Daddies

Before lights out, a boy and his dad pretend that they’re 13 different kinds of animals, which allows them the opportunity to giggle, tussle, make funny noises, and celebrate all the ways they adore each other. Prap’s (Animal Lullabies ) perky rhymes assure readers that fathers and sons are very much a team—that affection isn’t just about hero-worship: “My daddy is an elephant,/ he is so very strong./ But when he has to lift a tree,/ he’s glad that I’m along!” Bordered in simple geometric patterns, the full-spread pictures have the feel of murals. Prap favors bold, heavily outlined shapes and bright colors, using subtle mottling to add warmth. Her characters smile confidently at readers, communicating the pride they take in their command of the world and their sense of unity with each other. Ages 3-up. (Oct.)