What Dads Can't Do

by Douglas Wood, Doug Cushman (Illustrator)

There are lots of things that regular people can do but dads can't.
Dads can't cross the street without holding hands.
They can push, but can't swing.
When dads play hide-and-seek they always get found, but they have a hard time finding you.
Dads really need to be kissed good night at bedtime.
It's a wonder they make it through life at all!

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Fiction, Storytime, 2nd Grade, 1st Grade

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2000

About the author

Composer, recording artist, wilderness guide, and self-taught naturalist-Douglas Wood is perhaps most widely known as the highly acclaimed author of OLD TURTLE, a 1993 ABBY Award winner and an International Reading Association Book of the Year. Author of several books for readers of all ages, Douglas says he is always seeking themes that are universally significant to both children and adults. His first book for Candlewick Press, GRANDAD'S PRAYERS OF THE EARTH-winner of the Christopher Medal for "affirming the highest value of the human spirit"-quietly explores the theme of grief and healing while celebrating a human connection to the natural world and the enduring spirit of love. Douglas Wood kept in mind someone very special to his own life when writing GRANDAD'S PRAYERS OF THE EARTH. "I feel I've been getting ready to write this book all my life, for it is about my wise and gentle hero, my Grandad. It's a prayer and a thank you, a walk in the woods, and a remembering smile; and it is for anyone who has ever had a woods to walk, a prayer to whisper, a hero to love."


Douglas Wood lives with his family in a log cabin on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minnesota.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute story along very similar lines as What Moms Can't Do. I like how the Dad modifies his abilities and interests so he can really hang out and have fun with his child, and also help the child feel more comfortable (such as helping look for monsters under the bed!) So sweet!

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this companion volume to Douglas Wood and Doug Cushman's What Moms Can't Do , the same mischievous little dinosaur boy returns, this time listing all the things that his father can't do. From crossing streets without holding hands to winning at games as diverse as hide-and-seek and checkers, "there are lots of things that regular people can do but dads can't," our narrator blithely informs us. In the end, of course, one thing that dads can do is to love us...

Just as What Moms Can't Do was chosen as one of our May selections, over in The Picture-Book Club, where out theme was "mothers," so too was this book selected, as part of our June "father-themed" reading program. Like its predecessor, What Dads Can't Do features an entertaining disconnect between text and image, as the little dinosaur lists all the things his dad can't do, while the artwork reveals that reality is a little more complex, with the father often holding back, in order to allow his son to participate. An entertaining book, one that will appeal to younger children who enjoy humorous stories and colorful, cartoon-like illustrations, this would make an excellent addition to story-hour, particularly around Father's Day!

[Peyton Poler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It tells the story of what Dad's can't do through the eyes of the child, which is all the things dad's do to love their kids better. Such as dads needing to check under the bed for monsters, when they are clearly doing it for their kid. Or they never swing, because they are always pushing their kid. But most importantly, dads never ever stop loving you.

ATOS: 2.3
Guided Reading: H
Six Traits: Ideas

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

*The last few months of the year I've been "superhero'ed" out, so I know I won't make my usual 200-book goal unless I get creative. And by that, I mean children's books. I'm a librarian, so it's good for me to have some kids' books in my repertoire, too, right? (Okay, I might be slightly cheating, but... some of the kids' books I've read, I've really enjoyed, so I'm actually glad for a reason to cheat, lol).*

A cute, charming little book.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Books that show the world through the lens of childhood always make me smile. This was no exception. Another installment in the "What ____ Can't Do" series, this is a good one. There are so many things that dads can't do. Although I have to admit that my dad NEVER let me win at anything. Sure did make it mean a whole lot more that day I finally did!

[Maudie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Modern Fantasy
Grade: K-2
This book is cute a lot has a lot of hidden humor. I think its cool how they say the things dads "can't" do but in reality they are things kids need help with but its easier saying that the dads are the ones who needs help. I love this book its a great read to do when its close to fathers day kids would love it I know I do.

[Morgan Castro · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Dads Can't Do is a touching story where a young dinosaur talks about everything his dad can't do. The things he mentions are actually things that dads can do, but that they ask for help from their child to do because they want it. It is a very sweet book about family and I'll admit I teared up while reading it. I would highly recommend it for children in Kindergarten through 5th grade.

[Christine Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Father's Day.

[Mellanie C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story about fatherly love.

[MelMon Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

" No matter how tired a dad gets, or how hard life gets, a dad never quits. "

Such a beautiful way to think.

[Alyson Howlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute

[Cameron Lazenberry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is pretty cheesey but enjoyable. The ending did hit kind of nicely though.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Should be a requirement present for each new dad. The last two pages where the dads cant ever stop loving you and will never leave are beautiful and an excellent way to express your love.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing for us all.

[Amy Cottrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute, and so true!

[Heather Bronson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a clever, cute concept.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

What Dads Can't Do by Douglas Wood, illustrated by Doug Cushman is a humorous commentary, from a child's point of view, of all the things a Dad can't (or can he?) do.

Cushman's illustrations are rendered in pen and ink, and watercolor. The humorous details feature the disconnect between text and image, showing the fears and discomforts of the child and the patient, good natured responsibility of the father. I loved the checkered pattern on the cover. My favorite images are baseball, hide-and-seek, games, shaving, lima beans, monsters and final image.

The scarcastic, tongue-in-cheek text will be appreciated by parents reading this aloud, and children who understand sarcasm, though younger children will still enjoy the humorous illustrations. I really enjoyed the illustrations, especially the cat!, and the child's point of view complaints or comments. Some may not like the depiction of the Dad as somewhat bumbling, but a closer look will reveal the patient encouragement and love in his actions. I read this as part of the June 2012 Picture Book Club Fathers Books Discussion. I recommend this for school and public library collections. 4 star rating.

For ages 4 to 7, families, fathers, sons, dinosaurs, relationships, fears, humor, Father's Day, love, child point of view, and fans of Douglas Wood and Doug Cushman.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a humorous look at a child's perspective on his dad. The illustrations are sweet, with anthropomorphized dinosaurs and the narrative is short and entertaining. This is a good book for Dads to read with their little ones at bedtime.

The story reminds me strongly of the book What Mommies Do Best / What Daddies Do Best by Laura Joffe Numeroff and Lynn Munsinger. But to be honest, I like the positive narrative of that book better than the negative narrative of this book, even if the words are sweet and obviously in jest.

This story was selected as one of the books for the June 2012 - Fathers reads at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.

[Keegan Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like this as much as I expected to. Neither the art nor the story actually struck me though I thought it would when I read the description. I think that it bothered me that it wasn't more consistent. Some things are things the kid wants the dad to do but he blames it on the dad wanting to do it(like baiting a hook), and other things are things the dad just doesn't do (like driving fast compared to the sporty cars around him), and other things are things the dad does to be nice to the kid (like bunting the ball instead of batting it out the park). I guess, too, it made me feel that the dad seemed inept to his son when he was being nice or responsible, so that kind of bugged me. Plus, the ending was too cheesy-cute for me and my husband.

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much like, “What Moms Can’t Do”, “What Dads Can’t Do” features a young dinosaur explaining all the things that dads “can’t” do. For example, dads can’t sleep in late, swing on swings, or drive fast. The humor in these statements is the corresponding illustrations in which the dad can’t complete the task because he is tending to the young dinosaur. While many of the statements are humorous, some are very sweet and there is an overall message that dads love their children and do many things to care for them throughout the day.

The illustrations are the star of this book. I recommend this book for dads to read at bedtime.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kids and I enjoyed this humorous look at what dads can't do. I especially appreciated the hide-and-seek page: "When dads play hide-and-seek they always get found, but they have a hard time finding you." This is a game we play regularly at our house, and I know my kids think they are very good at hiding and that I'm terrible (at least most of the time). :) Also, "Dads aren't good at sleeping late." (But they sure wish they could be! If only the sweet little ones would sleep in! :)) A fun look at the things that dads do to enrich their children's lives.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute companion to What Moms Can't Do. The same little green dinosaur boy is checking off all the things dads can't do - they can push, but they can't swing, they can't cross the street without holding hands, they can't comb their hair or shave by themselves, and so on. Once again, you can see the love between this dad and his son.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book between a child and his Dad. It's written from the child's point of view of all the things his Dad can't do (without him) like when he plays hide in seek he's always found but he can't ever find you, and when he plays board games he always looses. He can't swing but he can push. They don't sleep late or can comb their hair by themselves. The story goes through the day of what Dad's can't do but the one thing they can do like no one else is "love you"....

[Rebecca Mullins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great! It's about a little boy saying what dad's cannot do. In the end it is clear that the dad is just taking good care of his little boy, and having fun with him. The dad just wants to make sure his son is enjoying life and learning.

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

What Dads Can't Do doesn't really do it for me. I can see the dinosaur appeal and it might work better for an older crowd than I usually get for story time.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

I brought this home from the library and thought it was too cute. I think this will be our next Father's day gift!

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darling picture book. I don't think I've ready a book by Douglas or Audrey Wood that I haven't liked yet. Would make a great fathers day gift

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book. Dad's can't seem to do much because they need little helpers.

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really cute read! Probably more fun for parents than little ones, though.

[Marian Hoyt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet book that tells story about what a great dad is! It is an easy read for young children!