Celebrating Dad

from My Side of the Car

What makes a dad the best ever?

Ask a child and he or she might say:

He listens when I say things.

He helps me do stuff I want to try.

And when I need him?

He's right there, just always.

Here are three books that celebrate all the patience and love that comes wrapped up in a dad.

Roslyn Rutabega and the Biggest Hole on Earth, written and illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay ($16.95, Groundwood Books, 32 pages, 2010). Roslyn wants to dig the biggest hole on Earth, but every time she shovels down, she runs into creatures who scoff at her plan and tell her to go somewhere else. Will anyone believe she can dig all the way to the South Pole? Lucky thing Dad is near. In this sweet tale by the author of Stella, Star of the Sea, a father encourages his little girl to follow her imagination even when obstacles abound.

Mitchell's License, written by Hallie Durand and illustrated by Tony Fucile ($15.99, Candlewick, 32 pages, 2011). Rev up Dad's tummy, check the air in his slippers and climb onto his shoulders, Mitchell is driving him to bed. In this adorable tale, a three-year-old pretends his dad is a car, and Dad happily plays along, allowing him to yank his ears for reverse and squeeze his nose to make the car honk. But when Mitchell swerves over to the cookie jar for gas, he discovers that his car might have a mind of its own. Can it really hairpin turn without him?

My Side of the Car, written by Kate Feiffer and illustrated by Jules Feiffer ($16.99, Candlewick, 40 pages, 2011). Until now, something's always gotten in the way of Sadie and Dad driving to the zoo -- like when Mom broke her foot or the family dog got lost. But today is different. Sadie's just sure of it. Not even an escaped tiger can stop their plans. But what about the rain? Not if it's not raining on Sadie's side of the car. In this funny, endearing tale, a dad is tickled by his daughter's optimism and waits out the rain so she can do the thing she so anxiously wants to do.

Sweet New Books for Dad

Nothing beats a good snuggle on Father's Day. Here are just a few books to read in Daddy's lap.

Daddy Calls Me Doodlebug

By J.D. Lester, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata

Random House, 2010

$7.99, ages baby-preschool

A rosy-cheeked girl joins baby animals in celebrating the nicknames daddies give them in this tender board book about the special moments daddies and daughters never forget.

On one page, the girl bounces on Daddy's shins, yelling, "Yippee!" as Daddy calls her, "Doodlebug," while later a porcupine girl perched on a toadstool with flowers threaded through her quills, smiles as her daddy calls her, "Prickly Pear."

The Fathers are Coming Home

By Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Stephen Savage

Simon & Schuster, 2010

$16.99, ages 2-5

As night falls, fathers return to their little ones: a big green fish swims to a gurgling brook to see his tiny fry while a sailor fresh off his ship runs down the dock to embrace his happy boy.

Brown, adored author of Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny, celebrates the constancy of a father's affection in this spare, sweet picture book.

I Love My Dad

Written and illustrated by Anna Walker

Simon & Schuster, 2010

$9.99, ages 2-6

Ollie the zebra adores every moment he spends with his dad. He loves climbing trees up to the birds and best off all, getting a piggyback ride on Daddy's back to bed.

Walker's latest Ollie book will leave daddies and their smallest children feeling warm and squishy inside.