20 Adorable Kids’ Books for Father’s Day

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These adorable Father’s Day books for kids are perfect for dads to read with their little ones as they curl up on the couch together!

In my home, my daughter’s favorite reading partner has always been her dad. When she was little, she used to wait up till Dad came home, and then she’d jump up and down, asking him to read her a book. She’d already have selected one of her favorites by then!

My little girl is all grown-up now, but she still gets books as gifts from her father, and it’s a lovely tradition they continue. With Father’s Day coming up, I wanted to relive her younger days by sharing some of our favorite daddy-daughter books here.

The best Father’s Day books for kids include The Daddy Book for celebrating different kinds of dads, Hair Love for a touching father-daughter story, Just Me and My Dad for outdoor adventures and My Dad and the Fart That Shook the World for children who enjoy silly humor. This list includes board books, picture books and read-alouds for toddlers through early elementary school.

Quick Picks: Father’s Day Books by Age and Interest

• For babies and toddlers: I Love My Daddy, The Daddy Book, I Love My Daddy Because and I Love You More
• For preschool read-alouds: My Dad Is Amazing, My Daddy and Me and Hair Love
• For bedtime: Guess How Much I Love You and Tell Me a Story Before I Go to Bed
• For outdoor adventures: Daddy’s Little Scout and Just Me and My Dad
• For children who love funny books: A Wild Father’s Day and My Dad and the Fart That Shook the World
• For celebrating different families: Hair Love, My Papi Has a Motorcycle and And Tango Makes Three

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

20 Adorable Father’s Day Books for Kids

1. I Love My Daddy by Sebastien Braun

Best for: Toddlers and preschoolers who enjoy warm, reassuring stories.

Not all dads are the same. Some are quiet, some are loud; some are sporty, some are artsy. Even the same dad may be different at different times! But whatever the case may be, one thing is always common—your dad will love you. Braun brings this lovely message across through gorgeous illustrations, helping children feel secure in their dad’s love.

2. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

Best for: A gentle bedtime read for toddlers and preschoolers.

When it comes to books about a parent’s love, this one is right at the top of the list! Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare try their best to measure how much they love each other, only to discover that love is much bigger than any measurement. It is a sweet classic that children often ask to hear again and again.

3. Daddy’s Little Scout by Janet Bingham

Best for: Ages 4–8, especially children adjusting to a new home or change.

Change is hard, especially when it is something big, like moving to a new place. But everything is easier when you know Dad is with you! This cute book follows Little Fox and Daddy Fox as they explore and become familiar with their new home.

4. The Daddy Book by Todd Parr

Best for: Toddlers, preschoolers and classrooms celebrating different kinds of dads.

The Daddy Book celebrates all kinds of dads and highlights the many reasons they are special. Whether your dad walks you to school or the bus, wears suits or two different socks, has a lot of hair or a little, every father is special in his own way. Todd Parr’s bold colors and silly scenes make this a cheerful, inclusive read-aloud.

5. Up on Daddy’s Shoulders by Matt Berry

Best for: Preschoolers who love playful father-child stories.

Nothing can match the feeling of sitting on your dad’s shoulders. You can see the whole world while feeling secure because Dad is holding you. That is exactly what this sweet book celebrates, making it a lovely pick for Father’s Day reading.

6. I Love My Daddy Because by Laurel Porter-Gaylord

Best for: Babies and toddlers; available as a board book for small hands.

This beloved concept book begins with an affectionate scene between a human parent and child before moving on to caring animal families. Ashley Wolff’s rich illustrations make it a warm and comforting book for little ones to share with Dad.

7. A Father’s Song by Janet Lawler

Best for: An energetic preschool or kindergarten read-aloud.

When it comes to rough-and-tumble play, no one can beat dads! This lovely book features all the fun ways dads play with their little ones through an adorable rhyme. From funny faces to airplane lifts, lion roars and rolling in leaves, there is no end to what dads can do.

8. My Daddy and Me by Amy E. Sklansky

Best for: Toddlers and preschoolers who enjoy rhyming books.

Dads and their children are inseparable, much like bees and honey! Cute rhymes celebrate the many ways children and dads enjoy spending time together through every season.

