Father's Day: A Father's Day Gift Book From Kids

Mrs. Madoff's Class

by Anne Rockwell, Lizzy Rockwell (Illustrator)

What's the perfectgift for Dad? In Mrs. Madoff's class, it's a book made just for him. First the kids think about their special moments with their fathers. Sam's dad is so strong, he can carry Sam on his shoulders. Eveline's dad sings to her when Maman has to work at night. Jessica writes about her father in Texas ... and her stepfather at home. And when it's time to celebrate at school, both of her fathers give Jessica the best surprise of all. Here is a new Mrs. Madoff book for families to cherish on Father's Day and every day of the year.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Holiday

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2005

Reviews

[Mother Goose Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Father’s Day written by Anne Rockwell and illustrated by Lizzie Rockwell is a sweet story about students in Mrs. Madoff’s class, as they prepare a book for their dads for a Father’s Day gift. As they work to write their Father’s Day books, the students discuss what is special about their dads. As a culmination, the kids present the books to their fathers at a celebratory picnic. Anne Rockwell has paid tribute to dads and their special attributes in this special story for Father’s Day. Lizzie Rockwell brings the characters to life with her endearing and sweet artwork. Make sure you check out her end pages. This book is a great choice when preparing to celebrate Father’s Day.

[Ruhama · Rating 5 out of 5]

A celebration of fathers! A class is working on making a Father’s Day book, and each child gives us a little glimpse into how their father is unique and special to them. Eveline’s father sings her to sleep, Charlie loves how his father is extra patient with him, Jessica has two dads—her real dad is in Texas and her step-dad lives here, and Nicholas loves that he and his father read together (pictured in a Barnes and Noble type of store at the cafe...each reading a Viking book). The pictures are colorful, simple and support the text. This is a good introduction to all the different kinds of (heterosexual—no same sex families included—I’ll leave you to your own opinions about that) dads there are in a multitude of races and ethnicities and family situations.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although her picture doesn't show on the cover, this is a book in the continuing saga of Mrs. Madoff, teacher of the class whose members appear in this celebration of Father's Day. As some of you Goodreaders know, Mrs. Madoff's class is the source of many good reads. Her role in this story guarantees that there is going to be wisdom, the wisdom of an experienced teacher.

The basis for this story is a certain upcoming holiday. Right from the first page you learn what Mrs. Madoff is asking of her students. Each one is to write a "book" about Dad. And sweetly, for the student named Jessica, that book will be shared by BOTH of her dads, her birth father and her stepfather.

FIVE STARS for author Anne Rockwell and artist Lizzy Rockwell!

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story didn’t flow well from one page to the next.

[Nausheen Ukani · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this narrative, author Anne Rockwell, focuses on the unique relationships between son and father. In this children’s book, the teacher, Mrs. Madoff, assigns her students a special project for Father’s Day. The students must think about their special moments with their fathers and write/draw about it (ex. Sam’s dad carries him on his shoulders; Jessica depicts her wonderful relationships with both her dad and stepfather). All of the student’s in Mrs. Madoff’s class create wonderful books combined with all of their special moments with their fathers.

Father’s Day can teach readers about the diversity of families. It teaches us about the unique fathers each child has, special moments that many of us can relate to with our own fathers, and the relationship built between father and child. As a teacher, I believe this text is appropriate for instructional use because it incorporates a multicultural aspect of families. I would be able to use this book to show how everyone’s family is different and how we all have fathers with unique backgrounds and careers. Some students may not have a father, or some student’s fathers do not live with them, but a father loves his child always. It honors fatherhood and an understanding of unique fathers and the relationships they build with their children. Illustrator Lizzy Rockwell creates energetic pictures that are engaging and that incorporate a multicultural aspect of diverse families.

[Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great bit of pro-father propaganda. The anecdotes about the individual fathers were touching.

Though I question the quality of Sarah's father's chocolate marshmallow minty fudge. Of course there's going to be a bit of subjective bias due to the nature of the relationship between her and the chef, but I also suspect he's appealing to her palate through the simple addition of more sugar. Just as many charge that Magnolia Bakery's cupcakes helped kick off the revolution, but appealed due to a simple overabundance of sugar. Or Anthony Bourdain's (now retracted) assertion that Emeril Lagasse merely added additional pepper to his cooking to "kick it up a notch". Hell, the western world put French cuisine on a pedestal for decades due to the simple overuse of butter.

I suspect this wavy haired gentleman has just tossed some extra sugar into the fudge.

The twist ending with the non-traditional family was heartwarming.

My daughter was disturbed by the narrator's father's facial hair. Oh, sweet summer child. You didn't have to live through the nineties.

[Paris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readers, grades 1 and 2 could would enjoy reading this book. Teachers could read it to Kindergarteners. This book is about students preparing a book fort their fathers for Father's Day at school. They think about special moments with their fathers and write a book for them to read on Father's Day. I would include this book in a classroom's library for students to read for fun. Depending on the grade level, I would read this book around Father's Day and have the student write and illustrate a book for their fathers as well.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about students that are making books for their dads for Father’s Day. The kids think about all the things their fathers do for them like read and go camping. The story also addresses families with two dads. At the end, the kids give their books to their dads and have a Father’s Day picnic. This could be a great idea to use in the classroom. The teacher could read the book to students and have them make their own Father’s Day books! Then, they could have a Father’s Day picnic as well.

[Armanda Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be great to use around Father's Day to help the students think about the fantastic things that their fathers do. It incorporated diverse families a little bit, when talking about the little girl whose biological father lives in Texas, and her mother has remarried, so she now has a stepfather. The story gives the children a lot to think about and is intersting to them.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good children's book to help them understand and 'honor' their Daddies and other children's Dad's. The children in the book are all writing about their Dad's and how they are special to them. One little girl has two daddies and she doesn't know who to write about so she writes about them both. At the end the Dad's come to school and they have a Father's Day day together.

[Makenzy Mascioli · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be an awesome book to read to the students before approaching Father's Day to recognize Father's and how much they do. I would start off by reading this book to my students, and then have them create a Father's Day booklet/card.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't expecting the sweet surprise at the end--got a little choked up! A very nice Father's Day story.

[Lauren White · Rating 2 out of 5]

About Father's Day. Pretty boring in my opinion. Good for grades k-2

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little dull