(4) K-3 Illustrated by Margie Moore. A young squirrel eagerly waits for his father to come home. He passes the time by making a special blue-ribbon award for Dad. Junior also recounts (in rhymes and meter that occasionally stumble) all the special things they do together. The black-pen and watercolor illustrations are full of cozy tones. A punch-out ribbon is the gimmick for Father's Day sales.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) K-3 When janitor Basil falls asleep on the job, a resourceful bird makes her nest on his head. Basil cherishes his new tenant and the three bird babies that follow. But when the birds fly away, will Basil be left with an empty nest? Rowe's childlike mixed-media illustrations are a fitting accompaniment to this oddball tale of finding family.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Daniel Howarth. Dad decides to accept his kids' invitation to have a "wild Father's Day." They imitate animals, running like cheetahs in the park and swimming like dolphins in the pool. A spark of fun is added to the repetitive text through the illustrations showing family members as animals but still wearing their trademark accessories (glasses, hat, or pink sneakers).

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Pam Paparone. Snail Langley's Father's Day presents have been duds. He's stumped again until he notices the natural elements (leaves, rocks) around him, then realizes the best gift is a day together. Though parts are clever, the message-y text ends with a whimper. Unfussy pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations use heavy black outlines and bright primary colors to make the snail family stand out.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Kathi Ember. Harvey the bear struggles to come up with a Father's Day gift for his dad, especially since his siblings have already taken the best ideas (a tie, nails, golf balls). There's nothing new about this drawn-out story's best-gifts-come-from-the-heart message, but the art is cheerful and the drawing Harvey eventually makes may inspire similarly stymied gift-givers.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 All New Holiday Crafts for Kids series. Illustrated by Sharon Lane Holm. Illustrated directions for twenty-two gifts--some for Mom, some for Dad, and some appropriate for either--explain how to turn paper, old neckties, cardboard, felt, and ribbon into the usual picture frames, cards, and refrigerator magnets. A few projects are clever, but most are uninspired.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz. Though Froggy's intentions are good, his Father's Day plans don't turn out quite as expected. He burns breakfast and accidentally hits his father with a baseball bat, then with a golf ball. But the mug he specially hand-lettered for his dad makes up for the mishaps. The simple, slapstick story and the colorful illustrations will please die-hard Froggy fans.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) 1-3 Marc Brown Arthur Chapter Book series. Assuming that Buster must dread the upcoming Father's Day picnic because his parents are divorced and his father isn't around, Arthur is so busy trying to find a substitute that he ignores Buster's true feelings. As with other books in the series, this story is based on a teleplay and relies on reader familiarity with characters and setting. The lesson stands out from the rather bland storytelling.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth