How to Talk to Dads by Alec Greven, Kei Acedera (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

Never underestimate the power of the father!

You may think you know all the tricks, but ten-year-old Alec Greven knows that when it comes to dads, you have to be on your toes. Some dads are strict, and some are easygoing, but they all have a good side and a bad side. What you get totally depends on Dad's mood and your attitude. So no matter how old you are or how tight you are with the big guy, trust Alec to help you get down to the bottom of what makes your dad tick.

Tips:

There is an 80 percent chance your dad will say yes when your mom says no.

Video games calm Dad down and put him in a better mood.

If you think Dad is going to let you run wild, you are wrong!

Publishers Weekly

The 10-year-old author of How to Talk to Girls and, most recently, How to Talk to Moms, now offers insight on fathers. Chapters include "The Two Sides of Dad" (a good side and a bad side-"It totally depends on his mood and your attitude"); "What Dads Like" ("honest, helpful, good kids"); and "The Power of the Father" ("If you are playing chess, Dad won't go easy on you"). While the dad characteristics aren't universal, with Acedera's understated line art and an attractive design, this is a tailor-made gift. All ages. (May)

Children's Literature

Ten year old author, Alec Greven, offers hot advice and tips on how to get along with your dad in this book. A sample of a good tip is this: "If you tattletale, there is a seventy-five percent chance you will get in trouble too." The text consists of seven specific chapters including those titled "What Dads Like," "What Dads Don't Like," "How Dads Bug Their Kids," and "How Kids Bug Their Dads." The text helps readers understand how dads ideas differ from moms and what dads expect of their kids. Concise sentences hold logical information that kids probably know already; however, kids will enjoy seeing their own ideas reinforced in print, and they will identify with the information since it is written by an author their age. Simple line drawings of a young boy run throughout the book and add to the text. They clearly show the feelings the young boy is experiencing and also show how Dad feels in a given situation. The humorous illustrations are sure to grab the attention of readers. Alec's other books include How to Talk to Moms and How to Talk to Girls. Another of his books, How to Talk to Santas, will be released in the fall of 2009. While the suggested age is four to eight years old, children through age ten would most likely find the book entertaining. It works well to open up discussions with adults about relationships and expectations. Reviewer: Nancy Garhan Attebury

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