This Is My Dad: The perfect dad isn't always a father

Description

This is My Dad celebrates families of all shapes and sizes in a heartfelt, beautifully illustrated story that parents and carers will love sharing with their children. Most of the time, Leo loves Show and Tell at school. But when his teacher announces that next up is Tell Us About Your Dad Day, his tummy ties into knots and he tries to disappear into the corner of the classroom. His classmates can't wait but all Leo can think is ... 'how can I celebrate someone I've never met?' Leo is an only child living with his mother, and has never known a father figure. His mother is his hero: as a children's author, she spends most of her time battling monsters and creating awesome new worlds! When Tell Us About Your Dad Day comes around, Leo worries that he won't have anything to present to his class. After fruitlessly searching high and low for clues about his father, he realises that he already knows someone cool, courageous and clever - someone who's not his dad, but is his everything. This is My Dad is a timely, important and heart-warming look at modern family dynamics. It highlights that families come in all shapes and sizes, and they are all worthy of celebration. With one in four children in the UK living with a single parent, and 90% of those parents being a woman, Leo's family situation will resonate with millions of children, and will provide a valuable insight for millions more.

Dimity Powell writes junior novels and picture books, and stories for school magazines, anthologies and online apps. Dimity's digital narrative The Chapel of Unlove was shortlisted for the Western Australian Premier's Book Awards 2016. Nicky Johnston is an educator, speaker, and author/illustrator of children's books. She visits schools and presents at workshops and conferences, sharing her journey, promoting emotional resilience and raising awareness of mental health issues.

"The important thing is to have someone. It doesn't matter who they are, as long as they are somebody to you." * The Book Witch * In a world filled with worries, this book shows that you must sometimes think outside the box to help make sense of what's around you. Leo, the young protagonist in "This is my dad" LOVES show and tell, but the latest topic is making him worried. The excitement of "Tell us about your Dad Day!" caused heightened emotions and anxious feelings for Leo, who lives with his mum in a single parent family. "This is my dad" needs to be in every library, to support our young people making sense of their world." -- Therese Stafford * The Lakes College * "This is my dad is an important book for families that may not find themselves represented in picture books often. It is also a useful resource for any family wishing to explore different family structures. The topic is sensitively negotiated by the picture book creators who craft a space in which many different families could fit and feel comfortable while telling a story that is both realistic and positive.." * Picture Book Parents * "A unique and touching way to deal with having a single parent during Show and Tell. Pastel illustrations echo the mood." * Pinerolo * "Busts through typical family stereotypes and conventions in all of the best ways." * Kids' Book Review * Teacher librarian and reviewer Megan Daley notes there are many children, including her own, who do not have the 'normal' family structure. She says "the story is a really lovely exploration of family dynamics", telling as it does the tale of Leo, who finds an ingenious solution to "bring your dad to school day", even though he has never known his father. * Your Kids Next Read Podcast * " This book acknowledges single parents and the important roles they play to their children. It celebrates families of every shape and size, and highlights the fact that whilst the presence of a male role model is helpful to a child's upbringing and well-being, it is not always possible or realistic, and there are many other carers that are equally as worthy of celebrating" * In The Good Books * This is My Dad is a sweet celebration of solo parenting. * NZ Booklovers * Many children have one parent or caregiver who is lots of loved ones rolled into one. Mum/Dad or Dad/Mum. Grandma/Mum/Dad or a plethora of other possibilities. Leo's realisation is wonderful. * What Book Next? * Leo has never known his father, so 'This is my Dad' day at school has his stomach tied in knots. While working out what to do about it, he discovers he already has a parent with all the heroic qualities he imagines his absent father to hold. This gorgeous picture book by Dimity Powell and Nicky Johnston celebrates single-parent families. I wish I'd had this book when I was widowed at 42 with a 5-year-old. Whether they're subjected to card-making for Father's or Mother's day, or just the endless references to 'mum and dad' in the classroom, children from sole-parent families face a barrage of reminders at school that they are 'different'. This book serves as a prompt for important discussions about the varied shapes of modern families. It's a reminder that parents raising children alone due to death, divorce or choice can be superheroes. It encourages children to focus less on what they lack and more on what they have. And it gives a certain type of family long-overdue representation. -- Emma Grey * Award-winning author of "I Don't Have Time' * I love that this story covers such a sensitive topic: What do children who are being raised in a single-caregiver family do with assignments that ask them to talk about the other carer? * corneroncharacter.blogspot.com * "a great heads-up for teachers but also a book which appears to be for littlies but which can enable older students to examine their own perspectives at arm's length, perhaps even reflect on their own situations and how that has shaped them." * The Bottom Shelf * "The story explores this family dynamic experienced by millions of children, in a positive and creative way. It tells the story of Leo, whose normal love of show and tell turns to dread when he is asked to talk about his father, who he has never known. 'How can I celebrate someone I've never met?' he worries." * Buzzwords * This is My Dad is a sweet celebration of solo parenting. * NZ Booklovers * This is a great story. @ekbooksforkids puts out so many thoughtful books like this. And I honestly think it fills a very important gap among all the wonderful books celebrating moms and dads that we pull out around Mother's Day and Father's Day. I truly think you can put this one on your shelf for either holiday." * Dad Suggests * "Very relatable with an ending that I think might have a few people welling up." * One More Page Podcast * "The book resonated with me. I am an only child, I was brought up with my mother, I guess playing mum and dad ... very similar story to Leo. When i was at school people would say 'where is your Dad?', and my mum was my dad. I would have loved a book like this when I was going through primary school, I would have said, 'Hey look Leo is me!" -- Ken Williams * Reading With A Chance of Tacos * "A unique and touching way to deal with having a single parent during Show and Tell. Pastel illustrations echo the mood." * Child Magazines * This is my Dad celebrates diverse families and was inspired by teacher librarians who noticed a lack of stories representing children who didn't know their dads. With many children only living with a single parent, this book is a great reminder to all that families come in all shapes and sizes. * Swings and Roundabouts * This Is My Dad might well fill a gap in your home or school library. It's not a trophy - but it is a tribute - and one that should help children and parents value the prize that is their version of family.." * South Sydney Herald * "This beautifully simple story is an important addition to all primary school libraries. It serves as a poignant reminder that each child in the classroom has their own unique home life. As educators it is critical that we ensure that all children have the opportunity to see themselves reflected in the literature that we share. This book would be ideal for sharing around Mother's Day or Father's Day, but would be equally as valuable at any stage of the year for celebrating families of all shapes and sizes." * Primary English Teachers Association Australia * "A wonderful and heart-warming story that children will love and those who don't know their dads will find helpful * Literacy, Families and Learning * "This story explores themes of family and relationships, creativity, and imagination. These messages are reflected not only through the text but also through Nicky Johnston's warm and inviting illustrations." * Reading Time *