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Home » All categories » Father’s Day Book Giving Tradition

Father’s Day Book Giving Tradition

June 11, 2012 • 17 Comments

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Father's Day Books for Kids-gifts for dad from the kids- books that give year after year

Do you struggle to come up with a good idea for Father’s Day each year?  What gifts for dad from the kids should we do this year? When my first son was born, I came up with this idea for a Father’s Day gift.  My husband and I loved it so much, I have turned the gift into a yearly tradition.  Now, I know what we are getting him every year- BOOKS!

A Father's Day gift that will keep giving for future generations. It's a perfect and meaningful gift idea for Father's Day.

Full Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links.

My husband celebrated his first Father’s Day with a lemon pie and a picture book, Kisses for Daddy by Frances Watts and David Legge,  that he could read to our son.

In this story, little bear doesn’t want to give his Daddy a kiss before bed.  Daddy Bear tries to convince him to give silly animal kisses throughout the book until finally, Little Bear gives in and gives Daddy a bear kiss.

Inside the cover of the book, I wrote a short note to him and dated the entry.

The next year, I decided to create a tradition of giving him a book he can read with our, now, two sons.  Since my sons were 19 months and 2 months, I chose the book.  However, as they got older, I let them choose a book they would like to read with Daddy.

That year, I chose the book,  My Dad! by Steve Smallman , which is a beautifully illustrated story showcasing the many qualities that dads have.

I wrote a note on construction paper and stamped both of my kids’ handprints on the note.  Then, I adhered the note into the inside cover of the book.  I couldn’t stamp directly into the book because the pages were slick and I knew the prints would smudge.

As my sons grow, I plan to let them draw pictures and/or write notes to attach to the inside cover of each book we give my husband.

My long term goal is to one day divide all of the Father’s Day books up between my two sons when they become daddies.  I think it will be a perfect gift for their first Father’s Day!

Of course, my husband will expect the lemon dessert tradition to continue too!

More Father’s Day Books We’ve Given

Me and My Dad by Alison Ritchie is a sweet story of Daddy Bear and child spending the day together. I let each of my kids “draw” with permanent marker on the inside cover as a keepsake.

keepsake idea for Father's Day

The Best Dad in the World by Melanie Joyce has been a popular book in our house since we got it.  A young gorillas shares all the reasons his dad is the best.  My son loves the part when his dad burns the toast in the story.  

For our keepsake, I had each of my boys “write” the word “Dad” on a piece of paper.  We dated and glued the slips inside the front cover.

My boys picked out the book for their Dad one year.  We gave Let’s Build by Sue Fliess.  It’s a sweet story about a dad and his son who build a fort together.  It is something my boys love to do with their dad.

My oldest son built a creation out of Lego and my youngest built something with Magna Tiles since those were their favorite toys one year.  I snapped a picture of each of them with their designs and adhered them to the inside cover of the book.

Side by Side by Chris Raschka will be our pick for this year.  It’s a beautiful story about all the things kids do with their dads.  I also love that the illustrations are multicultural which is hard to find in Father’s Day related books.  I’m going to glue pictures of the kids side by side of their dad for the dedication inside.

Even More Father’s Day Books Kids Can Give

Leo Loves Daddy by Anna McQuinn is so warm and captures the love a child has for a dad.  This board book is perfect for babies and toddlers to give to daddy.

The Daddy Book by Todd Parr celebrates dads of all shapes and sizes.  I love how inclusive this one is.

Because I’m Your Dad by Ahmet Zappa celebrates all those special things dads get to do like spaghetti for breakfast and eating ice cream in the bathtub.

Wild About Dads by Diana Murray takes us through the animal kingdom highlighting all the attributes of fathers including keeping us warm and fetching us dinner.

Rafa Counts on Papá by Joe Cepeda is the story of a father and son who love to measure things. Throughout the first half of this book, we get to watch them measure 14 branches to their favorite spot in a tree and measure how high the dog, Euclid, can jump. The detailed illustrations are full of measuring tools to notice and lots of things to count. Then, Rafa wonders if you can measure love. The last half of the book explores how love could be measured using metaphors. It’s a sweet book of the love between father and son and the common love of math and science. It would even make a good gift for Father’s Day.

