7 Perfect Picture Books to Read With Dad

Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion, by Mo Willems
The Knuffle Bunny books were the first Mo Willems books I ever read and remain some of my favorites. While now perhaps better known for his Elephant and Piggie or Pigeon books, Knuffle Bunny was one of Willems’ original characters. The stories feature little Trixie, and her favorite toy, Knuffle Bunny. Over the course of three books, we see Trixie grow from a toddler into a young child, accompanied always by her father (or at least the bottom half of him) and her beloved stuffed bunny. That is, until the final book, Knuffle Bunny Free, when an older, more mature Trixie makes the decision to pass Knuffle Bunny on to a child who needs him more. Grab the tissues before reading this one, folks.

Darth Vader and Son, by Jeffrey Brown
Nothing says father-child bonding like a little Star Wars. So maybe Darth Vader’s not exactly someone you might consider as a role model for fatherhood. But what if we don’t know the whole story? What if the Sith Lord were really just a big softie? And what if Luke Skywalker was your typical four-year-old, who enjoyed balloons, and trips to the zoo, and Halloween? Jeffrey Brown’s creative imaginings will have you looking at this famous father and son duo in a whole new light. Oh, and let’s not forget Leia. There’s also Vader’s Little Princess for those looking for guidance on raising girls, from cute little pigtails (er, buns) to angsty teenager.

The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean
Let’s face it. Sometimes adults are just plain boring. There are lots of things more exciting. The two goldfish your neighbor has, for example. So the only logical thing to do might be to swap your dad for the two goldfish. But when Mom finds out, she’s not too happy, and demands you get Dad back. Such is the dilemma the narrator finds himself in in Gaiman’s off-beat The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish. Unfortunately, when he goes to get his dad back…Dad has been traded for something else. And so begins a series of bargains and trades that ultimately gets Dad back where he belongs, and as boring as ever.

Night Driving, by John Coy and Peter McCarty
Moving on from quirky to quiet, Night Driving is your perfect bedtime story. Father and son are taking their first camping trip together, driving overnight through the mountains. There’s quiet conversations, a flat tire, a visit to an all-night diner, and a stop at an outhouse. Softly blurred pencil illustrations, a 1950s setting, and a quietness to the text all give this book a very nostalgic feel. The story ends as the night does, with the sun coming up and the two characters literally facing the day together.

Every Friday, by Dan Yaccarino
Another one with a vintage feel, this book is about tradition. Specifically, a father and son’s tradition of breakfast at their favorite diner every Friday morning. The story chronicles their weekly walk through their urban neighborhood, the passage of time shown by the changing seasons and building construction. Their routine is simple and consistent, chatting about daily things, stopping at shop windows, greeting familiar faces. And then there is their favorite diner, with the waiter who knows their order  by heart, and calls, “See you next Friday!” when they leave. This is a simple, sweet, feel-good kind of story.

Fishing In The Air, by Sharon Creech and Chris Raschka
For something more lyrical and whimsical, this beautifully illustrated story tells of a father and son on a fishing excursion. Right from the beginning, the story is less about the fishing, and more about imagination. Upon reaching the riverbank, the two cast their lines—a hook on the father’s, a feather on the son’s—and the father recalls memories of fishing with his father. Through swoops and swirls of color, Caldecott Honor artist Chris Raschka takes the reader on a trip through the child’s imagination, as he listens to his father’s memories.

Elephant and Piggie series, by Mo Willems
And so we end where we began, with Mo Willems. If any books calls for loud, crazy, zany Dad read-alouds (you know what I’m talking about, right?) it’s Elephant and Piggie. In our house, the kids specifically request dad for these books. Now that one of those kids is older, she and her dad read the books together, one of them as Elephant, the other as Piggie. And honestly, what better endorsement for a book is there than that?
What are your favorite dad reads?