D is for dedicating time and energy to provide for us.

A is for the advice you always have to give.

D is for the discipline we don't always agree with.

No matter how you fill in the letters in your family, DAD stands for someone very special. We don't always take the time to let our dads know just how much we love and appreciate them. So, we hope this round-up of Father's Day Books will put you in the mood to do something nice for your own dear old dad on his special day --- or on any day of the year.

Happy Father's Day and Happy Reading!

   --- Shannon Maughan

THE DAY I SWAPPED MY DAD FOR 2 GOLDFISH
by Neil Gaiman
illustrated by Dave McKean
Borealis/White Wolf
ISBN: 1565041992
Ages 6-up

In this humorous and quirky picture book, illustrated with eye-popping collage/ink/paint creations, a boy and his pal Nathan make a trade --- Nathan's two new goldfish for the boy's dad. Since the boy's dad was just reading the paper, he figures, he won't miss him too much. But when the boy's mom gets home things take a turn. She's obviously not happy about the swap and sends the boy to retrieve his dad. The trouble is, Nathan traded him to someone else, who traded him to someone else and so on. The trail to find Dad is filled with swaps! See how it turns out.

ROCKS IN HIS HEAD
by Carol Otis Hurst
illustrated by James Stevenson
Greenwillow
ISBN: 0060294035
Ages 5-up
32 pages

In this tender story, the author recounts how her father's boyhood passion for collecting rocks eventually led him to a wonderful job at a science museum. There's both joy and inspiration in the way Hurst writes about following your heart and your dreams even if everyone thinks you're crazy for doing so. A special tale for kids and dads everywhere.

WHITE WATER
by Jonathan and Aaron London
illustrated by Jill Kastner
Viking
ISBN: 0670892866
Ages 3-8
32 pages

You can almost feel the river spray on your face when you read this boy's account of a white water rafting trip with his dad. Speeding and splashing through the rapids and enjoying the beauty of nature make this a terrific trip for both father and son.

UNCLE DADDY
by Ralph Fletcher
illustrated by Name
Holt
ISBN: 0805066632
Ages 8-12
129 pages

Rivers was only three years old when his father left the family. In the six years since then, he's found a wonderful father figure in his mother's uncle, the man Rivers calls Uncle Daddy. Uncle Daddy lives with Rivers and his mom, and is caring, fun and attentive --- everything you'd want a dad to be. But what will happen to the family when Rivers's real dad comes back? Both humorous and poignant, this is a rich story about what it means to be a family.

JUST THE TWO OF US
by Will Smith
illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Scholastic Trade
ISBN: 0439087929
All ages
32 pages

Actor and recording star Will Smith turns the lyrics of one of the popular tracks from his 1998 BIG WILLIE STYLE album into a picture book. In the song and book Smith shares his feelings of joy, fear and wonder after the birth of his first son. A perfect title for Will Smith fans, and of course, perfect for sharing with your family.

FISHING IN THE AIR
by Sharon Creeh
illustrated by Name
HarperCollins/Joanna Cotler
ISBN: 0060281111
Ages 4-8
32 pages

A magical father-son fishing trip turns into a real bonding experience in this tender and light picture book. Chris Rashka's sunny artwork swirls and soars like the river currents, making this a special book for savoring and sharing.

FATHERS ARE FOREVER: Quotations Honoring the Wisest Men We Know
by Criswell Freeman
Walnut Grove
ISBN: 1887655778
158 pages

A great book of quotations from and about dads famous and not, perfect for giving and sharing with the family.

FISHING WITH DAD
by Michael J. Rosen
illustrated by Will Shively
Artisan
ISBN: 1885183380
32 pages

A boy remembers all the preparations, anticipation and excitement of going fishing with his father.

GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU
by Sam McBratney
illustrated by Anita Jeram
Candlewick
ISBN: 1564024733
32 pages

Little Nutbrown Hare and his dad, Big Nutbrown Hare, play a game of "can you top this?" when they express how much they love each other.

HOW MANY STARS IN THE SKY?
by Lenny Hort
illustrated by James Ransome
Mulberry
ISBN: 068815218X
32 pages

A city boy has trouble falling asleep and instead of counting sheep, he tries to count the stars. But all the noise and distractions of the urban neighborhood get in the way. Daddy comes to the rescue, taking his son on a special nighttime drive to the country where there are too many stars to count.

IN DADDY'S ARMS I AM TALL: African Americans Celebrating Fathers
by Javaka Steptoe
Lee & Low
ISBN: 1584300167
32 pages

Works by famous African American poets and writers, and stunning, mixed-media artwork make this a lovely family collection.

RAMONA AND HER FATHER
by Beverly Cleary
illustrated by Alan Tiegreen
Camelot
ISBN: 0380709163
208 pages

Ramona just wants everyone to be happy. If only her father would smile and joke again, her mother would look less worried, her sister would be cheerful, and Picky-picky would eat his cat-food. But Ramona's father has lost his job, and nobody in the Quimby household is in a very good mood.

Ramona tries to cheer up the family as only Ramona can -- by rehearsing for life as a rich and famous star of television commercials, for instance -- but her best efforts only make things worse. Her sister, Beezus, calls her a, pest, her parents lose patience with her, and her teacher claims she's forgotten her- manners. But when her father admits he wouldn't trade her for a million dollars, Ramona knows everything is going to work out fine in the end.

THE DAD OF THE DAD OF THE DAD OF YOUR DAD
by Jeff Moss
illustrated by Chris Demarest
Ballantine
ISBN: 0345385918
112 pages

Nine silly stories told in verse spotlight loving dads from all over the world.

THE GREAT DAD DISASTER
by Betsy Haynes
Bantam Books
ISBN: 055348169X
Ages 11-up
160 pages

Eighth graders Scotti and Lorna have their first boyfriends. But will their dads (one super-strict, one super-goofy) ruin their love lives?

DAD, IN SPIRIT
by A. Lafaye
illustrated by Name
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 068981514X
Ages 8-12
176 pages

When Ebon's dad hits his head and falls into a coma, the whole family pulls together for support. But when Dad's spirit starts appearing in the kitchen like a ghost, Ebon knows how he can save him: Ebon's got to find a way to get his father's body and spirit back together. This is an oddball story about the love of family that you won't soon forget.

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