Sale price
$759
Board Book · Ages 0–3 · 2005
Spot Loves his Dad
Spot and his dad play, splash, dig, and read together, with a flap to lift on every page.
$7.99Save 5%
Board Book
Books About Fathers & Sons · 415 titles considered
The Best Father-Son Books for Kids
By the Bookroo EditorsUpdated July 31, 2026
A father-son story rarely announces itself. It is a cold pond before sunrise, a diving board that has grown suspiciously tall since last summer, a bat boy's job nobody asked for, a caravan parked behind a filling station. The father is usually fixing something, driving somewhere, or standing at the bottom of a ladder saying almost nothing, and the boy is working out in real time which parts of this man he intends to keep. The books worth owning resist the greeting-card version: they let dads be tired, wrong, funny, absent, and stubbornly present, sometimes inside the same thirty-two pages.
Working from Bookroo's collection of 415 books about fathers and sons, our editors picked thirteen where the two of them carry the story rather than decorate it. The list opens with gifts — a board book built for a lap, a camping trip a four-year-old is certain he is running — and then gets more particular: a diving board, a father fishing a city pond before his two jobs start, a boy whose words will not come out, a Star Wars gag Dad will reread on his own, a bat boy who would rather be playing Mozart, a lamplighter whose father refuses to be proud of him, and a morning knock that stops coming. The chapter books at the end are for boys who want a real one: a poacher, a school custodian, a kite maker with an impossible plan, and a twelve-year-old learning to live without his father at all. The age shelves below open up the rest of the collection.
The Shortlist
Our 13 Favorite Books About Fathers and Sons
Sale price
$574
Picture Book · Ages 3–7 · 1977
Just Me and My Dad
Little Critter takes his dad camping and runs the entire trip himself — pitching the tent, catching the fish, frightening off the bear.
24 pages· 161 words· Est. 2 min read-aloud
Best for
A preschooler who wants Dad all to himself$5.99Save 4%
Paperback
Sale price
$1797
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2017
Jabari Jumps
Jabari is absolutely ready to jump off the diving board. He just needs to stretch first. And let someone go ahead of him.
32 pages· 464 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud
Best for
A boy working up the nerve to do something hard$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Sale price
$2342
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2017
A Different Pond
Before dawn, a boy and his father fish a city pond for food, then the day's two jobs begin.
Caldecott Honor (2018)Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor (2018)Ezra Jack Keats Honor (2018)Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature (2018)Charlotte Zolotow Award (2018)
32 pages· 952 words· Est. 8 min read-aloud
Best for
A quiet story about a father working to feed his family$24.65Save 5%
Library Binding
Sale price
$1797
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2020
I Talk Like a River
By Jordan Scott, Sydney Smith (Illustrator)
After a bad day of words that will not come out, a boy's father drives him to the river and shows him how the water moves.
Boston Globe–Horn Book Award (2021)Charlotte Zolotow Honor (2022)Odyssey Honor (2022)Schneider Family Book Award (2021)
40 pages· 545 words· Est. 5 min read-aloud
Best for
A child who stutters, or a classmate who should understand one4.5/5 Goodreads · 4,267 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, Death Star playdates and all?
64 pages· 621 words· Est. 7 min read-aloud
Best for
The Father's Day gift for a Star Wars family4.1/5 Goodreads · 19,395 ratings
$14.95Save 6%
Hardcover
Sale price
$759
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 1998
The Bat Boy & His Violin
By Gavin Curtis, E.B. Lewis (Illustrator)
Reginald would rather practice Mozart, but his father — manager of the worst team in the Negro National League — needs a bat boy.
32 pages· 1,621 words· Est. 13 min read-aloud
Best for
A father and son who love completely different things4.2/5 Goodreads · 547 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Sale price
$1899
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 1993
Peppe the Lamplighter
By Elisa Bartone, Ted Lewin (Illustrator)
Peppe finds work lighting the street lamps of Little Italy, and it is the one job his father cannot stand to see him take.
32 pages· 1,207 words· Est. 10 min read-aloud
Best for
Immigrant family history, and a father who has to change his mind4.1/5 Goodreads · 1,881 ratings
Hardcover
Sale price
$1797
Picture Book · Ages 5–6 · 2013
Knock Knock
By Daniel Beaty
Every morning his father knocks on the bedroom door. Then one morning the knock does not come, and it never comes again.
40 pages· 428 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud
Best for
A child whose father is absent or incarcerated4.5/5 Goodreads · 2,035 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 most wonderful father in children's fiction4.1/5 Goodreads · 74,272 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Sale price
$759
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2000
The Janitor's Boy
By Andrew Clements, Brian Selznick (Illustrator)
Jack's father is the school custodian. Jack sticks a wad of gum under a desk and gets sentenced to scraping gum beside him.
140 pages· 27,823 words· Est. 4 hour read
Best for
A boy embarrassed by his own parent3.8/5 Goodreads · 5,958 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Sale price
$759
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1975
Dragonwings
By Laurence Yep · Book #5 in the Golden Mountain Chronicles series
Eight-year-old Moon Shadow sails to San Francisco to meet the father he has never known — a kite maker who intends to build a flying machine.
