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How it Works: The Dad
This delightful book is the latest in the series of Ladybird books which have been specially planned to help grown-ups with the world about them.
The large clear script, the careful choice of words, the frequent repetition and the thoughtful matching of text with pictures all enable grown-ups to think they have taught themselves to cope. Featuring original Ladybird artwork alongside brilliantly funny, brand new text.
The large clear script, the careful choice of words, the frequent repetition and the thoughtful matching of text with pictures all enable grown-ups to think they have taught themselves to cope. Featuring original Ladybird artwork alongside brilliantly funny, brand new text.
- GenresHumorNonfiction
54 pages, Hardcover
First published May 19, 2016
3 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 13, 2019
Another in the 'How it works' series and this one concentrates on the Dad and initially we are told that the Dad communicates with his family 'using a distinctive noise called "tutting"' - ugh? And then we learn that Ben could not wait to be a dad because he would then spend less time at work and more time at home, but once the children were old enough to be boisterous he couldn't wait for Monday to come to get back to work. The reason stated for this was 'at least his spreadsheets don't scream at him'.
The various examples of being a dad in this volume are very disjointed as we jump from one family to another with no continuity and also some of the examples given are rather banal. In addition in some examples the choice of words for such a book are inappropriate but I would rather not give an example but suffice it to say that the worst is when a youngster who previously admired her dad becomes of an age when she sees him as something quite different.
There is what is called a Dad Lab which is most uninspiring and could be interpreted as nonsensical, a fireworks display with no tale to it, a visit to the cinema, when the choice of films is disputed, and some hard to understand DX2 Artificial Dad Mind - 'it was enormously unpopular' (not surprising) - and an episode where a dad goes fishing and for some reason talks to the ripples in the river.
But there is one example that some dads could probably relate to and that is the weekend 'dad meal', which all goes wrong. I certainly can relate to it for in my younger days I did not cook, except for one classic occasion when Linda had gone out for the weekend and Deborah and I were at home. Deborah is now 42 and she still recalls what she calls the mush that I cooked for her. I must say she is prone to exaggeration!
Despite some good vintage illustrations the text of this volume pulls it down and as Ladybird book, which are generally very good, it is a sad disappointment.
The various examples of being a dad in this volume are very disjointed as we jump from one family to another with no continuity and also some of the examples given are rather banal. In addition in some examples the choice of words for such a book are inappropriate but I would rather not give an example but suffice it to say that the worst is when a youngster who previously admired her dad becomes of an age when she sees him as something quite different.
There is what is called a Dad Lab which is most uninspiring and could be interpreted as nonsensical, a fireworks display with no tale to it, a visit to the cinema, when the choice of films is disputed, and some hard to understand DX2 Artificial Dad Mind - 'it was enormously unpopular' (not surprising) - and an episode where a dad goes fishing and for some reason talks to the ripples in the river.
But there is one example that some dads could probably relate to and that is the weekend 'dad meal', which all goes wrong. I certainly can relate to it for in my younger days I did not cook, except for one classic occasion when Linda had gone out for the weekend and Deborah and I were at home. Deborah is now 42 and she still recalls what she calls the mush that I cooked for her. I must say she is prone to exaggeration!
Despite some good vintage illustrations the text of this volume pulls it down and as Ladybird book, which are generally very good, it is a sad disappointment.
June 27, 2016
I received this book from my oldest son on Fathers day. Very funny short book highlighting some of the trials and tribulations of modern fatherhood in the style of the old 'Peter and Jane' books I learned to read with. It includes such gems as "Peter has taught Tandy to climb the stairs. In coming years, he will teach her to walk, swim, ride a bike and drive a car. At 35 she will finally take the hint and leave home".
August 2, 2016
Beautiful origional illustrations from the ladybird series with new text aimed at adults who read them as children. Mildly amusing, good for a nostalgic flick through, glad it was from the library. Would highly recommend the original books, especially the fairytales.
June 19, 2016
A little bit of fun. Be sure to read the entire book including credits,where it was priced etc as there's more silliness to found there.
June 28, 2016
Forgot to log this over my birthday weekend, but this is cute.
August 26, 2017
Not as good as the others. Though maybe that's because my dad is odd in a slightly different way to everything here. :P
November 1, 2021
Another splendid Ladybird spoof, ideal for us aging folks who were brought up on the originals and, as always, clever usage of illustrations from the old Ladybird books. I am not a dad but some of the dads in here remind me of my dad.
April 15, 2022
“What does a hippopotamus eat, dad?’ asks Philip.
‘Children who ask for stuff in the gift shop,’ says his dad.
Being a dad is brilliant.”
:)))))
‘Children who ask for stuff in the gift shop,’ says his dad.
Being a dad is brilliant.”
:)))))
October 8, 2016
When last did I laugh this much in a bookshop? Sally Swain's Great housewives of art comes to mind, somewhere in the 1990s.
The ludicrous analysis of modern fatherhood, presented in the age-old style of crisply designed Ladybird books, amuses on a very deep level. I will surely seek out the rest of the series. It is the kind of writing one couldn't (and shouldn't) do on one's own - much more fun with others. True of reading these books too. Don't miss them!
Om te keer dat die boekwinkel se 'bouncers' my vir swak gedrag (luide gelag) uitgooi, moes ek maar dié boek koop. Gelukkig is dit fyn en skerp genoeg om dit die moeite werd te maak. Die tradisionele Ladybird styl, wat 'n hele geslag jong lesers opgevoed het, word ingespan om daardie geslag in hul middeljare te vermaak. Pynlik in die kol!
The ludicrous analysis of modern fatherhood, presented in the age-old style of crisply designed Ladybird books, amuses on a very deep level. I will surely seek out the rest of the series. It is the kind of writing one couldn't (and shouldn't) do on one's own - much more fun with others. True of reading these books too. Don't miss them!
Om te keer dat die boekwinkel se 'bouncers' my vir swak gedrag (luide gelag) uitgooi, moes ek maar dié boek koop. Gelukkig is dit fyn en skerp genoeg om dit die moeite werd te maak. Die tradisionele Ladybird styl, wat 'n hele geslag jong lesers opgevoed het, word ingespan om daardie geslag in hul middeljare te vermaak. Pynlik in die kol!
December 27, 2016
Some of the pages are really funny and genuinely made me laugh.
Some of the pages miss the mark a little - but maybe I'm not that king of father.
It's an ideal stocking filler or smaller present for people and amusing enough. I enjoyed it.
Some of the pages miss the mark a little - but maybe I'm not that king of father.
It's an ideal stocking filler or smaller present for people and amusing enough. I enjoyed it.
May 23, 2016
Clever, witty and a perfect present for fathers day!
June 3, 2016
Hilarious!
June 19, 2016
Very funny, very silly, and frequently very true...
August 21, 2016
Hilarious!
Bought this for my husbands birthday. Also bought him the husband book too.
Tongue in cheek humour about dads and how they view having their children
Bought this for my husbands birthday. Also bought him the husband book too.
Tongue in cheek humour about dads and how they view having their children
September 11, 2016
Quick quirky read
If you are a dad - or know of a dad - who needs a pick me up on one of those afternoons, this is your book.
If you are a dad - or know of a dad - who needs a pick me up on one of those afternoons, this is your book.
December 16, 2016
Another hilarious book in the Ladybird book series.
March 21, 2018
Was funny :3
December 27, 2016
Wet quippy, witty, funny book indeed!
September 27, 2018
As witty as ever.
November 22, 2017
This is another one of the modern takes on the classic Ladybird books and so as a result of that, it’s pretty entertaining. Haha.
February 12, 2018
Another funny offering from the modern Ladybird series - a short read as usual but with good humour.
January 23, 2019
This one was very funny
June 7, 2019
Funny five minute read for father's day.
August 20, 2020
This book is about how a dad works and how to be a dad. It looks at different behaviours of being a dad including cars and the annoyance many men have present with them at the screaming of their young children. We look also at the mindset of the dad which is likely to be useful for those who have a dad in their lives.
This was the first book I have read from the collection with the intention of reading the entire collection and the first ladybird book I have read in a few years and it was not a disappointment. I remember loving the ladybird books as a young child and this gave me a grown-up alternative to my old childhood favourites. For those who do not like reading that much; it is a short book which I estimate took me only 15-20 minutes to read and there is minimal writing which is quite enlarged which makes it an accessible book for many people, despite how often they read.
This book is one of the books amongst a collection of these books written especially for grown-ups to help them with the world around them, as said by the publishers and authors. They 'teach' dads soon to be how to be a dad and in some cases how not to be a dad which could help them in the future when they have children. Although I would not recommend it, dads could use it as a helpful guide but I would just suggest reading it as a piece of well-thought-out art.
We get to learn about a number of aspects of being a dad with a number of different dads put in the spotlight, describing their lives, actions and family. Although this is a piece of fiction, the writers have intertwined some facts in the writing which I as the reader can identify to be true in a variety of situations. This is a hilarious and sometimes knowledgable book with some very well thought out storylines which keeps the reader actively sucked in the book.
We learn lots about the dad including how he has "super-powers", how he likes to give his children "the hint and leave (the house)" and we are also presented with the fact that the dad can not do anything with being "Uninterrupted" which may give some people some food for thought.
If you liked this book, then I am sure that the other books in the collection are also worth a look, as they will build up a picture of how everything works in life and help us to understand the most complicated things in a fun and humorous way.
In conclusion, this was a good book which offered a good insight into the behaviour of the dad and I will look forward to reading the rest of the ladybird grown-ups collection which I am sure will be just as funny and interesting as this book. I would rate this book with three stars out of five which means I liked this book and somewhat enjoyed reading it. I must admit that at times it did make me laugh out loud which is likely a good sign.
