You Can Do Anything, Daddy

by Michael Rex

If your dad is willing to save you from pirates, gorilla pirates, robot gorilla pirates and even robot gorilla pirates from Mars, you know he’ll do anything for you. And if that makes your dad hungry and thirsty or if he gets cuts and bruises, you know just how to take care of him right back. An adventurous tale of the heroic lengths fathers and sons will go for each other that will elicit gasps, giggles and warm contented sighs.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Family, Pirates, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 22, 2007

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is possibly one of my nephews favorite books. This is about a father putting his kid to bed and they are making up a story at bedtime. The boy asks: “Would you save me if I was kidnapped by pirates?” The father of course would face all kinds of dangers and the boy ups the danger as the father saves the kid.

The pirates turn into Robot pirates and you know my nephew nearly lost his mind at that. Then they were Robot gorilla pirates and then robot gorilla alien pirates and so on. It’s a cute and funny story made for someone like my nephew. He gave this 10 stars he said. He loved how the story turned out and he had to ask his dad if he would do all these things too. The niece didn’t want to read it, so I just read it to my nephew.

The artwork is colorful and has lots of excitement.

[Amaal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: You Can Do Anything Daddy!
Author: Michael Rex
Date of Publication: 2007
Genre: Fiction/Picture Book
Annotations: While being tucked into bed, a child asks his father if he would come for him in a number of scenarios. The father responds affirmatively as to what he would do to get his son back safe and sound.

This is a fun and imaginative book. The pictures are excellent and the words are easy to read. The plot reminds me of Runaway Bunny, where the parent would do anything for the child to be safe and sound. The only difference is that in the end of this book, the boy asks the father about any injuries he might sustain, and in turn, says how he will take care of his father. Anything for child. Anything for a parent. While I believe this is a wonderful book, I think it’s something that is better to be read at home than at school.

Discussion and Comprehension Questions for children:
School Activity: Have children put scenes in sequential order; Discuss things parents might do for their children and what children might do for their parents.
Discussion at home: Parent and child can do question and answer in things they would do for one another.

[Kelly Sommers · Rating 4 out of 5]

You Can Do Anything, Daddy! by Michael Rex, is an adventures contemporary realistic fiction children’s book. The story starts off with the dad tucking his son into bed. His son asks his dad if he would save him if pirates took him. The dad answers just as any other father would, “Of course, Son”. This is the basic story line of the book. The son continues to keep asking his dad questions along the same line as the first one. In the close, the son said that he would take care of his dad after he had saved him from all the pirates. The book starts off with the dad doing anything for the son and ends with the son doing anything for the dad. This is a realistic fiction picture book. I think that is a good book for children in early grade school. I would surely read this to my future classroom.

[Anna J. · Rating 1 out of 5]

You Can Do Anything, Daddy by Michael Rex is a story about a boy questioning if his dad will save him through robots and aliens, etc. It ignites the reader’s imagination as the boy’s “what ifs” get bigger and bigger, and the dad says he would save him no matter what. The story takes a twist as the boy responds to his father’s love and offers to save his dad through whatever he might face as well. This book though good in concept, seemed to be a bit lengthy in style; however, I think children will like the imaginative aspect and colorful pictures. Barnes and Noble recommends this book for children four to eight.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

During a conversation at bedtime a father details all of the ways he would protect his son from harm as the son creates increasingly more elaborate scenarios. After the tales of his father’s heroism the boy describes how he would comfort and care for his father.

Although the story is quite simple, it’s very sweet. Also the illustrations in this book are really captivating. Small children would really enjoy the way Michael Rex visually transforms the villains into pirate-gorilla-alien morphs. Also it helps children understand that relationships with parents are mutually supportive.

[Shelby Moser · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was read in class and introduced as a contemporary realistic fiction as the genre, however I would not have categorized this book that way on my own. I would put this book in a fantasy genre with some realistic components. The little boy in the book was questioning his father about how far he would go to save him if he was taken. he father obviously had an answer to every scenario. This book is a cute book that gives the children a view of their father as a hero. The theme could be described as love and family. This book would be best for children under the age of 7.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age: Preschool - 1st grade

"If your dad will save you from pirates, gorilla pirates, robot gorilla pirates, and even robot gorilla pirates from Mars, you know he'll do anything for you." A boy's creative imagination puts him in the grips of dangerous villains while his "average" looking dad always outwits them in order to save his son. Even more precious, the little boy patches him up and kisses his bruises in the end. Excellent book for the heroic-minded dad.

[Mecca Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I love how at the end when the son thanks his dad by taking care of him by giving him a drink and medicine to take care of him after he has saved him. I think that it is a good contemporary realistic fiction because it shows the imagination that goes on in a child’s head. This books shows the love a father has for his son and everything that he would do to make sure his son is safe. I would say the age group for this book would be 4-6.

[Victoria Salzmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! I am definitely going to use it in my classroom because it is an interesting read that makes children 0-4 years old use their imagination. The story is about a little boy who tests his father's love in many creative ways. The end is the best part however, because the son fixes the father's boo boos and brings him apple juice after he is done fighting to save him. I just loved this picture book.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book for both my 8YO and 2YO. I don't know if my 2YO can get the functions of the word "IF", which I haven't used much in the writer's extreme imagination context.
I was assured when the little one responded, "he is giving his dad tea to drink".

The day I read this story, the same night I dreamt I was on another planet and it was in trouble, my husband was rescuing all the people. LOL

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super book for dads to read with the kids. Involves a daring rescue from robot gorilla pirates from Mars, snakes and vultures. In the end, its the kid who truly saves the day. What more could you ask from a bedtime story with dad? Illustrations are fun, colorful and go well with the text. Dad has a nice receding hairline.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this society, men and especially dads are mocked and ridiculed. It was refreshing to read a story that portrays fathers in a good light. I really enjoyed this story about a little boy and his daddy. The little boy, needing assurance from his father, makes up a story about being kidnapped by pirates, and the father counters with how he would rescue his son.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this a lot. It redoes "Runaway Bunny" for the dads and their sons adding adventures that are sure to appeal to males. That said, I'd rather of had the child be just a child, not a boy or a girl. Girls like the swashbuckling adventures as well! And they want to know their Dads will be their for them as well.

[Meghan Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a darling book about all the incredible things a father would do for his son--and, ultimately, what a son would do for his father. The illustrations are vibrant and look like they are straight from an adventurous cartoon.

I would highly recommend this book to fathers to read to their children.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

With so many children's books portraying fathers as incompetent imbeciles, this book was a refreshing departure. Very endearing story about the great lengths a father will go to to "save" his son from being kidnapped (by pirate gorilla robots from outer space!).

Very imaginative illustrations and story.

[IrenesBookReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shows some things seem scarier then they really are. I liked that it was a Dad putting the child to bed and helping him with the monsters. It is good to read with any child but especially for a dad and son.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the progressive nature of the child's imagination and found it true to form. I also like the dad's tenacity to protect the child and reassurances. I like the end where the child, in turn, helps his father. It isn't scary, just silly.

[Keegan Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt like we had way more "Mommy" books than "Daddy" books, so for Father's Day, I got Patrick a handful of children's books that are about dads. This is one of them. It's awesome because it's fun (over the top ridiculous, in fact) but sweet, so they both enjoy reading it.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 15 month old daughter has been obsessed with this for several weeks and it's easy to see why. Lots of fun with bright, imaginative art as the stakes get higher and higher until the dad finally saves the day. The son taking care of him at the end is a nice touch.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous dialogue between father and son about the ways they would save/take care of each other, even under attack from robot gorilla pirates from Mars. Adorable!

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book- my little girl loves it and read it about 10 times the first day we got it.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little boy's father will do anything to save his son from Robot Gorilla Pirates from Mars!

[Brandon Nagel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my son's favorite book for about a year. We read it just about every night before bed. It is a great father/son book if your son is around 4-5 years old.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a funny book; reminiscent of Futurama and Family Guy in its illustrations, that tells a wild tale of all the great things a Dad would do to save his son. And then all of the tender things a son would do to bandage up his Dad after the adventure. It's a great story to read to kids at bedtime: imaginative, silly, and loving. Our girls have borrowed this a few times from the library.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book we've read that both Sam (3) and Owen (1) have really liked. It's very silly and sweet, and has Robot Gorilla Pirates from Mars. The pictures are fun, but Sam did wonder why the sky was yellow in all the pictures. He really likes the page with the volcano.

[Erin Saflarski]

This spirited children's picture book tells the story of the heroic lengths fathers and sons will go for each other and how they will take care of each other. This story will produce giggles and warm hugs from the love of a family. This book is appropriate for ages 4-8.

[Seashell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Q loved this book!

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun story of a dad protecting his son from increasingly far-fetched and scary monsters. Great for any preschooler without monster issues.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

What with its story and pictures, this might be the perfect Father's Day gift for a dad of a three or four year old.