The 26 characters in this rhythmic, rhyming baby book are a lowercase alphabet with attitude. "A told b, and b told c, 'I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree'"--which probably seemed like a good idea until the other 23 members of the gang decided to follow suit. Lois Ehlert's chunky block illustrations show the luxuriant green palm standing straight and tall on the first page, but it begins to groan and bend under its alphabetical burden. First the coconuts fall off, then ("Chicka chicka... BOOM! BOOM!") all the letters also end up in a big heap underneath.

Daddy picks Corey up from the daycare center, takes him grocery shopping and then home to cook a delicious spaghetti dinner. After dinner, Corey helps Mommy wash the dishes while Daddy turns into . . . Bathman! . . . and carries Corey off for a fun-filled bath. There's a time for a story and kisses all around before Corey hits the sheets. Simple, realistic pictures illustrate this warm celebration of family life. Hines clearly realizes the value to preschool readers of ordinary, everyday events: Corey's daily routine is comfortingly familiar. The author also knows the specialness of a playful daddy who is willing to be silly with his child. This light-hearted, happy book is of special appeal to children in Corey's situation, whose parents both work.

The song "Daddy's Little Girl" has been a favorite of fathers and daughters -- and mothers, too -- for more than fifty years. In this first ever picture-book version, an adoring rabbit daddy and his little bunny bring the moving lyrics to life as they share special moments that demonstrate the special bond reserved for daddies and their little girls. The full lyrics and music are included for the whole family to enjoy together.

Tony Award-winning comedian, director, actor, and bestselling author Billy Crystal is, above all things, a devoted grandfather. Drawn from his own experience, Grandpa's Little One tells the story of the first year in his grandbaby's life. It's a year filled with tender memories of every first-time event: first smile, first swim, first giggle and laugh, first piece of cake. Seen from a grandfather's point of view, each reverberates with love, tenderness, and a sense of humor.

Comedian, actor, and director Billy Crystal’s ode to his first grandchild will strike a chord with every expectant grandparent (and parents, too). Readers will feel the sweet anticipation building as Grandpa Crystal dreams about the baby’s upcoming birth. While the writing is at times awkward, the sentiment behind the text is genuine and universal, " I want to feel your heart beat as you lie upon my chest, bait your hook, fly your kite, help you study for a test." The narrator envisions peekaboo, horsey, and visits to the beach with a red-haired tot--his love virtually bubbles over.

Familiar phrases from a preschooler's world give a child's-eye view of being an animal baby. Many different animal fathers are shown caring for their young.

This tongue-in-cheek look at what it feels like to be five will result in uproarious laughter from kids, smiles of recognition from parents, and a cause for pause for any adult involved in a youngster's care. The protagonist is aware of what he has been taught to say: " 'Would you ever so kindly please give me my wig back?'" but, "my mouth says, 'IT'S MINE!'" While waiting his turn on a car ride, the big brother's mind thinks, "It's been an hour and nine minutes. Might I have a smidge of a turn before we have to leave?" However, it comes out, " 'MOM!'" Splashy, vibrant colors capture the typical surroundings through all of the exaggerated, larger-than-life phases of growing up, while the childlike, handwritten text draws viewers right in to the full-page, familiar busyness. Self-control, starting school, and independence–they're all here. Whether read aloud, shared one-on-one, or read independently, giggles and laughter will abound.

"What a wonderful book! As a divorced/remarried mother and stepmother, I was both surprised and thrilled to find a book for our children that hit the nail on the head so well. The kids saw themselves in the story, and it actually opened up some discussion about the competition between them. The Tips for Parents and Kids at the end are straightforward and to the point. Although this is a storybook for kids, I have to say I learned a lot about how kids feel from it."

Giraffe has a long neck, tiger has fuzzy stripes, and hyena has furry spots -- just like their daddies!  Touch and feel their daddies' furs as you say good night to each, but don't forget that the best daddy of all is just like you!

This well-loved Little Critter picture book has become a modern classic. It's the tale of a father-and-son camping trip filled with Little Critter's mistakes and good intentions. In spite of difficulties, however, the happy father and son manage to put up their tent, catch fish for dinner, and sleep beneath the stars. In spite of minimal text, the story is full and rich, with endearing illustrations from start to finish.

Are you ready for a scintillating seahorse fact? The father seahorse is the one who carries the mother's eggs around in his pouch before they hatch. In Mister Seahorse, master collage artist Eric Carle teaches preschoolers this lesson and introduces them to a few other fish who bear the traditionally maternal burden of caring for eggs: the stickleback, tilapia, Kurtus nurseryfish (known here as Mr. Kurtus), pipefish, and bullhead catfish. As ever, it's Carle's art that steals the show. Cut-up tissue paper soaks up the watery paint and makes for a boldly colorful, almost jewel-like undersea journey. The story? Well, repetition is the heart of instruction, after all.

A little bear wants to impress his friends, so he brags about his dad's strength, sharp teeth, and many claws. With each boast he scares away one playmate and moves deeper into the jungle. At last he finds himself all alone with jungle noises and the approaching shadow of a big, scary beast. The beast turns out to be big, cuddly Daddy coming to find his little cub. The pictures are the strong suit of this book. Fuge's bright, stylized illustrations in yellows, greens, browns, and lots of white are expressive and appealing.

A new boardbook from P.K. Hallinan, conveys the importance of parents in a child's life. Great new book for toddlers.  A young child relates all of the fun things he and his father like to do together, and the other special ways in which he is a friend. "My 3 year-old daughter loves this book and so does her dad. She can even recite most of it just by looking at the pages. I highly recommend it."

A celebration of family roughhousing and imaginative play. Becky and Jesse are left with their father while their mother goes out for the evening. They are out of sorts at first, until Dad demonstrates an octopus hug. This leads to a series of active games, such as "timber," in which the youngsters climb on the man's shoulders and he pretends to be a falling tree (letting them land on soft cushions); "left out toys," in which the siblings pretend to be toys and he carries them into their rooms and drops them on their beds; and "monster," in which he pretends to capture them and they escape. This is the kind of physical fun children delight in, but that might cause cautious adults to shudder. Here, the presentation is positive and young listeners will beg their fathers to play the same games. The illustrations, depicting a burly African-American father and his joyous son and daughter, add to the lively feeling of the text.

This charming photo journal invites families to celebrate the arrival of their loved one into the natural world. A star-spangled blue sky, crossed by a swath of sunshine yellow with gold birds, introduces the reader to "the very first day you arrived." Baby's picture and name go right in the middle of all the cheery yellow. Turn the page: "You were born on the round planet Earth. Was it day, or was it night?" is printed with another space for a picture and a line to write the date and time of birth against the backdrop of more starry sky with that old blue and green globe plopped in the middle and a figure of a child frolicking across the ocean. On another page, the jubilant child dances across a beach: "On the day you were born waves washed the beaches clean for your footprints. How little were your fingers? How tiny were your toes?"

Carle, whose The Very Hungry Caterpillar has been extraordinarily successful, scores again with this stunning picture book, drawn in thick, brilliant brushstrokes of blues and greens and reds that dazzle the eye. Monica wants to play with the moon, but can't reach it, so she asks her father to get it for her. Ingeniously designed with several fold-out pages, the books opens out horizontally to show a very long ladder Papa fetches, opens vertically to show him climbing the ladder above a very high mountain, and unfolds into a huge spread of the full moon, where the ladder has led Papa. But the moon is too big for him to carry, so he waits while it grows smaller, until finally it is the right size to bring home to Monica. She jumps and dances and frolics with it, but it keeps shrinking, until one day it's gone. But not for long: a thin sliver soon appears in the sky, growing larger and becoming full once again. A splendid introduction to the monthly lunar cycle, this is also a wondrous work of art that will stand up to countless readings.

In rhyming text, a young woman looks back over the years to the special reading times she shared with her father. As a youngster, she eagerly awaited the time of day when she was able to cuddle in his lap and hear a bedtime story. Over time, their selections moved from The Cat in the Hat to Wind in the Willows and stories of "wizards and rings." The two continue sharing and discussing their reading into her adulthood; it's clearly a bond that unites them. Late in the man's life, his daughter reads to her children and also to him.

A sweet and sunny look at adoption, the story is framed as a much-loved and clearly much-requested family tale, and rings true from beginning to end. Combining wit ("Tell me again how you carried me like a china doll all the way home and how you glared at anyone who sneezed") with candor ("Tell me again how you couldn't grow a baby in your tummy, so another woman who was too young to take care of me was growing me"), Curtis deftly addresses the logistics of adoption in a matter-of-fact manner that radiates love and reassurance. It's hard to imagine a warmer celebration of the special joys of an adopted family.

There are lots of wonderful things about Dad, as told by a young narrator in this rhyming 8 x 8 paperback. The father plays games, gives hugs, teaches right from wrong, cheers on his child, goes for rides in the car, reads bedtime stories over and over, scares monsters away, listens to problems, and tells jokes. But here's what is the best of all, even better than the other nine. My dad is extra special--just because he's mine!

One of the best children's books I've read in ages. Very clever, and the title is a blast! 
Who wouldn't want to read a book that promises such a healthy dose of good-natured humor. A book that is obviously going to make them laugh ... either AT poor old Dad, or WITH poor old Dad. Ha-ha ... I think this is an instant classic, and the illustrations are magnificent, perfectly in tune with the well-crafted plot.

Dad is an inventor. He drives Mum mad! But one day Dad's robots go on TV and things are never the same again.

In this cheerful takeoff on "The House That Jack Built," Dad cleans the van and then takes his three children to pick up some fast food. By the time they get home, of course, the van is completely covered in fries, ketchup, and last year's Halloween candy. Have no fear, though; the kids clean it all up the next morning. Done in pastel, ink, and pencil, the cartoon artwork is broadly humorous, with the action growing ever more frantic until the wordless punch line when Dad finally turns around and notices the mess. The layout is ingenious, with the illustrations framed as if they were mounted in a family photo album. There are one or two awkward rhymes, but for the most part the text rolls merrily off the tongue. In fact, it begs to be read aloud.

Young Alex's parents are divorced, and he spends time with each of them. He has two rooms, two favorite chairs, two sets of friends, two of everything. He loves both of them no matter where he is, and they love him, no matter where they are. The ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations are comforting and warm. There is no sign of the child missing one parent when he is with the other or questioning his situation, and he seems quite well adjusted. This book is clearly intended to help parents tell their children that they are still loved despite their living arrangements.

A little green dinosaur gives examples of the "things that regular people can do but dads can't," such as cross the street without holding hands, read a book by themselves, or play hide-and-seek without always getting found. This amusing picture book will tickle youngsters' funny bones and make every parent and child smile with recognition. This tongue-in-cheek tale ends on a forgivably sugary note: "Most of all, whatever happens, a dad never stops loving you." Just the right blend of sassiness and sentiment.

Discusses basic concepts of marriage and divorce. Offers children a creative way to sort out the stressful feelings of grief caused by change.  "I found this book extremely helpful in my therapy work with children whose parents are divorcing. The art therapy format was especially helpful for my nonverbal kids. The book nicely addresses many issues that may arise for children in a nonthreatening manner. Most of all, it did a good job of explaining "divorce", a very grown-up concept, in kid terms."