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Confessions of the World's Best Father
As seen on CBS Sunday Morning · A hilarious pictorial parody of a clueless father and his adorable daughter
In an attempt to create an image that his new daughter would one day appreciate, Dave Engledow took a photo in which he’s cradling eight-week-old Alice Bee like a football and doctored it to look like he’s squirting breast milk into a "World’s Best Father" mug. Friends and family clamored for more. After Dave’s humorous attempts to capture the sleep-deprived obliviousness of being a first-time dad went viral, he and Alice Bee found themselves bona fide Internet and television celebrities.
Merging a Norman Rockwell aesthetic with a darkly comic sensibility, Dave pairs each side-splittingly funny image with a log entry describing the awkward situation that the World’s Best Father has found himself in. Hilarious and heartwarming, Confessions of the World’s Best Father is a celebration of the early years of parenthood.
In an attempt to create an image that his new daughter would one day appreciate, Dave Engledow took a photo in which he’s cradling eight-week-old Alice Bee like a football and doctored it to look like he’s squirting breast milk into a "World’s Best Father" mug. Friends and family clamored for more. After Dave’s humorous attempts to capture the sleep-deprived obliviousness of being a first-time dad went viral, he and Alice Bee found themselves bona fide Internet and television celebrities.
Merging a Norman Rockwell aesthetic with a darkly comic sensibility, Dave pairs each side-splittingly funny image with a log entry describing the awkward situation that the World’s Best Father has found himself in. Hilarious and heartwarming, Confessions of the World’s Best Father is a celebration of the early years of parenthood.
176 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2014
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194 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 7, 2018
Hilarious!
May 10, 2014
The cover of this one caught my eye when I was scanning e-books from my library so I requested it. I found myself laughing while reading and was sort of jealous of Alice Bee, that her dad went to such lengths. It made me wish that mine would have. When Alice Bee grows up, she will have some great memories.
October 7, 2014
While I wouldn't recommend The World's Best Father's parenting techniques to anyone (...Dear God, Do NOT Try This at Home!), I do highly recommend reading Engledow's hilarious and ultimately touching account of his attempts to teach young Alice Bee the necessary skills to be successful at life. Watch where you are pointing that rake, Alice Bee!
July 12, 2017
She got into my pre chilled beer, which significantly increased her level of belligerence.
February 19, 2018
These pictures are gold and the accompanying texts are often hilarious. Great book!
July 22, 2019
Hilarious.
June 23, 2017
Read our conversation about the book at https://bookthreat.com/2017/06/07/1562/
June 17, 2014
Well, that was fun. This is set up as a sort of series of journal entries -- or perhaps a prisoner's log -- with a photo next to each one. (I will note that I have this shelved as 'nonfiction' primarily because the photos really are of Engledow and his daughter, and 'fiction' doesn't seem fitting -- and I don't have a 'humour' shelf...) Engledow pokes a lot of fun here, but he's also clearly worked hard to get to the final product. Some of the photos are floating around on the web, but I'd go for the book; the narrative and continuity really takes it to another level.
Worth reading this article. Honestly, this sounds like the sort of thing that in her tween years she'll be deeply, deeply embarrassed about -- and then as an adult she'll absolutely treasure it. I hope he keeps up with this as long as Alice will let him.
Worth reading this article. Honestly, this sounds like the sort of thing that in her tween years she'll be deeply, deeply embarrassed about -- and then as an adult she'll absolutely treasure it. I hope he keeps up with this as long as Alice will let him.
March 21, 2016
09/14: learned of this from the Book Review. Hilarious! So much fun!
The Book Review Book Description:
In an attempt to create an image that his new daughter would one day appreciate, Dave Engledow took a photo in which he’s cradling eight-week-old Alice Bee like a football and doctored it to look like he’s squirting breast milk into a "World’s Best Father" mug. Friends and family clamored for more. After Dave’s humorous attempts to capture the sleep-deprived obliviousness of being a first-time dad went viral, he and Alice Bee found themselves bona fide Internet and television celebrities.
Merging a Norman Rockwell aesthetic with a darkly comic sensibility, Dave pairs each side-splittingly funny image with a log entry describing the awkward situation that the World’s Best Father has found himself in.
