Mighty Dads

by Joan Holub, James Dean (Illustrator)

Overview

From James Dean, the New York Times bestselling artist of Pete the Cat, and bestselling author Joan Holub comes an action-packed construction story all about the ways dads love and support their little ones. A surprising and touching view of a father's love for his children, Mighty Dads is the perfect way to say: I'm proud of you!

Safe for all ages.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545890366
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	04/26/2016
Edition description:	Board Book edition
Pages:	30
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 6.90(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Joan Holub has authored and/or illustrated more than 130 children's books. With Suzanne Williams she is the author of the popular Goddess Girls, Heroes in Training, and Grimmtastic Girls series. She lives in Raleigh, N.C. and can be found at www.joanholub.com.

James Dean is the artist of Pete the Cat from the bestselling series. Before James started painting Pete the Cat as a full-time profession in 1999, he wanted to paint cars and trucks. James loves things that go, and he currently drives a 1971 VW bus camper and a 1959 Chevy truck. He worked as an electrical engineer for fifteen years before he decided to quit and try to make a living with his paintings. James lives with his wife, Kimberly, also an artist; five cats (Bob, Frida, FeFe, Audrey, and Abbey); and Little Emma the pug.

Editorial Reviews

"...the message of 'Mighty Dads say,/I'm proud of you!/ Tomorrow let's build/something new!' is just the ticket for vehicle-obsessed youngsters who can't get enough of construction play." -- School Library Journal

"This makes for a perfect choice for story hours -- the vivid verbs demand to be chanted and dramatized..." -- Booklist

From the Publisher

03/10/2014
“Like father, like son” holds true even when Dad and Junior are heavy-duty construction equipment. “Dump Truck Sturdy/ teaches Dumpy to get dirty/ They go fill, drive, dump,” writes Holub (Little Red Writing), as Pete the Cat creator Dean shows a hulking blue and red truck create an impressive mountain while his offspring makes an adorable molehill. Like the best 21st-century human dads, the vehicles don’t just show their kids the ropes—they also offer plenty of TLC (“Cement Mixer Busy/ gives a hug if Mixie’s dizzy”) and affirmation (“Forklift Wise/ cheers whenever Forky tries”). Dean’s decision to anthropomorphize the construction equipment solely through a highly stylized, often single, forward-facing eye takes some getting used to—imagine a cross between the Eye of Providence on the dollar bill and a Egyptian hieroglyph. But his construction sign–inspired palette and ability to convey calm, steady affection between parent and progeny quickly outweighs this visual idiosyncrasy, making this a book worthy of any young armchair foreman. Ages 3–5. Author’s agent: Liza Pulitzer Voges, Eden Street Literary. (May)

Publishers Weekly

2014-03-17
Big-daddy and little-kid trucks of all kinds are busy at work on a construction site. Holub uses rhyme—which is often forced—and repetition to create what is most likely intended to be an over-the-top interactive reading-aloud success. Some phrasing really works: "Excavator Big / helps little Vator dig. / They go scoop, scoop, scoop." Others are not as impressive: "Backhoe Steady / waits for Hoe-Hoe to get ready. / They go trench, trench, trench." Along the way, cranes reach, boom trucks crash, mixers pour and steamrollers pave. Each spread features Dean's (Pete the Cat series) brightly hued vehicles—one huge and one tiny. They are always calmly working together. Each wears the exact same heavy-lidded expression, except when the day is done and it looks as though all the trucks are sleeping. Clearly a Dean trademark, this nevertheless comes across as a missed opportunity to visually engage readers and add some energy. Shouldn't these dad-and-child pairs look like they're having a good time together? Sure to enjoy commercial success thanks to the marquee talent, this effort will result in more disappointment than enjoyment. (Picture book. 2-5)

Kirkus Reviews