First published 2016
A young child loves their dad most of the time, but when he becomes grouchy, bossy, or disgusting, they start wondering about other options. What if Dad were a dog who greeted everyone with face licks? The child's imagination runs wild with possibilities. A monkey father would create constant chaos with his antics. An alligator dad would bring his own set of dangerous problems. A whale father would present obvious size complications. Even a magical unicorn dad would have unexpected drawbacks. Through each silly scenario, the child discovers that every alternative comes with bigger problems than the original complaints. The imaginative journey teaches the child that their real father, despite his occasional faults, loves them more than anything else in the world. This playful exploration of family relationships shows how children process their frustrations with parents through creative thinking.
Genres: family-life, humor, contemporary
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
41 pages · Kindle Edition · Little, Brown Books for Young Readers