With Dad, It's Like That

PreS-Gr 1—Mom is out for the night, putting Dad in charge of bath, dinner, and bedtime. On each occasion Clare says, "Dad…That's not how Mom does it." At bath time and dinner, Dad opts for his own methods and replies, "With me, it's like that." At bedtime, though, Dad decides it's best to do it the way Mom does it…mostly. This book about a universal theme, translated from French, is set amid familiar home settings, offering actions and details sure to capture preschoolers' interest. As bedtime arrives, the energetic images are toned down with darkened colors, suggesting the calm of nighttime. The one-dimensional characters effectively present a rambunctious little girl and an accommodating dad. His unshaven face and neck give him a scruffy appearance, but it's obvious he's a loving father, even if he is a total newbie to his child's established routine.