Dad by My Side

This sweet, simple charmer of a book celebrates the touching and tender relationship between a girl and her larger-than-life dad. Dad by My Side features warm watercolor art "on eggshell textured paper" befitting a book illustrating daily domestic pleasures. Since author-illustrator Soosh is primarily an artist, the text is spare, but it's choice. When the two stir side-by-side bowls in the kitchen, the text reads simply, "Eggshells in our omelets don’t bother us at all."

This dad looms large, both physically and emotionally. His engagements with his daughter aren't gender stereotyped -- he sews, puts on puppet shows, cooks, cuddles, comforts, and sings his daughter lullabies via phone when he's on the road. In one picture, we see Dad's silhouette illuminated by candlelight inside a cozy tent, and he looks every bit the gentle giant. In another, captioned, "He protects me from monsters under the bed," the huge dad is shown sleeping upright on the girl's bed, wearing a superman shirt and cape, and holding a push broom to ward off the monsters we see cowering under the bed. What child wouldn't sleep more soundly with such a big, stalwart dad poised to protect them and care for them so sweetly?