The Book Review Book Description:
In an attempt to create an image that his new daughter would one day appreciate, Dave Engledow took a photo in which he’s cradling eight-week-old Alice Bee like a football and doctored it to look like he’s squirting breast milk into a "World’s Best Father" mug. Friends and family clamored for more. After Dave’s humorous attempts to capture the sleep-deprived obliviousness of being a first-time dad went viral, he and Alice Bee found themselves bona fide Internet and television celebrities.
Merging a Norman Rockwell aesthetic with a darkly comic sensibility, Dave pairs each side-splittingly funny image with a log entry describing the awkward situation that the World’s Best Father has found himself in.
December 10, 2014
I gather this started as a photo here and there and went viral. i had not heard of him till seeing the book in library. Might enjoy more as a cartoon you see once in a while or blog with which you check in from time to time for a laugh.
as a book, it's a little relentless and predictable. creative photos of his cute daughter and goofy self, but all the jokes/text are basically the same -- daughter is doing some age-inappropriate, parentified responsibility; Dad is self-indulgent/incompetent/clueless/lazy; Mom is serious/responsible/disapproving. Not an untapped vein in family humor.
The best ones reminded me a bit of the Good Dog, Carl kids book series, which i found hilarious, so it's possible I just wasn't in the right mood for this one [or that my kids are too grown-up now].
as a book, it's a little relentless and predictable. creative photos of his cute daughter and goofy self, but all the jokes/text are basically the same -- daughter is doing some age-inappropriate, parentified responsibility; Dad is self-indulgent/incompetent/clueless/lazy; Mom is serious/responsible/disapproving. Not an untapped vein in family humor.
The best ones reminded me a bit of the Good Dog, Carl kids book series, which i found hilarious, so it's possible I just wasn't in the right mood for this one [or that my kids are too grown-up now].
September 8, 2016
My kids and I had a good laugh over the pictures in this book. Engledow had a great idea and very funny enactment of it in the photographs. What took away from my enjoyment was the (mostly in the text) tint of stereotypical "dads don't know how to take care of babies/kids" and "dads care more about sports and drinking" and "when mom is away the 'kids' shall play." For me, there was way too much of that and it took away from my enjoyment.
May 9, 2014
Got mine yesterday and haven't quit laughing! I've followed the photos online, but the text in the book makes the photos that much funnier. This is absolute genius! Fantastic Father's Day gift ... or gift for anytime ... and not just for fathers. Giving it *10* out of 5 stars!
Looking forward to another.
Looking forward to another.
June 14, 2014
I picked this up at the library on a whim. I am familiar with "The World's greatest Dad" photos. I see them randomly on the internet. I loved this book ! It is filled with photos and funny commentary.
February 27, 2015
You've probably seen at least one of his photos floating around the internet, it was a fun, quick read to sit down and see a larger collection. I had a laugh at all the Korean adventure stories. Way to celebrate creativity and love!
December 30, 2016
My 6 year old saw this book at the library and we took it home. He was really amused by the pictures, and read all the captions (well done first grader!) He was particularly relieved by the shots "the making of photos" (he was occasionally worried about baby Bee.)
August 16, 2015
Supper cute story. Interesting photos and a lot of love in this photo book. Dave Engledow did a good job on illustrating his love for his daughter via photography in a very humorous way. So, who can not love this book?
May 22, 2014
absolutely hilarious!!!
June 9, 2014
Absolutely adorable and the best scrapbook a dad could make for his daughter!
July 12, 2014
This book is hilarious! The photos are adorable and packed with funny little situations and jokes. A great lighthearted look at parenthood!
June 11, 2014
I absolutely loved this!
June 18, 2014
This guy is going to have one cool kid. This was fun and irreverent. Give to every overbearing parent you know, just to watch them freak out.
July 10, 2014
love this Father. He is the best!
September 19, 2014
one word = stupid
July 18, 2014
absolutely adorable!
August 2, 2014
Great book, would also be a great New Dad's gift!
October 21, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Dave Engledow's photo's are wonderful and a lot of fun. Alice Bee is so adorable. Jen is going to have her hands full with both of them for a long time. :)
April 4, 2016
I absolutely loved this book. It's so lighthearted and cute! Definitely worth reading if you want some smiles
January 16, 2016
Cute and funny pictures with funny writes ups. Very creative and great sense of humor. Highly recommend.
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January 17, 2016Really funny!
June 28, 2016
A VERY funny "Picture Book" for grownups.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews