Dads
Father’s Day is next weekend. Some families love this holiday, and others don’t. Growing up I remember drawing cards for Dad, who seemed to like them though he was clearly a far better artist! These days, I make sure the kid marks the day in some way — with a gift, a card, or a hug.
Everybody has a dad, so there are plenty of dads in books — good and bad, admirable and flawed, funny and frightening. Below are some books with dads that stuck in my memory. They all try hard to be good dads to their kids.
The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall (started in 2005)
The focus of the Penderwick books is definitely on the kids, but the dad is a wonderful character as well. Although the eldest, Rosalind, feels a responsibility to the younger children in the absence of their mother, who has died, Daddy is in some ways the glue that holds the family together. The second book in the series brings him to the fore, as the kids plot a Save Daddy Plan, to keep him from dating someone horrible.
The Family Fletcher series by Dana Alison Levy (started in 2014)
Things are never dull for the Fletchers. With two dads and four kids, there’s always excitement and mischief. I loved these books for their refresh on the classic family-centric tales, like those by Elizabeth Enright and Helen Cresswell. Whether they are battling with an ornery neighbor or facing the inexorability of change, they solve their problems as a family.
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart (2019)
Coyote calls her dad Rodeo, not Dad. They live in a old school bus outfitted like an RV and go wherever the spirit takes them. They have a shared grief, one that Rodeo won’t talk about. But when Coyote finds the courage, and the support, to tell Rodeo that she needs to face that pain, he is able to hear her and help her. (Thanks to my cousin for recommending this great book!)
The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill (2022)
This lyrical, magical book about dragons, ogres, and neighbors is a fantastic read. At the center of the story is an orphanage, where 15 children are cared for by Matron and Myron. Though not a biological father, Myron’s gentle care, understanding, and support of the children is core to the book.
Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston by Esme Symes-Smith (2022)
Callie wants to be a knight more than anything in the world. And they have two pretty excellent dads to support them along the way. Nick was a high-ranking knight, so he can understand Callie’s dream. Neal understands being an outsider and showers both Nick and Callie with love. Check out my post on non-binary characters that includes this.
Nic Blake and the Remarkables by Angie Thomas (2023)
(Some spoilers included herein) Nic and her dad have always been a team. She knows her mom left when she was a baby, though she doesn’t understand why. So she’s floored when she learns that her mother has been desperately searching for her after her father kidnapped her! Nic’s dad had good reasons for what he did, which she eventually comes to understand. And she never gives up on proving his innocence, no matter where the adventure might take her.