Dad and Pop: An Ode to Fathers and Stepfathers
PreSchool-Grade 2—A cheerful girl explains that Dad and Pop are different in many ways, but the same in their love for her. Although visual clues lead readers to conclude that Dad is the girl's biological father and that Pop is her stepfather, the text never makes this distinction, giving both men equal treatment. In fact, without the subtitle, the relationships might not be entirely clear. Mom is an incidental character. The daughter proclaims, "To meet them, you'd think Dad and Pop were as different as two fathers could be," and goes on to contrast their physical appearances and hobbies. While the men's favorite activities imply that Dad is a sophisticate and Pop is more earthy, children are unlikely to see much of a schism between indoor versus outdoor cooking or between motorcycling and bicycling. However, this is a minor quibble, since the key is not the men's differences but their underlying sameness. This is a positive and playful portrayal of a blended family. Bright, friendly cartoon illustrations show the happy family members engaged in all kinds of activities. Expressive faces and gentle humor add charm to the pictures. Youngsters with stepparents will appreciate seeing themselves in the story, and all children will enjoy seeing the loving attention heaped upon the protagonist.—Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FLCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.