It's not always easy to find picture books that feature a missing parent...especially if that parent is missing voluntarily. This new picture book features a boy describing what his father would be like if he were around. This kind of father would share jokes from the office, would bring home a new book if the boy was sick, would help with the dishes, and would play checkers. The litany continues and the variety and detail of the activities is one of the most endearing qualities of the book.
The illustrations are very good and complement the story nicely. The book ends with the mother who is "sewing very fast" saying "when you grow up, you can be a father like that yourself!"
Fathers everywhere should read this book to see what good fathers look like to good kids. A charming book without the saccharine feel that some mother/father books can give.
