Parents' Guide to You Made Me a Dad

You Made Me a Dad Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Angela Zimmerman By Angela Zimmerman , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 4+

Sweet story honors emotions and experiences of fatherhood.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 4+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

In YOU MADE ME A DAD, author Laurenne Sala and illustrator Mike Malbrough capture the many facets of fatherhood, from the feeling of anticipation before a baby's arrival to the unique and important experience of having a child to raise and care for. The father is very doting, involved, and eager to share his interests and passions with his kid, taking a hands-on approach to parenting.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

This warm, tender picture book is a poignant exploration of the father-child relationship and a moving tribute to that very special dynamic. It shows how the dad's devoted feeling begins even before his baby comes into the world. This sweet story captures the special relationship of a father and daughter but could help kids understand what an emotional experience it can be for any parent or caregiver toward a kid of any gender.

You Made Me a Dad captures many standout moments, from sharing stories, music, and laughter together to exploring what it means to raise a child with empathy, kindness, curiosity, and an adventurous spirit.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how fatherhood is shown in You Made Me a Dad. How is a father's experience unique? How can it differ from the experience of a mother, grandparent, sibling, or friend?

  • What kind of activities are shown here between father and daughter? What kind of things do you like to do with your family?

  • Do you think being a parent is any different for a dad than it is for a mom? What would be different, and what would be the same?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

You Made Me a Dad Poster Image

What to Read Next

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate