Hooray for Dads! 16 Picture Books Perfect for Father’s Day

A must-have for any Father’s Day celebration, Your Baby’s First Word Will Be DADA is adorable, sweet, and 100 percent accurate. Ever tried to get your baby to say “mama” before “dada”? This book tells you that your attempts are futile, because every dad now knows the secret to making sure “dada” is their baby’s first word.

This adorable picture book illustrates all the ways in which a father has the opportunity to help his daughter grow. This story celebrates all the adorable moments fathers and daughters share and makes the perfect gift for daddy’s little girl and every girl dad!

Billed as the youngest-skewing Seuss book, this ryming romp through fatherhood is great for young readers and their dads to share a sentimental moment of readalong fun!

An absolute classic, every dad will love sharing this story with his children because it’s full of adventure, happiness, and love. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt is a story about a dad and his four kids following the old camp chant and heading off on a bear hunt. It emphasizes the imaginations dads can share with their children, as well as the lengths they’ll go to to share an adventure.

Spot is an iconic character in children’s literature, and his appearance in Spot Loves His Daddy will warm the whole family’s hearts. It’s also a great book for little ones just learning to read, and can help build up their confidence as they read it with dad.

Ever wondered what Darth Vader would be like as a dad? Then pick up Goodnight Darth Vader. Even if you’re not a Star Wars fan, you’ll laugh out loud as Darth Vader fights to get Leia and Luke to sleep, and the rest of the characters join in on the sleep quest.

One of my personal favorites, Ask Me is just perfect for Father’s Day. A dad and his little girl spend time together, and she peppers him with tons of questions on everything around her. It’s a great reminder for parents to be present and pay attention to the world around them, but it also beautifully illustrates the bond between a father and his child.

The title says it all, right? In Daddies Do It Different, the funny picture book is a reminder that neither parent is better than the other, but that there are some serious differences between a daddy and a mommy. The story covers everything from birthday parties to bath time to show just how daddies handle things, and what makes them so special.

For even the tiniest hands, Daddy and Me is a favorite, especially when you lift the flaps! The book suggests that daddy needs help from his little one to work on a project, and your reader can lift the flaps inside to find all of the tools he’s looking for. Super cute and great for babies and toddlers.

Almost every baby shower sees this book as a gift, but it’s great for Father’s Day, too. When Little Nutbrown Hare and his daddy share how much they love each other, you’ll fall even more in love with this adorable classic.

Bedtime becomes playtime in Ten, Nine, Eight as a little girl and her daddy begin a fun rhyming game! Not only can this book give dad some ideas on how to make bedtime less stressful, but it’s also a sweet rhyming story that every little one will enjoy.

Grandpas can get up to a lot of trouble when you’re away, so it’s a good thing your little one will have this guide! This silly book will have kids giggling and asking you when they can start babysitting grandpa.

You just can’t go wrong with Eric Carle, right? Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me is an interactive book that expands as a little girl tries to reach for the moon. Not only will please even the littlest readers, but it’s also incredibly sweet and adorable. Daddies want to give their children the moon, and children think their daddies can do anything—it’s a win-win in this cute book.

Remember how I said daddies do things differently? That theme takes center stage in the wildly popular and hilarious Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. When a daddy is in charge, things may not always go according to plan, but that’s half the fun in it, right? When Trixie loses Knuffle Bunny, drama ensues until daddy makes things right, no matter how it happens.

Routines often get a bad rap, but when it comes to children, there’s security in sameness. In Every Friday, the story shares the Friday routine between a dad and his little boy—breakfast at a local diner. It is not only adorable, but it might encourage you to take your child out for breakfast and start your own weekly bonding adventure.

Another interactive, lift-the-flap book, Daddies Are for Catching Fireflies celebrates all the little things daddies do, like letting their children sit on their shoulders and reading bedtime stories. Great for Father’s Day, it’s a fun book the entire family can share and will encourage your little ones to list their favorite things their daddy does.