The Very Best Daddy of All by Marion Dane Bauer, Leslie Wu, Leslie Wu (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

From all of the daddies,

tall or small,

mine is the best,

the very best. . . .

Some animal daddies comfort their babies, or hold them tight, or face every danger for them. But the narrator of this loving picture book knows his daddy does all of that — and more — for him. In this sweet companion to the New York Times bestselling My Mother Is Mine, Marion Dane Bauer and Leslie Wu celebrate fathers and all the wonderful things they do.

Publishers Weekly

Celebrating all that fathers do, The Very Best Daddy of All by Marion Dane Bauer, illus. by Leslie Wu, a companion to My Mother Is Mine, lists one noble, caring trait of various animal daddies on each spread. A songbird serenading his offspring in a nest demonstrates "Some daddies sing you awake." Warm pastel illustrations of dramatically lit scenes show animal fathers tending to or protecting their young, the last featuring a human father and son. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Sharon Salluzzo - Children's Literature

From morning to night animals and birds take care of their young. Some animal daddies "comb your hair," others "build you a house," and some "play with you too." There is a wonderful feeling of warmth and security in the combination of text and illustrations. They celebrate both the protectiveness and the gentleness of a good father. In using the words "some daddies," Bauer makes this a very inclusive book, for certainly each child will find some characteristic of his or her father. The luscious colors in Wu's palette show the golds of the prairie, the greens and blues of the sea and, yes, even purple mountain majesty, while presenting cozy scenes of a wide range of animals and their young. Humans appear in the last two spreads with the final words, "My daddy....the very best daddy of all." This is a very appealing Father's Day book, and one to use all year in story time themes of fathers and their children. A free greeting card of an illustration from the book is included. This is a lovely companion to Bauer's My Mother Is Mine. 2004, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Ages 1 to 4.

School Library Journal

PreS-K-This heartwarming book shows various animal dads as they provide comfort, safety, companionship, and steady support to their youngsters. The straightforward text rhymes, although not in a set pattern, and is loosely repetitive, thus sounding soothing and sweet without becoming singsong. While the majority of the verses are stated in general terms ("Some daddies/comb your hair"), the last two pages are more personalized ("And my daddy- is the best,/the very best,/-daddy of all"). Most of the pastel paintings feature animal families; a bird sings his child awake, a luminescent fish builds a house, and a tall flamingo urges his nested offspring to "Keep trying!/Keep trying!" A human child and father appear at the end. The artwork is intimate and the focus is soft, yet all of the scenes are immersed in rich colors. As a bonus, the illustrations establish an expansive sense of place, moving readers from mountains to desert to river valley. The majority of the pages pay tribute to the glorious natural world, giving the book universal appeal.-Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Just in time for Father's Day, Newbery Honor author Bauer offers a companion to My Mother Is Mine (2001). Here, animal daddies demonstrate paternal nurturing qualities while providing safety and shelter for their offspring in simple ways that are certain to resonate with young readers. For example, a father robin brings a crunchy and sweet breakfast of worms to the nest; a gorilla gently combs his baby's hair so it's fresh and neat; and a wolf comforts his crying cub. Mothers will especially appreciate the acknowledgement that "some [fathers] take care or your mama, so she can take care of you." Wu's dramatic illustrations of animals in their natural habitat display fantastic color, depth, and feeling, providing the perfect complement to the sentimental text. A beautiful celebration of fathers of all species, complete with a separate greeting card to share. (Picture book. 1-5)

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