Some Daddies by Carol Gordon Ekster highlights lots of different kinds of daddies including an inclusive and diverse group of fathers.   Some dads cook and some order out. Some dads wake up whistling while other dads need a little more time to enter the morning.  Beautifully illustrated and a wonderful book to gift.

Daddy Speaks Love by Leah Henderson is an ode to all the amazing ways a father is there for a child.  Dads are supportive, leaders, cheerleaders, and so much more.

Father's Day DIY gift idea

Never worry about what gifts for dad from the kids you need to find again.  You are set for life with this idea!

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17 Comments Filed Under: All categories, Family Literacy Tagged With: books for father's day, father's day ideas, father's day traditions, summer

About Jodie Rodriguez

Jodie Rodriguez is a mom of two young boys and an early childhood/elementary educator with over 20 years of experience. Jodie's passion is helping parents, teachers, librarians and anyone else interested in nurturing and reaching ALL of our youngest growing readers.

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  1. Tricia Heliker says

    May 18, 2019 at 12:52 pm

    Such a great idea!

    Reply
  2. Teacher Help For Parents says

    May 21, 2013 at 9:13 pm

    One of the sweetest ideas I’ve ever seen.

    Reply
    • JodieRodriguez says

      May 21, 2013 at 9:24 pm

      Oh, thank you so much!

      Reply
  3. Mum of One says

    May 21, 2013 at 3:04 am

    What a great idea! Thanks so much for linking up to the Pin It Party! Have pinned and followed 🙂 http://pinterest.com/jbmumofone/

    Reply
  4. Melanie @ Raise A Boy says

    June 14, 2012 at 10:05 pm

    What a great idea! We love the Kisses for Daddy book. My son has to read that book every night before bed. We haven’t read the other book yet so we’ll have to check that one out.

    Reply
    • Jodie says

      June 15, 2012 at 4:46 pm

      It is such a sweet book!

      Reply
  5. Krissy @ B.Inspired Mama says

    June 14, 2012 at 7:35 pm

    Such a sweet tradition! I’ll be featuring it tomorrow with the Kids Co-Op. 🙂

    Reply
    • Jodie says

      June 15, 2012 at 4:46 pm

      Great, thank you so much!

      Reply
  6. Bethany says

    June 14, 2012 at 3:05 pm

    I just wanted to let you know that I liked your idea for giving Dad a picture book for Fathers Day so much that I decided to feature it today for The Kids Co-op linky. Thank you!
    http://www.notwiddletwaddle.com/2012/06/lets-play-weekly-kids-co-op_14.html

    Reply
    • Jodie says

      June 14, 2012 at 3:45 pm

      How exciting! Thank you!

      Reply
  7. Bethany @ No Twiddle Twaddle says

    June 13, 2012 at 8:29 pm

    What a great idea. I’ve always wondered how to incorporate picture books with Father’s Day!

    Reply
    • Humood says

      July 3, 2012 at 6:04 pm

      Posted on I’ve been absent for a while, but now I reemmber why I used to love this site. Thanks , I will try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your web site?

      Reply
      • Jodie says

        July 6, 2012 at 3:50 pm

        Thanks, I post every Monday. Some weeks you will find a bonus post too.

        Reply
  8. Margaret says

    June 11, 2012 at 8:44 am

    Precious idea!

    Reply
    • Jodie says

      June 14, 2012 at 3:45 pm

      Thank you. I’m very excited about this long term project.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Let's Play: The Weekly Kid's Co-op - No Twiddle Twaddle says:
    March 9, 2013 at 5:35 am

    […] if there was a good way to incorporate Daddy and kid picture books with Father’s Day. Well, Growing Book by Book has a wonderful post on how you can do that in a sweet meaningful […]

    Reply
  2. Kids Co-Op: 6 Father’s Day Kids Crafts says:
    October 5, 2012 at 11:11 am

    […] Apron from Whimsical Kids Canvas Father’s Day Footprint Bulletin Board from Rainbows Within Reach Father’s Day Book Giving Tradition from Growing Book by Book Kids Artwork Father’s Day Card from the fairy and the frog Daddy and Me Handprint Poem from […]

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