Once Upon a Time Bookstore Weighs in on Father’s Day Books

June 9, 2025
goodreadswithronna
Ages 0-3, Board Books - Interactive Books, Children's Book Reviews, Fantasy, Father's Day, Guest Blogger, Guest Post, Holidays & Celebrations, Humorous Stories, Juvenile Fiction, Novelty

CHILDREN’S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

FOR FATHER’S DAY 2025

FROM

ONCE UPON A TIME BOOKSTORE

We’re delighted that Maureen Palacios, owner of the nation’s oldest children’s bookshop, Once Upon a Time Bookstore, an independent bookseller in Montrose, California, has curated this Father’s Day Books trio for our blog. Stop in and meet the warm, welcoming, and knowledgeable staff if you live nearby. If you’re not local, order online. Purchase links are provided in red.

#1 DAD
(a Mugs & Kisses book)
Written and illustrated by Teresa Bonaddio
(Little Bee Books; $9.99, Ages 0-3)
9781499817171

This is a perfect board book for a toddler with its die-cut pages in the form of a mug. It has colorful graphic-style affirmations (SUPER DAD, #1 DAD) and fits right in the hands of a small and curious toddler. What a terrific book for the youngest child!

MY DAD IS A UNICORN!
Written by Bill Canterbury
Illustrated by Jeff Harter
(Doubleday BYR; $12.99, Ages 3-7)
9780593807873

Local author Canterbury has a great picture book series called My Life Is Weird!, and this second title (others are My Mom is a Mermaid! and My Teacher is a Dinosaur!) is about a dad who is a unicorn. He outwits bad guys with glitter bombs, flies away (just in time) from the fire-breathing dragon, comes home to a lasagna dinner, and then has a wonderful sparkle bath to rest up. This is pure silliness told with gentle warmth and energetic illustrations, plus the book comes with stickers. A real winner!

DAD JOKES: The Cheesiest, Corniest Joke Book Ever
(Highlights; $9.99, Ages 6-9)
9781639621538

This book, “packed with over 900 jokes” and puns, may be more for children than dads, but laughs are guaranteed regardless of your age! Kids can never get enough of corny, silly jokes, meaning it’s SURE to be a winner with kids (and their grown-ups). How can you resist a book chock-full of groan-worthy jokes? A Father’s Day gift to crack up even the most joke-averse reader, so add it to your joke book collection today.

“Why was the mummy upset? … She made a grave error.” Cheesy, right?

Also available:

LOVE DAD: Inspiring Notes from Fathers to Kids
Written by Dr. Joel Warsh and Andrew Gardner
Illustrated by David Cooper
(Random House BYR; $14.99, Ages 3-7)
9780593572160

Publisher Description:

This illustrated collection of heartfelt letters is about the many beautiful hopes and dreams that fathers have for their children. A perfect gift for any dad!

When you grow up, I hope you…

…let your smile change the world
…feel you are loved, in every cell of your body
…learn how to help those who need a hand

Eighteen dads from different walks of life took turns finishing that sentence. Some of them expressed hope that their children would dream big and be kind. Others wanted their kids to have love and respect for themselves and others.

PAPA’S COMING HOME
Written by Chasten Buttigieg
Illustrated by Dan Taylor
(Philomel Books; $19.99, Ages 4-8)
9780593693988

Publisher Description:

A charming picture book about unconditional love from New York Times bestselling author Chasten Buttigieg, perfect for Father’s Day and for families who love each other the whole year through.

Jojo and Rosie’s papa has been away on a trip, and they can’t wait to welcome him home! They make signs, they pick flowers, and with Daddy’s help, they bake a cake and pack the car with absolutely everything Papa might have missed while he was away.

When Papa’s plane arrives, they give him a huge hug—but when they bring him to the car, they realize there’s one small problem: Where will Papa sit?

Delightfully illustrated by Dan Taylor, this charming story filled with love celebrates dads and familial bonds. Chasten Buttigieg shines a beautiful light on the humorous musings of toddlers and a parent’s unconditional love for their child.

What Makes Your Dad Happy?

June 14, 2013
goodreadswithronna
Ages 3-5, Children's Book Reviews, Juvenile Fiction

WHAT MAKES MY DAD HAPPY is a charming children’s book written by Tania Cox with illustrations by Lorette Broekstra from Allen & Unwin. Distributed in the U.S. by Trafalgar Square Publishing from IPG, $11.99, Ages 3-5), this 24-page book will appeal to a broad audience since the dads depicted are from a wide range of ethnicities and abilities. I love that in addition to several Caucasian dads, a father in a wheelchair is shown along with an African-American dad, an older dad, and an Asian dad. Best of all, they’re having lots of fun and smiling loving smiles while interacting with their children.

Whether talking on the phone together, cooking, dancing, building, or playing in the park, dads are simply happy making memories while spending quality time with their kids. And kids just love making their daddies happy with all kinds of surprises. Presented in easy-to-read rhyme with a catchy refrain, “That’s what makes my dad happy, that’s what makes my dad happy,” the book is ideal for reading aloud. Celebrate those special daddy and daughter or son moments by making time to read together and reflect on the different relationships What Makes My Dad Happy conveys. Plus, giving this book as a gift not just on Father’s Day, but year-round, is certain to make any dad very, very happy!

Reviewed by Ronna Mandel

Of Dads and Dinosaurs

June 10, 2013
goodreadswithronna
Ages 3-7, Children's Book Reviews, Juvenile Fiction

We’re celebrating fathers this month as Father’s Day is right around the corner. Are Dinosaurs Dead, Dad? ($16.95, Peachtree Publishing, Ages 3-7) by Julie Middleton is the perfect picture book for young children to read with their dads. It’s cute, it’s clever and it’ll teach you a thing or two about prehistoric creatures.

Are Dinosaurs Dead, Dad? is a story about a boy named Dave, who goes to a museum with his Dad to see a dinosaur exhibit. “Are the dinosaurs dead, Dad?” is the first of many questions Dave asks his father.

“Dead?” Dad said. “Yes, the dinosaurs are dead.

But as father and son tour the museum, young Dave is sure the dinosaurs are trying to communicate with him despite Dad’s assurances over and over again that it’s not possible.

Or is it?

What I enjoyed about this simple picture book is that it’s a heck of a lot of fun to read and is educational. I absolutely love the big, vibrant illustrations by Russell Ayto and the whimsical font which makes the book look like it was handwritten. You’ll be hard pressed to find a kindergartener or first grader who isn’t fascinated by dinosaurs; these extinct animals were really extraordinary. Besides, what better way is there to celebrate dad, and all of his expertise, than reading an especially fun book like this with him?

For another cute book about dads, check out this review of My Dad Thinks He’s Funny.

– Reviewed by Debbie Glade