Father’s Day is Sunday, June 18! Of course your Library has tons of picture books about ALL KINDS of dads and you can find them by searching for “fathers” in our catalog or click here to get a list of picture books. If you’re looking for books about African American fathers, it can be a little tricky to find them in our catalog, so I’m spotlighting some today. With Father’s Day so close to Juneteenth this year, it felt like a perfect pairing. Bring Dad to the Library and check out one of these books!
Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty. Dad has posted a list of chores for the family to do before grandma comes, including bathing the cat; but the cat does not want a bath, so she mixes up the instructions, and soon the family is mowing the floor, vacuuming the lawn, mopping the baby–and the house is in chaos.
Boy Dad by Sean Williams. A fun read-aloud written in upbeat rhyming verse, Boy Dad is a picture book that honors the loving men who raise, nurture, and uplift their boys.
Carpenter’s Helper by Sybil Rosen. Renata and her father halt work on their new bathroom when a pair of wrens builds a nest over the bathtub, allowing Renata to see their chicks hatch and begin to fly.
Daddy-Daughter Day by Pierce Freelon. In rhyming text, a father and daughter spend a day doing all kinds of things together.
Daddy Speaks Love by Leah Henderson. What does a daddy do? From day one, this daddy speaks love to his little one. And along with that love, his words and actions speak many other things, too: like truth, joy, comfort, and pride.
Girl Dad by Sean Williams. A picture book celebration of girl dads everywhere.
Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry. Tender and empowering, Hair Love is an ode to loving your natural hair — and a celebration of daddies and daughters everywhere.
Hike by Pete Oswald. In the cool and quiet early light of morning, a father and child wake up. Today they’re going on a hike. Follow the duo into the mountains as they witness the magic of the wilderness, overcome challenges, and play a small role in the survival of the forest.
I am Amazing! by Alissa Holder. Ayaan loves being a superhero and offering a helping hand, but when two classmates tell him he does not look like a superhero, Ayaan’s father assures him that superheroes come in all shapes and sizes.
I am Perfectly Designed by Karamo Brown. In this empowering ode to modern families, a boy and his father take a joyful walk through the city, discovering all the ways in which they are perfectly designed for each other.
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall. Even though he’s successfully finished his swimming lessons, Jabari discovers that he’s frightened at the thought of jumping off a diving board, but encouragement from his dad helps him face his fear.
Leo Can Swim by Anna McQuinn. Baby Leo loves the water, so his father takes him to swim class with the other toddlers.
Max and the Tag-Along Moon by Floyd Cooper. Max loves his grandpa and Grandpa loves Max. So when Max has to say goodbye to Grandpa at the end of his trip, Grandpa reminds Max that the same moon that is above them at Grandpa’s house is the very same moon that will follow him all the way home.
Together We Ride by Valerie Boling. Learning to ride is no easy feat! But with a little courage, a guiding hand from her dad, and an enthusiastic bark from her pup, one brave girl quickly learns the freedom that comes from an afternoon spent outside on a bike.
