In this day and age there are far too many little boys (and girls) who don’t know their fathers. Father’s Day can be a confusing time for them hearing the children with Fathers sharing stories and talking about what they will get their father for Father’s Day.
In “A Father Like That” by Charlotte Zolotow a young boy who never knew his father tells his mother what he would like a father to be. In his dream world of having a completed family the boy imagines a father who makes rules but bends them at times, teaches him things a father is special at, helping with homework, doing dishes together and having the secure feelings and special bond between father and son.
“A Father Like That” was originally published in 1971 as a reassurance to boys that even if their father isn’t in the home they can still learn to grow up to be a good father. Some may think this story depressing which in a way it is (brought tears to my eyes) but it does a wonderful job of sparking the imagination – through our imagination anything is possible.
You can find “A Father Like That” at the following Capital Area District Library branches:
Foster, Holt, Lansing, Leslie, Okemos, and South Lansing. It is also available at both Barnes & Noble and Schuler Books stores in Lansing. You can also order it online at Amazon here: A Father Like That
Book Details:
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Library Binding: 40 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins; Revised edition (April 24, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 006027865X
ISBN-13: 978-0060278656
Don’t forget Father's Day June 20, 2010 [3rd Sunday in June]
A Special Father’s Day message from Faith:
Having raised three young men for the majority of their lives without a father ‘in the picture’ I have experienced many Father’s Days as a single mother. Something I started to do for my sons was we made Father’s Day special even if their father wasn’t around to celebrate with.
I made a point of buying myself a ‘Father’s Day gift’ after all I was playing the part of both parents. I also made sure we had a special ‘celebration’ meal (usually something fixed on the grill – seems a dad thing). With my youngest son I started something new and we did a ‘Dad Thing’ such as going fishing (I don’t care for) or spending the afternoon at the driving range (I hate golf).
The year he was 10 I let him back the car down the drive-way (first time he drove a car)… I also let him pull it back up the drive-way after he went around the neighborhood collecting all his friends so they could watch. Even though the other boys had fathers at home they envied him and he was the talk of the neighborhood for weeks after.
Single mothers you can make Father’s Day a special day for your children and fathers why not read “A Father Like That” with your children – it just may help you see just how important you are in their lives.
To be notified by e-mail when new articles are published on children's books or other children’s books events in the Lansing area click the ‘subscribe’ button above. You may also like to follow Faith Draper aka byfaithonly on Twitter.
Schuler Books & Music - Eastwood Towne Center
2820 Towne Center Blvd., Lansing, Michigan
Barnes & Noble - Lansing Mall
5132 W. Saginaw Hwy 245, Lansing, Michigan
Barnes & Noble - Jacobson's Building
333 East Grand River Avenue, East Lansing, Michigan
Comments
That sounds like a great read! Good article. :)
What a great book suggestion with Father's Day coming!
Good reading material to teach lessons very much needed in society today. Thank you for your great research on a tender subject.
Great article! I really enjoyed reading your personalization on what single moms can do to still make this a special day. Sounds like a great book!
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