'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Sunday 3 September 2017

Review: The Dictionary of Dads

Dads can be funny, musical, sporty, embarassing, inspirational, and so many other things.

The Dictionary of Dads is a collection of poems about fathers by performance poet Justin Coe, who writes and performs all over England.

They're accompanied by illustrations from Steve Wells.

Justin has written about more than fifty different types of dads. There's even an Emperor Penguin Dad.

The dads are from all walks of life, and all organised into alphabetical order, starting with Abracadabra Dad and ending with Zzzz Dad.

You'll find a Sergeant-Major Dad who is regimented: 'Wakey, wakey! What's the time? Three in the morning ... rise and shine.'

Then there's i-dad who is incompatible with all his 'annoying pop-ups popping up. Moaning at me to clean my teeth .... lessons on life on constant repeat.'

Prison Dad writes a difficult letter to his children, telling them he's lonely, and knows he let them down, but is 'learning to be honest.'

And Mum-Dad 'takes me to the football, she takes me to the shops, she tells me that she loves me, even when she tells me off.'

Christmas Dad doesn't have a beard or reindeer like Santa, but he makes Christmas special and magical.

I imagine most kids will find a dad, or some aspect of their relationship with their father that they will recognise in one or more of the poems.

Full of laughs and thought provoking, The Dictionary of Dads is best read out loud, and will be loved by children and parents alike.

Title:  The Dictionary of Dads
Author: Justin Coe
Illustrator: Steve Wells
Publisher: Otter-Barry Books, $ 14.99
Publication Date: August 2017
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781910959169
For ages: 7+
Type: Poetry