Weekend Dad

by Naseem Hrab, Frank Viva (Illustrator)

“This home is home because my dad is here, and it’s nothing like home because my mom isn’t here,” thinks the boy in this story when he enters his dad’s new apartment for the first time. His dad moved out on Monday and now it’s Friday night, the start of his weekend with his dad.

The boy and his dad follow their normal weekend routine — they eat eggs for breakfast, play cards and spend time at the park. And then they do the same things on Sunday. It is hard to say goodbye at the end of the weekend, but Dad gives his son a letter to remind him that, even if his dad can’t always be there, the boy is loved.

Naseem Hrab has written a poignant yet hopeful story, strikingly illustrated in Frank Viva’s signature style, about what happens when parents separate, and the new reality of having two homes.

Genres: Picture Books, Divorce, Family, Childrens, Fiction, Realistic Fiction

41 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2020

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art wasn't my favorite; I'm just going to get that out of the way, right away. Everything else was so wonderfully fragile and real and achingly true that I wanted to scoop up the MC and say, "I see you, and please tell me what kind of bed you chose." The letter made me cry. No hiding it. Okay, I was crying before honestly, but when I got to the end of the letter, I was unglued and ugly crying.

Thank you for writing a book that doesn't make this subject precious or sweet or try to change or hide it. There needs to be books like this for families and for kids who are experiencing/have experienced divorce. Sometimes adults who write books forget that kids can handle the truth, and this book does a wonderful job balancing the truth but not oversharing and truth-dumping. Sometimes life just is, and we live it. Well done.

[Brad Krautwurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me cry, especially the letter part. That's what set me off. I don't think this book is for every kiddo - maybe not for storytime, but it would be great for any kiddo with newly divorced parents or whose friend/classmate has newly divorced parents, to normalize that. Above all, a really cute, happy book that I loved.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young boy navigates the confusing changes in his life after his parents divorce - two homes, but neither feels like home without the other parent.

[Mireille Messier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story filled with touching little moments. The point of view and the young character's voice never waver. The perfect example of a story that "shows" instead of "tells". Iconic illustrations. A must!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-crafted, relatable story about a young boy with parents who separate and his anxiety over how his relationship with his father will change when he moves out.

[Chance Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story impeccably illustrated.

[Bella Nuzzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star rating: 4 Stars
Copyright date: 2020
Awards: Outstanding International Award
Genre: Picture Book
Summary of book: In this book, we follow the story of a young boy whose parents are going through a divorce. He find himself confused and scared about the changes he is experiencing. The story greatl talks about how love is always there despite where the people you love are.
Thoughts on the book: I think this is an amazing books that showcases divorce. It features the emotions that many kids go through when their parens divorce. As an aspiring teacher, I want to read this book in my classroom to give a mirror for any student going through a similar situation. It also will be a window for other students to understand the emotions of their peers and what life is like for them.

[Amanda Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weekend Dad has a 3.98 star rating, was published in 2020, is an Outstanding International Book, and is a domestic fiction book. This book shares the story about a young boy whose parents recently filed for divorce and follows his journey trying to navigate the changes of only seeing one parent at a time. This would be a good mirror or sliding glass door book because it could help students who may be going through this in this real life, or help students who have friends with divorced parents understand the emotions and confusion that may happen during these changes.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

When his father moves out of the house, the narrator of this picture book thinks about him a lot. His father is just a bus ride away, past the park and through the tunnel. On Friday, the boy gets to visit him, making sure to take his stuffed hedgehog Wendell along. Father and son take the bus together through the tunnel, talking the entire time. Then they are at the boy’s second home, but it doesn’t feel like home at all, since his mother isn’t there. The night is different and strange, sleeping in an empty room that has yet to be decorated with even a bed. His father wants to do something special, but the boy wants a normal day. So they have breakfast, play cards, go to the park, have dinner. Before returning to his mother, the boy leaves Wendell on his father’s bed to keep him company.

It is the tone here that is particularly effective. Hrab captures the strangeness of suddenly living in a divorced family and being a child navigating moving between two homes for the first time. Both parents are loving and gentle, showing their son support for the changes he is facing. But he still needs to experience them and go through them, even if his parents are lovely.

