Daddies Are Awesome

by Meredith Costain, Polona Lovsin (Illustrator)

Overview

A sweet ode to fathers and all that they do with—and for—their kids, brought to life by adorable puppy-dog illustrations.

Daddies are awesome! They're warm and delicious.
They tickle and hug you and shower you with kisses.

Loving and thoughtful, playful and daring, cuddly and caring—daddies are awesome. This gentle rhyming text celebrates the special bond between father and child. Adorable doggy daddy and pup illustrations make this perfect for sharing!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250107206
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	05/16/2017
Pages:	28
Sales rank:	1,050,427
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 6.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Meredith Costain is the author of many books for children. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her partner, Paul Collins, and their many pets. When she's not writing, Meredith loves to sleep, read, eat chocolate, and play blues piano.

Polona Lovšin grew up on her grandparents' farm in Slovenia. Her dad gave her colored pencils and paints as a child, and she went on to study at the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana, Slovenia, before beginning her career as an illustrator.

Editorial Reviews

"Daddy-and-child dog lovers can try some of these canine ways of expressing affection." —Kirkus Reviews on Daddies Are Awesome

"Costain’s sweetly simple rhymes are well-matched to Lovsin’s cuddly dog portraits" —Publishers Weekly on Daddies Are Awesome

From the Publisher

04/11/2016
Originally published in Australia, this ode to affectionate, caring, and adventurous fathers features a cast of canines, richly evoked in pencil and paint. Cream-colored backgrounds let readers zero in on the tenderness in Lovsin’s illustrations: a scruffy white dog hangs from its father’s tail (“Daddies are playful./ They swing you around”), and a page turn shows a dachshund smiling proudly as his kids loll around on his back (“You ride on their shoulders/ or hang upside down”). Costain’s sweetly simple rhymes are well-matched to Lovsin’s cuddly dog portraits, and human fathers may want to brush up on their knowledge of the breeds pictured—kids will want to know. Ages 4–8. (May)

Publishers Weekly

05/01/2016
PreS—A variety of dogs and their pups abound in this rhyming text extolling the virtues of fatherly love. Dads will play games and take their kids on grand adventures but also help with tough tasks like being brave or counting sheep when pups can't sleep. Costain's quaint story includes dads of all shapes and sizes, from poodles to huskies and everything in between. Lovšin's illustrations are playful and soft, depicting man's and puppy's best friend in touching and realistic renderings. Each page offers a new set of fathers and children, complete with a reason that dads are in fact awesome. The limited text and repetitive structure work together, making this an easy story for new readers. Families with young children will love sharing this tale together. VERDICT A great read-aloud just in time for Father's Day and a solid purchase for any picture book collection.—Kaitlin Malixi, Virginia Beach Public Library, VA

School Library Journal

2016-03-16
Puppies celebrate the many ways their dads are awesome. "Daddies are playful. / They swing you around. // You ride on their shoulders / or hang upside down." The first spread pictures a scruffy pup, mouth clamped on its dad's tail, hanging. The second features a long dachshund, his four pups using the large expanse of his back as a jungle gym or resting spot. The husky dad is labeled as daring, brave, and strong, while the hound takes his pup on adventures (digging and hiding under a bush). Other dog dads give kisses and tickles, tell bedtime stories and help count sheep (a stuffed toy), and help their pups grow (challenging them with stairs and carrying them when the going gets tough). Lovšin creatively interprets some of the text that applies well to kids but not so well to canines: dad and pup at each end of a long stick held in their mouths is the dog equivalent of holding hands. Though many dog breeds will be familiar, some are just mutts, though all are shown caring for and enjoying the company of their offspring. White backgrounds keep the focus on the dogs. Daddy-and-child dog lovers can try some of these canine ways of expressing affection. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews