Dads Read Too

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

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...

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