#365PictureBooks 39. My Dad is a Superhero by Ruby Brown, illustrated by Lesley Vamos

Brown, R., & Vamos, L. (2013). My Dad is a Superhero. Richmond, Australia: Chirpy Bird.

ISBN: 9781742976396
Pages: 24
Age Level: Early Childhood 0-6
Genre: Picture Book
Rating: 4 stars

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He is SUPER STRONG.

He can FLY really high.

And he can turn INVISIBLE.

He's my amazing DAD,

THE SUPERHERO. 

This is a gorgeous book about everyone's superhero ... our DAD!

The text is very simple - only one line per page, with language appropriate for this age group.  Even though it is a simple story, it will work really well with year 3 & 4 students, just for the sheer fun of it!

Vamos's illustrations bring the story to life.  Each brightly colourful page visually depicts what the text is telling us.  My favourite (actually one of many) is the page showing dad's invisibility powers.  So super cool!

There is so much humour shown in the illustrations.  Some of the situations are just so realistic, and I'm sure we thought our parents had superpowers too.  Adults will probably get just as much (if not more) pleasure out of reading this book to their kids - especially if we can see ourselves as the parent!!

What a fantastic book to share at any time, and especially for Fathers Day.  It will make a great addition to our collection of superhero books - I've got one teacher that just loves doing this theme with her year 3 & 4 kids each year.

I got my copy of My Dad is a Superhero from the Taradale Primary School library where I work. 

You can find a copy at Napier Libraries.

#365PictureBooks 24. My dad STILL thinks he's funny by Katrina Germein, illustrated by Tom Jellett

Germein, K. (2013). My dad STILL thinks he's funny. Newton, Australia: Black Dog Books.

ISBN: 9781742032320
Pages: 32
Age Level: Middle Childhood 7-12
Genre: Picture Book
Rating: 4 stars

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My dad says, "I've told you fifty million times, don't exaggerate." 

This is the sequel to the really humorous My dad thinks he's funny.  It's full of wit & humour - or at least the kind that dads think are funny :-)  I don't know about you but I have a husband who could be this dad.  Sooooo annoying!!!  I'm sure you'll know someone in your family who thinks they're a real joker like this.

Germein has come up with another collection of sayings, some that are well known and some that I'm sure will be revived after reading this ... Quick, make sure you hide it from your dad!


Jellett's illustrations are simply awesome.  He uses colour sparingly or boldly.  Sometimes there is just the outline of the image with a pale wash of colour behind, and the main colour being the background.  Other times the whole image is saturated in bright bold colours.  It is really effective.  A lot of the backgrounds look as if they have been drawn on school books (lined paper or graph paper), and the end papers give you the impression you are looking at a school book.  I'm really loving Jellett's illustrations.  Kids will be able to understand the saying by how the illustrations depict each one.

This is a really funny book to read.  It is a good one to add to your collection for teaching language, sayings and wit & humour.

I got my copy of My dad STILL thinks he's funny from the Taradale Primary School library where I work. 

You can find a copy at Napier Libraries.