Wild About Dads

by Diana Murray, Amber Alvarez (Illustrations)

See lions snuggle on the savanna and groundhogs play on the prairie in Diana Murray's Wild About Dads, a heartwarming picture book that celebrates dads of all kinds―featuring illustrations by Amber Alvarez!

Dads can help you reach up high,
and help to keep you warm and dry.
Dads are strong, dads are brave,
but sometimes dads could use a shave.

Everyone loves dads―humans, lions, frogs, prairie dogs, and even pelicans! See all these animals snuggle their little ones in this sweet, rhyming picture book that celebrates fatherhood in its many forms.

Perfect for Father’s Day and showing dads how much they mean to you every day of the year.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Family

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 5, 2020

About the author

Diana Murray is the author of UNICORN NIGHT (an Amazon Best Book of the Year from the bestselling UNICORN DAY series) and GOODNIGHT, VEGGIES (a Jr. Library Guild Selection), as well as many other picture books and early readers. Diana grew up in New York City and still lives nearby with her husband, two creative kids, and a dancing dog. http://www.dianamurray.com

Reviews

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect Father’s Day book!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dads are amazing and this book shares so many reasons why. Cute illustrations use animal kingdom dads to show the many ways dads nurture and love their children. The ending illustrations bring it back to human interactions. Great to see a book about dads that offers so many ways they support their children.

[Cloud · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, I enjoyed the illustrations, but Baby didn't seem to be into it as much as I was expecting.

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Our book today is Wild About Dads, written by Diana Murray and illustrated by Amber Alvarez, a sweet celebration of the dads of the animal world.

Dads are great at lots of things: they can help their kids to reach up high, they play games, they carry little ones on piggyback, and so much more! But it’s not only human dads who can do these wonderful things: dads in the animal kingdom do them too! Over a dozen animal dads are shown doing things with their little ones, like sharing snacks (pelicans), fetching dinner (red foxes), and giving a bath (African wild dogs). Bookended with scenes of human dads playing with their kids at a playground tie the theme together: “There’s a lot that dads can do. The best of all is loving you!”

Fun and educational. Young animal enthusiasts will love learning the factoids about the animal dads, explored briefly in the jaunty rhyming text and expanded upon in the endpapers. I especially liked that animals included a few lesser-known creatures; animal-crazy JJ was delighted to learn about Bearded Emperor Tamarins Sandhill Cranes. The artwork is lush, colorful and very cute, drawing the animals with endearing, cartoonish features that make them all look especially cuddly-cute. The length was perfect for any age, and JJ loved it! This would be a great one for dads to share with their own little critters, and we highly recommend it. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Raven Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I am giving this a 5, it is a 4.5 mostly because I wanted more! MORE dads and the things they do! MORE dads having fun with their children. MORE dads taking naps with pesky cubs chewing on his tail! The things dads do for kids are mirrored in the natural world (or visa versa). We see animal dads needing a shave, putting pups to bed, taking them off to baths, protecting them, playing with them and so much more. A quick afterwards tells you a bit more about what each animal (such as lions, prairie dogs and several types of birds) does/relates it back to their page. Great illustrations that help show the wonders of dads and kiddos (no matter the species)

[Heather Stigall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is adorable. The rhyming makes it a great read-aloud, and though the text alone might seem like the story is all about why human dads are great, the cute illustrations show how wild animal dads are great too. Parents and children will appreciate nods to the father-child relationship in all species, the tongue-and-cheek title, the lyrical verse, and the whimsical illustrations. Perfect for Father's Day or any day to celebrate dad.

[Aimée Bissonette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fun book shines the spotlight on dads! Little ones will love the rhyming text and rich illustrations depicting an array of wild animals doing the same things human dads do – although in slightly different ways (and sometimes with different results!). Share this book with a favorite young reader or a favorite new dad. Both are sure to love it.

[Erin Dealey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the seamless way that Diana Murray's rhymed text in WILD ABOUT DADS is paired with illustrations of the animal world by Amber Alvarez. This extra level shows young readers how animal dads are like their own. The nonfiction back matter answers more questions that curious minds are sure to have. Can you say Father's Day?

[Tim McCanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching tribute to dads and fatherhood! Murray's always excellent text strikes a perfect pitch in describing all the best qualities of a good dad, while craftily paralleling its meanings with Alvarez's super cute animal imagery. Lots of cuddly creatures to discover while cuddling up with any parent for this charming book. As a proud dad myself, I strongly endorse this sweet story's takeaway.

[Jared White · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book about different animal dads. I learned a few new facts about animal fathers...a couple were so surprising that I began to doubt if they were real animal facts, but they are! I had no clue there was a type of frog that carried its young via piggyback ride and there's one (known) male bird that has pouches to carry its young!

[Julie Abery · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful rhyming tribute to ALL Dads! Murray's rhyme makes for a smooth read-aloud and charming art by Amber Alvarez make this a great book to share with young children. An author note at the back gives extra information about the animal dads mentioned in the book.

[Michelle Schaub · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet, rhyming picture book is the perfect tribute to dads. Animal lovers will delight in all of the different depictions of animal dads from pelicans to poison dart frogs to African wild dogs. Backmatter provides more interesting facts on the jobs different animal dads perform.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet rhyming book that shares the love all kinds of dads have for their young, in the wild and in our homes.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this sweet book about all the things amazing fathers are and do. It celebrates fathers through different animals giving the book an extra layer of fun. Sweet book celebrating fathers.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute animal dads (mostly) with non-annoying rhyming and facts at the back. Adorable illustrations.

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the mix of human and animal dads

[Mika Song · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bright sweet vibrant illustrations. Good father's day gift and for good night reading for kids that like learning about wild animals.

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Animal and human dads all love their kids in their own special way and help them on their path to adulthood.

[Lauren Kerstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet, wonderful book. The illustrations and text are so well paired. The backmatter is a fabulous bonus!

[Miss Sarah]

A toddler and up book about all the cool things different animal dad do for their young. Super cute.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good rhythm for read aloud

[Angela De Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful, rhyming celebrating of what dads are and what dads do. The art is GORGEOUS!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the illustrations: watercolors with pencil/pigment overlays.

[Rolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great art, and a lovely message about daddy love.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really awesome book about dads. I loved the illustrations, especially the one talking about dad needing a shave! I loved the concept of how great dads can be.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I want to say "Thank you!" to the publisher and the author for sending me this book with another giveaway I won! Below is my honest review.
🦁🐸🦊🐧🦍
The inside jacket sums it up pretty well ". . . rhyming picture book that celebrates fatherhood in its many forms!"

This story was just so sweet and I loved the illustrations! This is a well bound hardcover with all the different animals printed across the front and back of the physical book. Included at the end is a glossary with animal dad facts. Very cute story. Great to read with the littles ones. Perfect for Father's Day!

[Della Ferreri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delightful story depicts animals taking care of their little ones just as human dads do. Lighthearted and humorous, this sweetly-illustrated story is sure to be a hit on Father's Day and beyond!