Viva’s illustrations are in his signature style that wonderfully warp, color and expose the strangeness of regular life. His distorted figures match the strangeness that the main character is experiencing, almost like a fun-house mirror at times and then other times frank and direct.

A look at divorce through the eyes of a child with inventive illustrations and a genuine exploration of emotions. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

[Picture Books To Grow - Shoshana Magnet · Rating 5 out of 5]

here is a shadow pandemic of divorce and family reconfigurations happening in the wake of Covid-19, and my family too is folded into its waves. It is difficult for me for many reasons to write about Naseem Hrab and Frank Viva’s masterpiece Weekend Dad. It deals in part with time that must be divided as a result of family breakdown and its attendant anxieties. Weekend Dad ends on a hopeful note – father and son are off to buy a bed together. And yet, as Naseem Hrab said to me, “what kid is excited to go buy a bed?” This book bravely, and with very few compatriots, tangles with the complex reality of the many dads out there who don’t do quite right by their kids. For all the children with various versions of Weekend Dads out there, this book is for you.

[Emma Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Date: 2019
Award: Outstanding International Book
Genre: fiction
Type: Picture book

This book is a touching children's book that tells the story of a father and child's special bond during their weekend visits. It celebrates the love and connection between a parent and their child, even in non-traditional family structures. I gave "Weekend Dad" 5 stars because it beautifully addresses the topic of divorce or separation in a sensitive and relatable way, providing comfort and reassurance to children going through similar experiences. I know that I personally connected with it and feel as though if I had a book like this growing up I would have understood the situation more. I would use this book in the classroom to foster discussions on diverse family structures, empathy, and emotions.

[Hannah Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Award won: Outstanding International book
genre: Picture book
Star rating: 5/5
publishing date:2021

This is a great book that covers the topic of divorce. In this book we see the main character experience his parents divorce. We see his lack of understanding for what is going on in his life. We see how he misses his dad and the emotions he is feeling. This would be a great book to use in the classroom to touch on the topic of divorce. This would be a great way to start discussions on feelings and what different families may look like. We could use this book to talk about diverse families.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captures the weirdness of your dad suddenly moving out and getting an apartment of his own that you have to stay in even though it doesn't quite feel like home yet. Not a lot of story really happens, except a kid starting to get used to going over to their dad's on the weekends. The kid's eyes are drawn a little bit scary for me, but the illustrations communicate the strangeness of the situation quite well.

Recommended for kids preparing for or undergoing the beginning of parental separation.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a young boy’s parents separate, he spends the weekends with his father. This book details the first experience of this. It’s uncomfortable and scary at first for the boy, but then he and his Dad do the same things they always do on the weekend. There are two achingly sweet actions that make this book noteworthy. First, the boy leaves his stuffy behind so his father won’t be lonely. Second, the father gives his son a letter reminding him of his love. The muted artwork by Frank Viva has a graphic novel vibe.

[Stephanie Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weekend Dad written by Naseem Hrab and illustrated by Frank Viva is a story about a boy who's visiting his father for the weekend. The boy’s parents have recently separated, and this is his first weekend at his dad’s apartment. I enjoyed this book because it does not focus on negativity or the reasons for the separation. Instead, the tone indicates confusion and complex emotions for the child. Both parents are supportive, but the illustrations contribute to the uneasy and strange feelings of navigating having two parents in two different homes.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My brother is a "weekend dad," so I wanted to see what the author did with this topic that can be so hard for kids to understand. My favorite thing was that the child didn't want to do new, expensive things. The kid wanted some of the traditions from their old life to transfer over, like making pancakes on Saturday morning. I liked that it showed that even though there were some humongous changes in life, not everything changed. It was a good message.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy is dealing with the very recent separation of his parents and trying to grasp his new reality where he's with his mom during the week and his dad on the weekends. I would love to know the author's intent in writing the book because overall I found the book very sad and depressing. I know those are the emotions most prevalent in this type of situation and perhaps the book is simply meant to validate and recognize that these are normal emotions to feel in this situation?

[Abby Anuchin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This high quality fictional book shares about the experiences a child has navigating through his parents’ recent divorce. I like this book because as a teacher, I’m sure to have some students who can relate to the young boy in the book, as their parents could be divorced too. I would have this book in my library so that children can read it during independent reading time if they choose to.
Copyright: 2020
Outstanding international book

[Zachary · Rating 3 out of 5]

CR: 2020
Awards: USBBY Outstanding International Books List (2021)
Genre: Picturebook

A little boy spends the weekend at his dad's new apartment after his parents separate. What will be different? Will anything be the same?

I would use this book as a read aloud and as part of a text set about different family dynamics. I could lead a discussion about separation and what my students think of a situation like the one the boy is in.

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 4 out of 5]

On Wednesday... On Monday... On Friday night, a young narrator shares the story of his back-and-forth life of a young boy as he (as his dad explains), "Now you have two homes." The dominantly yellow-and-pink pastel illustrations lighten the story as the boy tells his father all that transpired, the everyday events, since his last visit. Included in the end papers is a letter the author, Hrab, received from her dad when her parents' split.

[Aarvik]

There are some books which Aarvik finds colorful and grabs to bring home, it cannot be said no. He just wants that book. “Weekend Dad” came to us like that, but as we turned the page it doesn’t feel like to read and make him understand this book based on the complexity it has. We do feel like there’s nothing wrong to read things but just didn’t want to put us in a complex situation of answering so many things which I donot want to do now. So returning the book to the library as it is.

[Alo Gaytan-Arroyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very colorful and is a great classroom must-have for young kids whose parents are going through a divorce. It shows that no matter the distance or how they feel like their parent will forget them, that is not possible. Their parents love them enough to be there even if there is a distance. I thought this book was nicely formatted and great for k-3rd graders.
Copyright date: 2020
Award Won: Outstanding international book

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hm, I don't know if this would be my first choice for divorce-topic books for children. The illustrations weren't very warm, and the stark reality of the details included, while validating for people in that situation, felt heavy and sad. I did really enjoy the letter his dad sends him telling him that his love always surrounds his son like an envelope, and the comfort in their routines together.

[Heidi Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

It can be very difficult for kids when their parents get divorced. In this book, a child describes visiting his dad on the weekend and how it is different, but also the same. The importance of knowing that his dad still surrounds him with love, even when he isn’t around is the beautiful message of this story.

[Cass · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of a boy experiencing his fathers new home for the first time. See how the boys father still expresses his love even though they no longer live together.

I ended up enjoying this more than I thought! I'm still split on how I feel about the illustrations but they certainly did not take away from the story! So I guess that means I liked them.

[Laurie Hnatiuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weekend Dad deals with the realities of a young child starting to transition between two homes when parents separate or divorce. A young boy recounts his week with his mom and then the weekend when he spends time with his dad. There are some heart-filled sections when the boy leaves his beloved stuffie to keep his dad company and a letter that his dad gives to his son.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartfelt book sharing the real and difficult emotions that can come with divorce.

Recently I was trying to find some newer books about divorce for the public library where I work. There weren't a lot of books to choose from, which surprised me. This would be such a good book to read with a parent, or sibling, or another trusted adult. It could be a good way to start a conversation.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

2020 copyright date, outstanding international book award, fiction
This book was about a boy that has just had his dad decide to move out and showed the little awkward and sad but also good parts about a divorce. I wouldn't really read this to my classroom but it is definitely one to have in my library for students who may be going through the same thing.

[Grace Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a young boy who is navigating his new life with divorced parents. The book goes through his new weekend routine that he will have when he goes to stay with his dad. This book is great to have in a classroom so kids who are experiencing a similar situation can relate and feel as though others are going through the same things they are going through

[Dolank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raed this with my 7yo, I enjoyed the story but the illustrations did not appeal to me. The 7yo didn't really understand the story but liked the illustrations. And they really liked that the child left their stuffie with their Dad, so he wouldn't be scared.