Dads Read Too

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: “Knuffle Bunny”  by Mo Willems perfectly captures the challenges of parenting a toddler.  Everything seems to be going great, and then your toddler will turn to you and say: “AGGLE FLAGGLE KLABBLE!!!!”. They know full well what they want and what is wrong, but adults and toddlers don’t have a common language between them to coherently lodge complaints.  Parents are left scrambling to figure out the latest cryptic message. “Hmmmm, ‘Aggle’, could that mean she is hungry?  Oh no, I didn’t pack snacks!!?!? I knew I should have put that emergency beef stick in my pocket before we left.  But then again, ‘Flaggle’, does she think all those ‘snacks’ have gone to growing my tummy?!??”. Eventually, I am usually able to decipher the clues and fix the problem, but not until after many tears are shed.  That’s why this book hits close to home for me.

JER:   “Rude Cakes” by Rowboat Watkins is my latest favorite silly book, and not just because it was written by an author with the coolest name!  It began predictably with a “rude cake”, but then the story develops in completely unexpectedly delightful  Primary Theme: being considerate to others  Secondary Theme: karma catches up with you