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DADDY'S HUGS AND SNUGGLES by Linda Ashman

DADDY'S HUGS AND SNUGGLES

by Linda Ashman ; illustrated by Jane Massey

Pub Date: March 7th, 2023
ISBN: 9781338854046
Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic

Loving portrayals of fatherly care.

This rhyming picture book focuses on fathers tending to their little ones. Beginning with an early morning, illustrations depict a variety of dads and children going about their days, bike riding, gardening, and taking walks; the final spreads show fathers bathing their little ones and putting them to bed. Illustrations in a soft palette catch the pair midaction, with a loving pat on the head or about to share a bite. The simple text keeps the pages turning, the rhymes lending themselves nicely to a read-aloud. Embedded in the activities are lovely metaphors for parenting (“Holds me firm on bumpy ground”). The characters are diverse; an Asian-presenting father and child are featured on the cover, and other families of color are seen throughout. Commendably, the book also shows fathers engaging in a range of actions that have traditionally been associated with mothering, such as cooking and singing a lullaby. The dedicated care and love of the fathers in this story are sweetly and genuinely depicted, making it one of the better titles about fatherhood for toddlers. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A gentle, soothing tribute to fathers.

(Picture book. 2-4)