, but not what I expected.  Sam & Dave seem to be perfectly pleased with the result, and they are happy to head inside for “chocolate milk and animal cookies” to reminisce over their “spectacular”. If there were a narrator or reader of our life, would they look on in frustration as we missed finding increasingly large metaphorical “gems”? Are we missing out on “something spectacular” just out of sight or around the corner?  Are we better off findin...

JER: “ Douglas You’re A Genius ” by Ged Adamson is a very topical book.  Nancy and Douglas lose their ball through a large wall, but when it unexpectedly comes back through the wall, they begin hatching plans to get over the wall.  Nancy sketches out idea after idea, and Douglas dutifully executes them to no avail.  But when it is finally Douglas’ turn there is a breakthrough, and our heroes discover the benefits of cross-cultural dialogue and the importance of international alliances . . . okay, I may have been reading a little too much into this children’s book while I am hoping for a more humanitarian foreign policy agenda to spring forth in the U.S. #sigh #wishfulthinking

JER: “ I Will Be Fierce ” by author Bea Birdsong and illustrator Nidhi Chanani is best read with a fist pump each time the word “FIERCE” shows up.  I like how it models ways to be assertive in common social situations.  I hope it gives my daughters confidence to resist peer pressure to forge their own paths.

JER: “ WOW in the World ” Podcast with Guy Raz, Mindy Thomas, and the musical group ”The Pop Ups”. I am a huge fan of podcasts.  I love to put one on while I am commuting to work, when I am washing dishes, cleaning, or at the gym.  It can be a great way to catch up on current events with the “New York Times: The Daily” podcast, to go in depth on a topic with NPR’s “Embedded”, to hear great stories on “This American Life” podcast, to learn how entrepreneurs built companies/brands on “How I Built This”, or some inspirational talks on Technology, Entertainment, and Design (TED) on NPR’s “TED Radiohour”. These podcasts are great for adults, but kids will usually lose interest pretty quickly. Luckily, there are a few podcasts that have been especially developed for a kids’ attention span.  So far, my favorite is “WOW in the World” podcast.  It is hosted by Guy Raz (who also co-created TED Radiohour & How I Built This), Mindy Thomas who brings some great comedi...

JER: “ Marta!  Big & Small ” by author Jen Arena and illustrator Angela Dominguez reminded me of my good friend @marta_dansie (IMHO “Marta” is a woefully underused, underrepresented name for how cool it is), but I digress.  This book has been the most successful book I’ve seen at blending two languages in a fun, playful way.  The author cleverly uses opposites, animals, and behaviors to introduce a handful of Spanish words interspersed through each page.  The illustrator plays with perspectives to add action to each scene and provide additional visual depth to the story - like how "tasty, very tasty" Marta appears to the snake.  Fortunately, our heroine is very "ingeniosa" #clever For additional photos, visit us on Instagram