Every day I discover more and more beautiful things. It’s enough to drive one mad. I have such a desire to do everything, my head is bursting with it.
- Claude Monet
Dad Suggests was created to share with others the many different things that we have loved sharing with our own children.
Our hope is that - by reading or visiting our children’s bookstore - you will find something special to enjoy with your own family.
- Ryan
All in Kids Books
These are the best picture books about the imagination. They all do a magnificent job celebrating the magic of childhood and reinforcing the importance of creativity and imagination in life. Share these inspiring kids books with your family today.
Imagine That by Jonathan D. Voss is one of the best picture books of 2019. It is an inspirational reminder that our imagination comes from our heart - and we need to do whatever it takes to hold on to it. Hoot & Olive are destined to be beloved characters in the world of children’s lit.
These are the best picture books to read on the first day of school, whether your kids are starting kindergarten or 6th grade. Use them to remind your kids to believe in themselves, and to be kind and stand up to bullies. And use them to remind your kids what’s really important in life.
The KinderGuides series from Moppet Books is a fantastic way to introduce your children to great classic literature through picture books. Books like Romeo and Juliet and Moby Dick are abridged for a younger audience and beautifully illustrated to make them the perfect introduction to these great stories.
Comic Quests is a series of graphic novels that you can actually play. Become a character in the story and keep track of your items and stats with your own character sheet. Solve riddles, fight enemies, and make many choices during your adventures. Reading and playing with our son is a pure joy.
Cori Doerrfeld’s Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend! is a poignant lesson about the Yin and Yang in life. Every goodbye leads to a hello. It’s a beautiful book, and very useful for teaching your kids about how to deal with change and keep a positive mindset about adversity in life.
Teach your kids to love who they are. This book list contains the very best picture books for conveying this message to your kids - celebrate being yourself. Do what you love. Follow your passions. Be proud of who you are.
Society is doing a very good job making children believe they’re worthless if they aren’t good at tests. I recently discovered the absolute perfect way to teach children otherwise - a picture book called All the Ways to Be Smart by Davina Bell. You simply must read this one with your kids.
Dads are important role models for children to look up to. They can teach their kids what’s really important - and build up their self esteem and their sense of wonder. In return, kids teach their dads the meaning of life in ways they could never have imagined. The book on this list do a remarkable job of capturing that special relationship.
As far as I’m concerned, books that tackle topics like empathy and friendship are tackling meaning of life stuff. They’re trying to give kids the tools to build meaningful relationships and spend their days on Earth in a worthwhile fashion. A Sick Day for Amos McGee provides these lessons better than any other picture book we have.
This is not your typical list of alphabet books. That’s because these books could easily be considered some of our favorite picture books ever made. They’re funny, they’re exciting, they’re beautiful, and, most importantly, they’re interesting. Who has time to waste reading A is for apple and B is for ball? Just because it’s the alphabet doesn’t mean it can’t be wildly entertaining and inspiring.
Julian Is a Mermaid is simply the ultimate champion of being yourself. I’ve never seen another book that teaches children to be true to themselves as well as this one. It also flies directly in the face of the arbitrary gender norms our kids might have already been exposed to and sets them up for a life of empathy, happiness, and confidence.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is a collection of 75 songs from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. The songs are presented as a volume of poetry, and they’re beautifully illustrated and brought to life by Luke Flowers. And it’s basically the only parenting manual you will ever need.
These are the best picture books that teach colors. Illustrating a picture book must always be a challenge. But I imagine that illustrating a picture book about colors is a very special challenge in-and-of itself. You’re tasked with capturing the very essence of illustrations themselves.
Following your passions is vitally important. Khalida and the Most Beautiful Song is a picture book that teaches kids the importance of following your dreams and listening to your heart. It also comes with the added bonus of championing creativity and the arts in a world that tries to diminish their importance.
I must admit I personally have a soft spot for anything that champions the lost art of the high five. High Five is an interactive picture book that has truly sparked the imagination of our children. Get ready for the craziest and most serious high five competition you’ve ever seen.
The Little Green Girl by Lisa Anchin is a beautiful picture book that reminds me to truly appreciate the people that I love for who they are. It’s a reminder to celebrate what it is that makes them special. And it’s a wonderful tool for teaching empathy to our kids.
This style of reading aloud creates a much more engaging experience for everybody involved. If you start early with your little ones, you’re going to encourage a lifetime of thoughtful reflection and engagement with literature.
