Dear Dad, I Want To Be Just Like You

Dear Dad, I Want To Be Just Like You by Ed Allen, illustrated by Simon Williams (Scholastic Australia)

HB RRP $16.99

ISBN 978-1-76015-349-6

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

This sweet book is a tribute to fathers everywhere. Told in letter form, baby animals tell Dad just what they love about him and although each letter is specific to the animal writing it, each could apply to human Dads as well.

Dear Dad, Thanks for looking after us when we were little and Mum was away. You said we were the most important thing in the world to you. Remember when Percy got lost in the crowd? You never gave up until we found him. Now that Mum’s back maybe you can teach us how to fish? Love Percy and Penny.

This is, of course, a letter to a penguin Dad.

The illustrations are lovely, bold, bright and very appealing with expressive, cute animals on every page. The playfulness and cheeky humour expressed on these pages show close and loving bonds between children and their fathers.  This humour is in both pictures and text.

Some letters are on the page, some under flaps and some can be removed from envelopes, making this a fun and interactive read. I’m sure this will get young readers thinking about what skills, abilities and traits they love and admire in their own father. There is a blank ‘letter’ at the end encouraging children to create their own Dear Dad letter.

This new edition of popular picture book Dear Dad, I Want To Be Just Like You, comes out in time for Father’s Day and is Ed Allen’s companion book to Dear Mum, I Love You, released earlier in the year. Look out for the crocodiles; I think they’re my favourite!