The Best Daddy of All

Daddy Tortoise and son Sebastian play an extended guessing game that doubles as a celebration of how animal dads care for their young in this picture book. As the pair cuddle up, Daddy describes varied activities (“This dad shows his children how to jump from stem to stem”), soliciting gleeful engagement (“That’s Daddy Grasshopper!”). Meserve’s whimsical nature illustrations—delicate line drawings washed with layers of semi-iridescent coloring—add charm to the exchanges. In one scene, a frog conductor leads an amphibian chorus; in another, fireflies glow beneath a moonlit sky. After touching on rabbits, bats, and more, Daddy’s quizzing turns to a series of clues (“one who plays hide-and-seek in the grass with his son”) that prompt heartwarming responses (“Oh, that’s a really nice dad”) to conclude this tortoise-centric tribute. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)