My Dad is a Giraffe

My Dad is a Giraffe by Stephen Michael King (Scholastic Press)

HB RRP $16.99

ISBN 978-1-74362-594-1

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

All Dads are different. Maybe your Dad is tall, and gentle, and fun. Maybe your Dad is a giraffe.

My Dad is a Giraffe, an imaginative and whimsical story about a boy and his Dad, is a new picture book from well loved Australian author Stephen Michael King.  His illustrations, some simple, some more detailed, have small surprises for those who look closely. They are colourful, but not bright, giving the book a gentle feel. Full of quiet humour, the pictures clearly show the bond between child and parent and the joy they have in each other’s company.

The text is simple and varied. Some pages have a few sentences on them, some have only a few words, but all roll off the tongue beautifully. My Dad protects me, listens to my fears and helps me feel brave.

This is a picture book where words and pictures make perfect sense together. Or you could look just at the pictures, or listen to the words only.

This is a lovely tribute to Dads. Most children – and parents – will relate to the concepts within the story and the imagination through which they are delivered. Wonderful to read out loud, it is a book which should stand the test of many bedtime repetitions.