248 pages
Best for
Strong middle grade readers, and a father with an impossible dream3.6/5 Goodreads · 4,431 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Sale price
$1597
Chapter Book · Ages 10–12 · 2018
Rebound
The summer after his father dies, twelve-year-old Charlie is shipped to his grandparents, where a basketball court and a stack of comics are waiting.
416 pages· 27,564 words· Est. 3 hour read
Best for
Reluctant readers, and grief that arrives as anger4.3/5 Goodreads · 14,380 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Browse by age
Father-Son Board Books for Babies & Toddlers
Sturdy first books about Daddy's lap, first haircuts, new shoes, bike rides, and the small daily business of a boy and his dad — ages 0–4.
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
$899
Kisses for Daddy
Ages 2–5 · 2005
Bedtime becomes a playful adventure as Baby Bear resists a goodnight kiss.
Sale price
$799
50 Below Zero
Ages 2–8 · 1988
Jason's dad sleepwalks to bizarre places. Can Jason keep him in bed?
Sale price
$699
I Love My Pirate Papa
Ages 0–3 · 2007
A young boy sails with pirates, finding adventure and a loving father.
Sale price
$795
On Our Way Home
Ages 0–4 · 2009
A father and child journey through a magical forest, sharing love and wonder.
Sale price
$799
My New Shoes
Ages 3–6 · 2018
A little bear's shoe shopping adventure sparks imagination and fun.
Sale price
$899
Superhero Dad
Ages 2–5 · 2015
Discover a dad's hidden superpowers in this heartwarming tale.
Sale price
$999
A Brave Bear
Ages 0–3 · 2016
A little bear learns bravery on a hot day adventure with his dad.
Sale price
$799
Caillou Loves His Daddy
Ages 2–4 · 2018
A young boy dreams of growing up to be just like his dad.
Sale price
$899
Leo on a Hike
Ages 0–3 · 2023
A young boy's hike turns into a solo adventure with nature's wonders.
Sale price
$999
Why, Daddy? Why?
Ages 0–5 · 2022
A curious cub asks 'Why?' and discovers love in every answer.
Browse by age
Picture Books About Fathers and Sons
Read-alouds about fishing trips, first jobs, night shifts, fathers who are learning as they go, and fathers a boy has to manage without — ages 3–8.
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
$1799
Great Dog
Ages 3–7 · 2018
A pup imagines his future, inspired by his family's legendary dogs.
Sale price
$1699
Enemy Pie
Ages 5–8 · 2000
A boy's summer changes when he uses Enemy Pie to turn a foe into a friend.
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
$899
Bippity Bop Barbershop
Ages 4–7 · 2002
A boy faces his fear of the barbershop with his father's support.
Sale price
$1299
You and Me, Me and You
Ages 3–6 · 2017
Celebrate the timeless bond between father and child through life's shared moments.
Sale price
$1699
If My Love Were a Fire Truck
Ages 3–7 · 2017
A father's love takes his son on an adventurous journey of imagination and wonder.
Sale price
$499
Obadiah the Bold
Ages 4–8 · 1965
A boy's pirate dreams clash with sibling reality.
Sale price
$1899
Papá's Magical Water-Jug Clock
Ages 4–7 · 2023
A boy's magical water jug empties too soon. Can he save the day?
Sale price
$1899
Growing an Artist
Ages 4–8 · 2022
A boy's first day helping his father reveals the beauty in hard work and creativity.
Sale price
$599
Good Night, Little Bear
Ages 2–5 · 1961
Father Bear can't find Little Bear at bedtime. Where could he be hiding?
Browse by age
Father-Son Chapter Books & Middle Grade
Longer stories about boys who admire a father, are embarrassed by one, go looking for the one they never knew, or lose one and keep going — 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
$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
$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.
Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$2499
The Crossover (Graphic Novel)
Ages 10–12 · 2014
Twin brothers face life-changing challenges on and off the basketball court.
Sale price
$1699
Playing the Cards You're Dealt
Ages 8–12 · 2021
A boy's secret partnership in a card game reveals family truths that could change everything.
Sale price
$1899
Masters of Disguise
Ages 8–12 · 2025
Supernatural kids on the run must outsmart a corrupt president before an election changes everything.
Sale price
$1799
Search for Treasure
Ages 8–12 · 2022
A hidden treasure hunt on Dewees Island reveals unexpected truths.
Sale price
$1699
Home Run
Ages 8–12 · 2016
A young baseball player must hit home runs to win a house and save his family from losing everything.
Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$2499
The Predator (Graphic Novel)
Ages 8–12 · 2024
A reluctant hero must protect Earth from a hidden alien threat.
Sale price
$799
The Last Super Chef
Ages 8–12 · 2021
A young chef competes to win a cooking show and discover his father's identity.
Sale price
$1695
Wolf Story
Ages 5–9 · 1947
A bedtime tale spins wildly as a wolf stalks a hen, with unexpected twists at every turn.
Sale price
$1699
Rivals
Ages 8–12 · 2010
A young athlete uncovers a dangerous secret at a high-stakes baseball tournament.