I Love My Daddy Because...

I got this for my daughter to give her dad for Father's Day. I love to hear them read it together. I would recommend it for any child and their dad.

I (Dad) read this book with my daughter and we both like it. Great pictures. My kid tried to imitate the actions in this book with me.

This is such a sweet book to read with your young one! My toddler daughter enjoys the photos of the animal daddies with their little ones and can recall the activity from each page just by looking at the drawings ... 'A short book - great for those "just one more" requests!

I love this book, and I love my Mommy for buying it for Daddy and me. My Daddy does great things like the ones in the book because he builds things, and he is strong and brave!

Any father would enjoy getting this admiring book from his young daughter. Both will then experience many happy hours reading the book together. I suspect most fathers will also feel inspired to become even more lovable!

The book is organized to show (through a series of beautiful detailed color illustrations) that animal fathers nurture their young also.

The book opens with a father and his young daughter playing with hand puppets. "I love my Daddy because he plays with me."

Next is an Emperor penguin with a chick ("He keeps me safe and warm.").

There is a horned puffin and chick ("He brings me dinner." -- little fish in this case).

You will see a bald eagle and a chick ("He is big and strong.").

That is followed by a lion and cub ("He takes naps with me.).

The next illustration combines a bear with a kit and a muskrat with a kit ("I love my Daddy because he can build a house.").

Humor arrives with a chimpanzee and baby ("He makes me laugh.").

Here are the remaining pairs and quotes:

giraffe and calf ("He helps me reach things.");

gray wolf and cub ("He sings me songs.");

common loon with chick ("He takes me for a ride." -- the chick sits on the loon's back);

gorilla and baby ("He teaches me to be brave.");

red fox and young with a porcupine ("He teaches me to be careful.");

jaguar with kitten, anoles, spider monkeys, toucans, parrots, and two-toed sloths ("I love my Daddy because he plays hide and seek with us.");

musk oxen and calf ("He protects our family."); and

reindeer and calf ("He watches over me at night.").

The final scene in the book is the Daddy and his daughter holding each other. "I love my Daddy and my Daddy loves me."

Obviously, these animal images can be just a starting point for a discussion about how and why Daddies like to care for their children. By seeing that fatherly love and caring are universal, your child should also develop a deeper confidence in your caring, support, and love.

As I read down the book's list, I was also reminded of many happy occasions when I played these roles for my daughter. Naturally, I enjoyed those reminiscences.

After you finish the book, I suggest that you think about other ways that Daddies care for their children and add animals who do that. Certainly, cleaning up could be one. Another one could be meeting other family members. You and your daughter can do some research on animal fathers to find other metaphors for your own relationship. This will bring both of you even more pleasure as you make these discoveries together on your own!

May your daughter always love her Daddy!

Happy father's day!