If you want to read this book you can purchase a copy from the various stores listed below-
Waterstones
WHSmiths
Huggle
Thank you for reading this book review, please remember to come back very soon so you do not miss any other of the blog posts and please either buy me a book or donate via Paypal using the buttons at the side of this blog to enable me to work towards my mission of getting more teenagers reading and more specifically more teenage boys reading as reading seems to be a dying habit and I want to desperately reverse this as reading has many benefits.
Charlie Medcalf
Reviewer
This was the first book I have read from the collection with the intention of reading the entire collection and the first ladybird book I have read in a few years and it was not a disappointment. I remember loving the ladybird books as a young child and this gave me a grown-up alternative to my old childhood favourites. For those who do not like reading that much; it is a short book which I estimate took me only 15-20 minutes to read and there is minimal writing which is quite enlarged which makes it an accessible book for many people, despite how often they read.
This book is one of the books amongst a collection of these books written especially for grown-ups to help them with the world around them, as said by the publishers and authors. They 'teach' dads soon to be how to be a dad and in some cases how not to be a dad which could help them in the future when they have children. Although I would not recommend it, dads could use it as a helpful guide but I would just suggest reading it as a piece of well-thought-out art.
We get to learn about a number of aspects of being a dad with a number of different dads put in the spotlight, describing their lives, actions and family. Although this is a piece of fiction, the writers have intertwined some facts in the writing which I as the reader can identify to be true in a variety of situations. This is a hilarious and sometimes knowledgable book with some very well thought out storylines which keeps the reader actively sucked in the book.
We learn lots about the dad including how he has "super-powers", how he likes to give his children "the hint and leave (the house)" and we are also presented with the fact that the dad can not do anything with being "Uninterrupted" which may give some people some food for thought.
If you liked this book, then I am sure that the other books in the collection are also worth a look, as they will build up a picture of how everything works in life and help us to understand the most complicated things in a fun and humorous way.
In conclusion, this was a good book which offered a good insight into the behaviour of the dad and I will look forward to reading the rest of the ladybird grown-ups collection which I am sure will be just as funny and interesting as this book. I would rate this book with three stars out of five which means I liked this book and somewhat enjoyed reading it. I must admit that at times it did make me laugh out loud which is likely a good sign.
If you want to read this book you can purchase a copy from the various stores listed below-
Waterstones
WHSmiths
Huggle
Thank you for reading this book review, please remember to come back very soon so you do not miss any other of the blog posts and please either buy me a book or donate via Paypal using the buttons at the side of this blog to enable me to work towards my mission of getting more teenagers reading and more specifically more teenage boys reading as reading seems to be a dying habit and I want to desperately reverse this as reading has many benefits.
Charlie Medcalf
Reviewer
October 22, 2024
I snagged this delightful book on a trip to Scotland whilst at a used book store. I thought it sounded delightful and the shop keep made many approving noises that I'd picked this book up for purchase, so there you go.
Living in the States, I had not heard of the Ladybird books but now I want to find all of the adult series because this book is a definite gem. Written in easy-to-read font with easy-to-read situations, each section takes you through the day of an average Dad, or, in the case of some, not so average Dads, as Martin and Cass both seem like plonkers to me.
Yes, yes, I'm aware Dads can be plonkers.
I want to find more of these books. Here goes splurging on shipments from Great Britain.
Living in the States, I had not heard of the Ladybird books but now I want to find all of the adult series because this book is a definite gem. Written in easy-to-read font with easy-to-read situations, each section takes you through the day of an average Dad, or, in the case of some, not so average Dads, as Martin and Cass both seem like plonkers to me.
Yes, yes, I'm aware Dads can be plonkers.
I want to find more of these books. Here goes splurging on shipments from Great Britain.
December 11, 2019
Another in the Ladybird Books for Grown Ups series, this does exactly what the title says and covers the Dad. As a son and father, there was plenty I recognised in here and some of the pages made me properly laugh. The concept, taking illustrations from classic Ladybird books (all of the artists are credited at the back) and applying new write-ups to each, is inspired and for the most part it works. Even better, the humour covers every part of the book, such as the writers having letters after their name (NSFW and OMG) and the ‘other titles’ list on the back page jumping to a random volume. Expensive for what it is, this is nonetheless well worth a read.
November 6, 2019
Didn't find this amusing as How it Works: The Mum. Is it a little too close to home perhaps? No. Well, I hope not. There was one part where I got a hearty laugh, but the rest was merely amusing. Is it possible to say "merely amusing" without sounding like a smug twat? Thought not.
February 20, 2020
Hilarious look at being a Dad using the tried and tested Ladybird’s for Grown-UPS method. Just pair sarcastic commentary with retro pictures. In this book the most definitely saved the best for last - dad in the zoo hahahahaha!
January 7, 2021
Lighthearted and fun, the perfect quick read.
Not sure how you could give something so playful a bad review but hey ho.
Cheered me up no end today.
Have a laugh, stay positive and enjoy the little laughs.
Not sure how you could give something so playful a bad review but hey ho.
Cheered me up no end today.
Have a laugh, stay positive and enjoy the little laughs.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews