The Best Part of Daddy's Day

PreS-Gr 1—This appealing picture book parallels Bertie's day at school with Daddy's day at work. Their days overlap when Bertie's dad, a construction worker, is in a crane and sees his son on the playground at school. When Bertie admits there were some "not-so-good" parts of his day, his dad reassures him that he also had some "not-so-good" parts and that being with Bertie is always the best part. Large, lovely watercolor illustrations beautifully complement the gentle tone of the story. All the characters are depicted as dogs, and the home, school, and work settings are painted in soft blues, greens, and yellows. The back cover illustration, which features a row of dogs in hard hats eating lunch on a steel beam, and paintings of Bertie with different "diggers" on the front and back cover pages show the thoughtful way the visuals support the text. Though family relationships are a common theme in picture books, the outstanding illustrations and focus on a father-and-son relationship make this selection stand out. The idea of a dad at work being able to keep an eye on his son is a comforting message for families who read this book together.