Dads Read Too

JER:  “Outfoxed”  by Mike Twohy is a great silly book.  The Fox is disappointed to barely escape the fence and guard dogs only to find that he didn’t end up grabbing a chicken from the henhouse.  It looks like a “duck”, but slobbers, chews up his clothes, and wakes him up with hot breath in his face.  He finally has enough and takes it back, but a surprise greets him when he arrives back home. 

JER:  “So Many Gifts”  by Anne Marie Pierce  is a bit out of season for February, but when I found it at my parents’ house on a trip to Utah with Lake - I instantly loved it.   It perfectly describes the way I want to think about Santa Claus and Christmas.  Primary Theme: a dream that “all would [receive] gift[s]”  Secondary Theme: passing on kindness to others Summary: the books envisions the origin story of Santa from a “very long tine ago, in a place I can’t remember”. There was a person who wanted to instill the joy of discovery in children, to make them laugh, and they wanted to make sure that as many children as possible could be rewarded with laughter.  But Santa soon realized that they would need “helpers”, and all the children who had received gifts in the past worked to help Santa develop “endless supplies of fantasy and myth”. We all are “Santa”, and we can keep alive the kindness that generated from one kind person. ...

JER: “ Where’s Spot? ” by Eric Hill might be the most well “loved” book in our house.  It is so well “loved” that many of the distinctive flaps in this “lift-the-flap” book were “loved” off of their board-book-pages . . . But I am pretty proud of my make-shift replacement flaps.  A fun way to increase interaction with a toddler is to sign the name of the animal as they are revealed behind the flap. “Is Spot behind the door? ‘No’, says the snake” (accompanied by a hissing snake sign). The “Learn ASL App” is really great for learning basic sign language. 

JER: “ Before I Wake Up ” by Britta Teckentrup is a soothing visual and lyrical trip.  The colors and dream-like journey lull you to sleep.  

JER: "LLAMAPHONES " by Janik Coat is a perfect book to start with for infants and toddlers.  I love the clever use of homonyms: rose vs rows, stair vs stare, sent vs cent, etc.  But the most appealing part for first time readers is the tactile graphics that are really fun to feel, and the LLAMAS, how could I forget about the LLAMAS.  

JER: “ Fox and the Jumping Contest ” is the first book by author/illustrator Corey R. Tabor.  Although there is a lot I liked about the book, it received mixed reviews in my family.  I really love the artwork, I love the way the author was able tell a complex story loaded with hidden subtext, and I was really impressed with how they were able to do it without any unnecessary pages or prose.  I often find myself bored with children's books before they are over, but each page, each scene in the background, and each word in this book is necessary and fun.  That being said, the Fox is a complex character that left Mallory and Lake feeling conflicted when the Fox managed to “sort of win” without really “jumping”. Should we be celebrating Fox’s “scheming”?  Or should we focus on Frog’s style, Turtle’s hard work, or Rabbit’s skill?  It's hard to know who you should be rooting for, and because of that - Mallory and Lake weren’t ready to cheer for Fox, but...

A:   Mingo the Flamingo    by Pete Oswald and Justin K Thompson. I am so happy we stumbled upon this one at the library! It is such a great story of separation and reunification, but more importantly about unexpected friends. I am sure we can all relate to finding ourselves among strangers and the anxiety that goes along with that. We forget that kids feel this way, A LOT! Here is a book that teaches them getting to know people (who can become new friends) is very rewarding! And I love the page that teaches that practice doesn’t make us perfect, it makes us stronger for sure, but never perfect! Sometimes we need that extra help to reach our goals!! Lots of   for Mingo!! (From two very accomplished authors, thank you guys!) I really hope Mingo has some more adventures!  ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Primary Theme: Unexpected friendships Secondary Themes: Separation and reunion, practice makes you stronger but not perfect, what friends are for ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Summary: fro...

JER: “Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise” by author Sean Taylor and illustrator Jean Jullien is a wonderfully silly book with prose that flows easily as Hoot Owl narrates his hunt for food.  Even though he keeps envisioning himself using his “sharp beak” and ingenious disguises to “gobble up” his prey, he keeps falling just short.  But it isn’t for lack of effort!  Primary Theme: persistence  Secondary Theme: adaptation  

JER: “Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret” by Bob Shea gave me all sorts of flashbacks to my childhood.  You have a friend you really like, but they do something that bothers you.  Do you risk the relationship and tell them?  Or do you keep the “secret secret” to preserve the relationship?!?!? Ohhh, the DRAMA!! I can’t take it!!! Primary Theme:  setting boundaries with friends  Secondary Theme: learning to be assertive  Thanks to my sister-in-law Ashley Lake for the great recommendation! 

DO I HAVE A TRIBE? This is something I've been thinking about a lot the last few months and years.  Do I belong somewhere?  What does it mean to belong to a Tribe? Various events in the past few years have triggered these thoughts.  One of those events was visiting the  National Building Museum  with this Robert Frost quote from  "The Death of the Hired Man" :  "Home is the place where, when you have to go there,  They have to take you in."  - Robert Frost Another one of those events was this book - " There is a Tribe of Kids " by Lane Smith.  It explores what we do to belong, how we try to conform to a group - regardless of how different we may be, and how the search for community can be overpowering. Mallory and I have moved almost ten times since we were married 11 years ago.  Each time we've moved, we have managed to meet some of the best people along the way.  We both grew up in Utah, were married t...