Explorando la Literatura

I'm A Dad

Where are the dads? Dads in stories and books for young children are
few and far between, at least as compared to the presence of moms. There are a few: some married to stepmothers, some doting kings, some reassuring authority figures, some a significant presence despite their absence. Why so few? A likely reason is that many books focus on everyday domestic life, and others involve no adults at all. In addition, animals often stand in for humans. When you consider that many animal fathers are here today, gone tomorrow (many before the birth), it makes sense that fathers are literally left out of the picture. With fathers taking a larger role in their children’s lives today, will we see more fathers?

The Books of Excellence for this issue showcase the pleasure of being a dad, featuring wonderful images of dads taking delight in being with their babies. In I’m a Duck, the joyous little duck revels in his “duckness,” his wet world, and finally joyously proclaims, “Nothing beats being a duck and a dad!” Captain Abdul and his pirate crew involuntarily discover the
pleasure of being dads. “Ay he was hard work — much harder than piratin’ — that’s for sure, but everything seems boring without him.”

Dads aren’t moms; some can be gruff, rough, goofy, and occasionally clueless; but they can also be caring, loving, and make sure that very little ducks and badgers and pirate babies grow up pretty well.

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