My Dad, My Hero
Raincoast Books
Age 3-5, 5-7
32 pages
written and illustrated by Ethan Long
Synopsis from Raincoast Books:
A young child starts off this laugh-out-loud picture book by listing all the ways his dad is NOT a super hero: he can’t leap tall buildings, run faster than a speeding bullet, or shoot webs out of his wrists. Each spread illustrates how Dad doesn’t have super powers but is still a hero at heart. The sweet ending depicts all the cool – if not super – activities Dad does do with the child like throwing a baseball, playing checkers and going toy shopping. Ethan Long’s spot-on artwork perfectly accompanies this super funny and super sweet story.
My 4 and 6-year old were drawn to the book’s cartoon comic feel of My Dad, My Hero. The illustrations are simple, two-dimensional drawings filled with basic colours; you can even see the dots that make-up the colours. The copy in the story is short and simple and treated in bright yellow comic call-outs. They remind me of the Bazooka bubble gum comics.
Both adults and kids alike will enjoy the comparison of dad to a superhero: dad can’t leap tall buildings in a single-bound; dad doesn’t wear a cape under his clothing. The illustrations show dad’s vulnerabilities when he cuts himself shaving or needs help opening the pickle jar. But even without all these super abilities, kids still view dad as their hero because he spends time with them. He may not be an athlete but that doesn’t stop him from playing catch. I think it’s these vulnerabilities illustrated in My Dad, My Hero that make dads human and special; we can snicker at them but we love them for it, for all they do.
My Dad, My Hero is a great book for kids to share with dad on Father’s Day or any time; no superhero abilities required.
You can add a copy of My Dad, My Hero to your own personal library by visiting your local bookstore or Raincoast Books. Visit our Kid’s Books section for other great book recommendations. What are you reading with your kids?
I have to thank Crystal at Raincoast Books for my review copy.
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