10 Endearing Children’s Books for Father’s Day

The Catch Club Kids of the beloved "How to Catch a..." series return for another wild adventure. This time, they're out to snare a Daddysaurus, a mystical creature of legendary kindness and humor. But how do you catch such a thing? The kids decide to give it a go with all of his favorite activities. Maybe all they really need, though, is a little sweetness.

Everyone loves Elmo! The Sesame Street legend has delighted generations of kids and the young at heart. This sweet picture book from the folks at the Sesame Workshop is full of rhymes, smiles, and jokes as Elmo bonds with his daddy.

"From the moment that I saw your beautiful face, Held you close to my heart in a father's embrace, I promised to help you grow with strength and grace. My dear one, my sweet son, my boy." Gregory E. Lang's picture books have been bestsellers for a long time now, and for good reason. This book in particular makes an ideal present for dads on Father's Day.

"From the first time I held you, so perfect and new, I promised to do everything that I could do To help you become your most wonderful YOU, My darling, my daughter, my girl." For new dads, fathers-to-be, or for that perfect birthday/Christmas/any occasion, this is the ideal book for dads to read with their girls.

Dad jokes are a special kind of joke. They’re usually groan-worthy, heavy on puns, and the bane of many a child’s existence. But still we laugh at them. You don't have to be a dad to love and tell dad jokes. They're for everybody. The Big Book of Silly Dad Jokes boasts literally hundreds of such gags, from puns to riddles to sheer silliness that everyone in the family can enjoy. There are even tips and tricks for kids and adults alike to write their own dad jokes!

Harper is going to her first family reunion, and wow, she has a lot of people to meet. There's her cousin Lisa, who lives with her husband and stepkids. Great Aunt Trudy is raising her grandchildren. Harper has her own dads, and their big loving family is made up of so many different ways to be a family. "'Every family is like a snowflake,' said Daddy. ‘Even if one looks the same as another from far away, each is completely unique when you get up close.’"

Riley has two fathers, who she refers to as Papa and Daddy. She loves them both equally. But when Riley's classmate asks her which dad is her real one, Riley is confused. What does that even mean? Is she supposed to pick one over the other or have a favorite? Seamus Kirst and Devon Holzwarth show how families come in all shapes and sizes, and all that really matters is love.

What parent hasn't had their peace interrupted by a fussy baby? Cave Dada just wants to have a quiet, uneventful prehistoric breakfast. But Baba is a picky eater. He wants an egg, and Cave Dada doesn't have one. Baba won't eat anything else. So, poor tired Dada must figure out a solution, and along the way, he might reinvent the very concept of the breakfast for the next million years!

No matter your age, Dr. Suess is sure to bring joy to your life. The timeless children’s literature icon has a book for every occasion, so of course he’s got one that’s ideal for Father’s Day. Well, it is if you love wordplay (and who doesn’t?) House, Mouse! Hop, Pop! Cup, Pup! Anyone can make a rhyme. All you have to do is change the first letter and see where it takes you. All that AND it’s a great way to introduce reading to very young kids.

Every father remembers those first moments with their child: watching them grow inside their mother, being born into this big new world, that first smile, and the first time they say "dada." Filled with adorable illustrations and the refrain, "You are the one made just for me," Made for Me is a delightfully presented portrayal of those moments that will bring a tear to every father's eye.