Sale price
$858
Board Book · Ages 1–4 · 2005
Daddy Hugs
Ten kinds of hug from Daddy, counted out one at a time on the way to bed.
$8.99Save 5%
Board book
Books About Dads · 917 titles considered
The Best Children's Books About Dads
By the Bookroo EditorsUpdated August 8, 2026
Dads in picture books are almost never sitting down. They are hauling a laundry bag six blocks, reading a bedtime story badly and being corrected for it, driving out before sunrise with two thermoses, going back for the toy, going out for the milk and coming home four hours later with a story about pirates. The good books know that a dad is mostly made of small logistics — the shoulder ride, the pancake, the wobbling bike held for one more second — and that a child measures him almost entirely by what he does rather than what he says. That is why the funniest dad books and the most moving ones are often the same book.
Bookroo's collection runs to 917 books about dads, and our editors picked thirteen where the father is the reason to own the book. It starts with two for a lap — a counting book of hugs, and a girl who drags her dad to the library every week — then moves through the picture books: a laundromat disaster, a papa who cannot get through one fairy tale, a recipe for getting rid of an enemy, a hike, a night custodian's shift, a family reunion down south, a horseback ride through the city at dawn, and the Sith Lord who has to negotiate with a four-year-old. The three chapter books at the end are for a read-aloud: a dad who blames the aliens for the late milk, a dad who loses his job right before Christmas, and the most marvelous father in children's fiction. The age shelves below open up the rest of the collection.
The Shortlist
Our 13 Favorite Books About Dads
Sale price
$759
Board Book · Ages 0–3 · 2009
Lola Loves Stories with Daddy
Lola and her daddy walk to the library every week, and the next day she turns into whatever they brought home.
16 pages
Best for
A toddler who has just discovered the library$7.99Save 5%
Board book
Sale price
$1797
Picture Book · Ages 3–5 · 2004
Knuffle Bunny
By Mo Willems · Book #1 in the Knuffle Bunny series
Trixie and Daddy walk to the laundromat. Only one of them notices what got left in the machine.
40 pages· 216 words· Est. 2 min read-aloud
Best for
The funniest picture book about a dad in charge$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Sale price
$1697
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2010
Interrupting Chicken
Papa reads Hansel and Gretel. His little red chicken keeps jumping into the story to warn everybody.
40 pages· 496 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud
Best for
The bedtime read-aloud a dad should perform out loud$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Sale price
$1597
Picture Book · Ages 5–8 · 2000
Enemy Pie
By Derek Munson
Dad knows a recipe that gets rid of enemies for good. The catch is you have to spend the whole day with one first.
34 pages· 1,463 words· Est. 12 min read-aloud
Best for
A child who has just acquired an enemy$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Sale price
$1797
Picture Book · Ages 3–6 · 2020
Hike
By Pete Oswald
A father and child drive out before dawn, climb all day, plant a small tree, and drive home.
40 pages
Best for
A quiet, nearly wordless book to read slowly$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Sale price
$1597
Picture Book · Ages 3–7 · 2018
Night Job
By Karen Hesse, G. Brian Karas (Illustrator)
On Friday nights a boy rides along with his father, who cleans a city school after everybody has gone home.
32 pages· 400 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud
Best for
A family where a parent works nights$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Sale price
$1697
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2019
Going Down Home with Daddy
By Kelly Starling Lyons, Daniel Minter (Illustrator)
Daddy drives the family south for the reunion at Granny's, where every child brings something to the table.
32 pages· 1,150 words· Est. 9 min read-aloud
Best for
Family reunions, big kitchens, and a long car ride$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Sale price
$1797
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2024
My Daddy Is a Cowboy
By Stephanie Seales, C.G. Esperanza (Illustrator)
Before the city wakes up, a girl rides out with her father, who is a cowboy, in a place nobody expects one.
48 pages· 981 words· Est. 8 min read-aloud
Best for
A dawn ride, and a child who likes horses4.2/5 Goodreads · 833 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1398
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2001
Darth Vader and Son (Graphic Novel)
What if the Dark Lord of the Sith had to raise a four-year-old Luke — lightsaber tantrums, cookie negotiations and all?
64 pages· 621 words· Est. 7 min read-aloud
Best for
The Father's Day gift a dad will read to himself first4.1/5 Goodreads · 19,395 ratings
$14.95Save 6%
Hardcover
Sale price
$958
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2013
Fortunately, the Milk
By Neil Gaiman, Skottie Young (Illustrator)
Dad went out for milk. He came back much later, with an explanation involving pirates, aliens and a dinosaur in a hot-air balloon.
114 pages· 7,668 words· Est. 1 hour read
Best for
A short, extremely funny read-aloud for the whole family$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Sale price
$1797
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 1977
Ramona and Her Father
Mr. Quimby loses his job just before Christmas, and seven-year-old Ramona sets out to fix the family finances herself.
192 pages· 20,136 words· Est. 3 hour read
Best for
A family going through a hard stretch4.0/5 Goodreads · 32,172 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Sale price
$858
Chapter Book · Ages 7–11 · 1959
Danny the Champion of the World
By Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake (Illustrator)
Danny lives with his father in a caravan behind a filling station and believes he knows everything about him. He does not.
202 pages· 41,128 words· Est. 5.5 hour read
Best for
A read-aloud about the best father in children's fiction4.1/5 Goodreads · 74,272 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Browse by age
Dad Board Books for Babies & Toddlers
Chunky first books about Daddy's hugs, shoulders, beard, bath time and bedtime — the safest Father's Day gift for a child under four.
Sale price
$995
More Than Balloons
Ages 0–3 · 2017
Discover the boundless love that surpasses all others.
Sale price
$799
Spot Loves his Dad
Ages 0–3 · 2005
A puppy and his dad share joyful adventures and heartwarming moments.
Sale price
$899
I Love You, Daddy
Ages 0–3 · 2011
Discover the tender bond between father and child in a heartwarming tale of love and security.
Sale price
$699
Why I Love My Daddy
Ages 3–7 · 2006
Discover why daddies are adored through children's heartfelt words and animal illustrations.
Sale price
$999
Will You Be My Sunshine
Ages 0–3 · 2015
Discover the warmth of unconditional love through a charming mouse family's journey.
Sale price
$899
I Love My Daddy Because...
Ages 1–3 · 1991
Discover how animal dads show love and care.
Sale price
$999
Thank You, God, for Daddy
Ages 2–5 · 2011
A lion cub celebrates his dad's love and protection in a heartfelt tale of gratitude.
Sale price
$699
I Love My Haircut!
Ages 1–3
Sale price
$895
Charlie Rides
Ages 3–5 · 2017
A boy's favorite ride isn't a vehicle, but a piggyback with dad.
Sale price
$599
Daddy Kisses
Ages 0–3 · 2003
Discover the tender bond between animal dads and their young.
Sale price
$899
Kisses for Daddy
Ages 2–5 · 2005
Bedtime becomes a playful adventure as Baby Bear resists a goodnight kiss.
Sale price
$899
Daddy, Papa, and Me
Ages 0–3 · 2009
A toddler's day unfolds with love and joy with their daddies.
Browse by age
Picture Books About Dads
Read-alouds about dads at work, dads at bedtime, dads who fix the unfixable, and dads a child is trying very hard to impress — ages 3–8.
Sale price
$999
Hop on Pop
Ages 4–7 · 1963
This book uses wordplay and simple sentences to explore basic concepts such as location, size, and relationships.
Sale price
$999
The Big Honey Hunt
Ages 4–7 · 1962
A father and son bear go on a honey hunt to find honey to fill their empty honey pot.
Sale price
$1699
Ty's Travels: Beach Day!
Ages 4–7 · 2021
A young boy spends the day at the beach with his dad and meets a new friend.
Sale price
$1899
Jabari Jumps
Ages 4–8 · 2017
A young boy faces his fears and learns to jump off a diving board with the help of his dad.
Sale price
$1899
Just Because
Ages 4–8 · 2019
A collection of whimsical and imaginative explanations for various natural phenomena and everyday occurrences.
Sale price
$1799
Great Dog
Ages 3–7 · 2018
A pup imagines his future, inspired by his family's legendary dogs.
Sale price
$1899
Dad and the Dinosaur
Ages 5–8 · 2017
A boy's courage is tested when his toy dinosaur, his source of bravery, goes missing.
Sale price
$1799
Alma and How She Got Her Name
Ages 4–8 · 2018
A young girl learns the story behind her long name and the ancestors it represents.
Sale price
$1699
Dream Away
Ages 3–5 · 2011
A father and son explore dreams, discovering the universe's endless possibilities.
Sale price
$1899
I'll Love You Till the Cows Come Home
Ages 4–8 · 2018
A person declares their love through a series of imaginative scenarios.
Sale price
$1595
Daddy Long Legs
Ages 3–6 · 2017
What if Daddy can't pick Matthew up? Imaginative solutions abound.
Sale price
$699
A Father's Day Thank You
Ages 4–8 · 2007
Harvey struggles to find the perfect Father's Day gift, seeking a heartfelt connection.
Browse by age
Chapter Books & Middle Grade About Dads
Longer stories where the father drives the plot — inventors, jokers, ballplayers, dads out of work, and dads a kid has to manage without — ages 6–11.
Sale price
$799
Ghost
Ages 10–13 · 2016
A young sprinter must outrun his past to achieve greatness on the track team.
Sale price
$2299
The Trumpet of the Swan
Ages 8–12 · 1970
A mute swan seeks love through a stolen trumpet's melody.
Sale price
$2000
Little Women
Ages 11–16 · 1868
Four sisters navigate life's challenges while awaiting their father's return from war.
Sale price
$1299
Inkheart
Ages 9–12 · 2003
A girl must stop a villain brought to life from a book.
Sale price
$1699
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero
Ages 8–10 · 2020
A boy finds strength in his late father's journal, discovering poetry and hidden powers.
Sale price
$1899
The Crossover
Ages 11–15
A young basketball player navigates his relationships with his family and friends while learning valuable life lessons on and off the court
Sale price
$1999
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise
Ages 9–12 · 2019
A girl schemes to return home, uncovering secrets and friendships on a cross-country journey.
Sale price
$1699
The Canyon's Edge
Ages 10–13 · 2020
A girl battles nature and inner demons to survive a desert disaster.
Sale price
$1799
From the Desk of Zoe Washington
Ages 8–12 · 2020
A girl seeks the truth about her imprisoned father's innocence, risking family secrets.
Sale price
$1699
Rebound
Ages 10–12 · 2018
A summer with grandparents changes young Charlie's life through basketball and family secrets.
Sale price
$1699
Some Places More Than Others
Ages 8–12 · 2019
A birthday trip to Harlem reveals family secrets and unexpected connections.
Sale price
$1099
The Lightning Thief
Ages 9–12 · 2005
A boy discovers he's a demigod and must retrieve Zeus's stolen lightning bolt to prevent a divine war.
Keep exploring