Happy Sunday, kidlit friends! Can you believe it’s already June!? June is a big month: LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Father’s Day, Juneteenth, the first day of summer, and most kids are out of school unless you’re mean like me and put your kids in summer school! Though, as a working parent, there’s not much else I can do. On Tuesday, I gave you recommendations for Pride Month, and today, I’m bringing you some Father’s Day picture books, plus two fabulous new releases. I hope you have a wonderful June!
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Bookish Goods
Breakfast in Bed Print by Bagardcardsandcrafts
I myself do not enjoy breakfast in bed, and this print does a pretty good job of illustrating why, ha! I particularly like the toddler on Dad’s head. You know that diaper isn’t empty. I do think this is a sweet picture of the realities of parenting and trying to take some joy amid chaos. $4
New Releases
Loaf the Cat Goes To The Powwow by Nicholas DeShaw, illustrated by Tara Audibert
This is an adorable picture book about a Native American boy’s cat who follows the boy to a powwow to watch him perform the grass dance. Loaf the cat loves her boy. When he begins preparing his outfit for the grass dance, she helps by batting the ribbons and making her boy smile. One day the boy puts on the outfit and then disappears. Loaf the cat decides to follow his smell and sneaks out of the house through a window screen she rips. She finds him at the powwow. At first, Loaf is scared of all the people, but when she sees her boy dancing, she knows just what to do — join him! This picture book is a delight.
A Galaxy of Whales by Heather Fawcett
I admit that I first became aware of Heather Fawcett when I read her adult fantasy Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries (which I LOVED), and only then did I realize she actually has quite a few middle grade novels! I have been slowly working my way through them. Her newest is a lovely novel about a young girl, Fern, whose mother runs a whale-watching tourism business. Fern loves photography, and after a falling out with her best friend Ivy, she enters a photography competition with her kind of friend Jasper. Jasper and Fern have a contentious relationship because their parents own rival whale-watching tour boats. But they both love photography. This is a lovely novel about the environment, whales, and friendships.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
Father’s Day is June 16, so I thought I would go ahead and review some excellent picture books with wonderful dads for you to order or put on hold at the library.
My Daddy Is a Cowboy by Stephanie Seales, illustrated by C.G. Esperanza
This lyrical picture book releases June 11, and it’s going to be one of my favorite books of the year. It’s a lovely story about a young girl going horseback riding with her father through a city one early morning. The child wakes up early, kisses her abuela goodbye, then takes off for the stables with her daddy. They saddle their horses and ride through the city, Daddy telling her stories about cowboys and the old days. The illustrations are gorgeous. It’s a wonderful celebration of Black joy, fatherhood, community, and horseback riding.
Back Home: Story Time with My Father by Arlène Elizabeth Casimir, illustrated by Ken Daley
This is another lovely picture book celebrating Black joy and fatherhood. Lune loves to hear her father’s stories of “lakay” — back home in Haiti. He tells her childhood stories about falling from mango trees, Hurricane Flora, childhood illnesses, and more. But now Lune’s father doesn’t get home from work until late at night, and she doesn’t hear as many stories anymore. One night, she decides to stay up late to listen to one of his stories, and when he arrives home, he tells her stories of his dreams and of Haiti’s beauty. Back matter includes a glossary and an author’s note about her personal connections to the story.
Like Father, Like Son by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by AG Ford
This is a lyrical, super sweet celebration of all kinds of dads that gently pushes against stereotypes of dads and toxic masculinity. Some dads enjoy knitting — “My daddy knits, my daddy sews, / He makes us both fantastic clothes” — some cook, and others love camping and gardening. The dads in this picture book reassure children when they make mistakes or cry, telling them it’s okay to show their feelings. They snuggle with their children, teach them how to meditate, and take them fishing. The illustrations are as gentle and warm as the story. It’s a beautiful Father’s Day read.
Always Your Stepdad by Stephanie Stansbie, illustrated by Tatiana Kamshilina
There aren’t a whole lot of picture books centering step-parent experiences, which makes this one all the more special. It’s a rhyming picture book from the stepdad’s perspective about his special bond with his stepdaughter. He describes meeting her for the first time, learning how to play together, and the joyful relationship they formed together. The author and illustrator also paired up on Always Your Stepmom.
We are very lucky to have this great guy and father in our lives.
If you’d like to read more of my kidlit reviews, I’m on Instagram @BabyLibrarians, Twitter @AReaderlyMom, Bluesky @AReaderlyMom.bsky.social, and blog irregularly at Baby Librarians. You can also read my Book Riot posts. If you’d like to drop me a line, my email is kingsbury.margaret@gmail.com.
All the best,
Margaret Kingsbury