DADDY ADVENTURE DAY
by Dave Keane & illustrated by Sue Ramá
A young boy narrates a special time spent with his dad. Daddy Adventure Days have some rules: there's no reading the newspaper or calling work. There are perks, too: Surprises often happen, and the narrator "always get[s] a lot of great stuff." Today’s Daddy Adventure Day is dedicated to going to the boy’s first big-league baseball game. But things don’t start out too well for dad: He is woken way too early by the thumping of a baseball rolling down the stairs, and he's grouchy about missing his paper and not being able to call the office. The contrast between the hyper-excited boy and the laid-back dad provides gentle humor. Ramá’s saturated watercolors and collage skillfully depict the boy’s many happy moments, such as his wide-eyed wonder as he gazes upon the “green checkerboard” field, his surprise at being given a caught foul ball and his utter contentment as he and his dad lay on the couch at the end of the eventful day. Keane’s classic pairing of a father-son relationship and baseball will be best shared one-on-one. As a blueprint for father-son fun, it's not a bad one. (Picture book. 3-5)