9. My Dad Used to Be So Cool by Keith Negley

Best for: Preschool and early elementary children—and their rock-star dads!

You may have been in a rock band, covered in tattoos and incredibly cool, but once you become a father, you automatically enter dad mode! Keith Negley captures this transformation in a book that is fun for both parents and children. The bright, colorful illustrations make it even better.

10. I Love You More by Sebastien Braun

Best for: Ages 2–5 and children who enjoy simple rhyming stories.

If you are looking for a Father’s Day book for toddlers, this padded board book is a good choice. Papa Bear and Baby Bear love each other so much that they compete to show just how much! The rhyming text and simple illustrations make it easy for young children to follow.

11. Tell Me a Story Before I Go to Bed by Sam McBratney

Best for: A cozy bedtime read for preschoolers and early elementary children.

This lovely book is another gem from the author of Guess How Much I Love You. Anna-Sophia’s dad promises to tell her a story when they go up the “wooden hill,” but she must first work out what he means. It is a warm story about a familiar bedtime ritual.

12. Just Me and My Dad by Mercer Mayer

Best for: Little Critter fans and children who love camping and nature.

If Dad enjoys camping or outdoor activities, you absolutely must read this book! A father and son spend time outdoors, make mistakes, learn new things and have fun along the way.

13. My Dad Is Amazing by Sabrina Moyle

Best for: A funny and affectionate preschool read-aloud.

How would you describe your dad? Stronger than an elephant? Wiser than an owl? Sabrina Moyle offers even more creative comparisons, including “braver than a space explorer” and “cooler than a million popsicles.” Children will enjoy the silliness while celebrating why Dad is truly amazing.

14. Bertie: Just Like Daddy by Marcus Pfister

Best for: Preschoolers who love copying their grown-ups.

Bertie, a young hippopotamus, wants to drink coffee, read the newspaper, use a credit card and do everything just like Daddy! Daddy offers age-appropriate alternatives that still make Bertie feel capable. At the end, the tables turn when Daddy wants to play just like Bertie.

15. Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry

Best for: Ages 4–8, father-daughter reading and conversations about confidence.

It is endearing to watch a dad learn how to style his little girl’s beautiful, thick curls. Zuri knows her hair is special, and her dad is determined to help her create the perfect style. This loving father-daughter story also has an Academy Award-winning animated short film that families and classrooms can watch after reading.

16. My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero

Best for: Ages 4–8, father-daughter reading and community-themed lessons.

In a fast-changing world, children can feel confused and overwhelmed. That is why stability is so important—just like a father’s love. Daisy zips around her neighborhood on Papi’s motorcycle, noticing all the sights, sounds and changes around her. Through it all, Papi remains a reassuring presence.

17. A Wild Father’s Day by Sean Callahan

Best for: Preschool and early elementary children who love animals and imaginative play.

Dad receives a card wishing him a “wild Father’s Day,” and he decides the whole family should take the message literally and act like animals all day! Children will love the silliness while identifying the animals featured in the story.

18. My Dad and the Fart That Shook the World by Matt Coyne

Best for: Ages 4–7 and families who do not mind a little potty humor.

What is it with dads and farts? Some are smelly, some are loud, but Eddie’s dad’s fart can literally shake the world! Dad has let out a serious one, and now he and Eddie need to save the world from it. This is a hilariously silly pick for children who love laugh-out-loud stories.

19. My Papa Is a Princess by Doug Cenko

Best for: Preschool and early elementary children celebrating imaginative dads.

Adults may not think of themselves as particularly extraordinary, but a child’s view is very different! This sweet book shows a dad happily joining his child’s imaginative games, whether that means becoming a princess, a tea-party guest or something else entirely. The beautiful contrast between adult and child perspectives is brought to life through charming illustrations.

20. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Best for: Ages 4–8 and conversations about love, caregiving and different families.

This much-loved story is based on Roy and Silo, two male penguins at New York’s Central Park Zoo. After the pair build a nest together, their keeper gives them an egg that needs care. They hatch and raise Tango, becoming a family and showing children that loving families can take many forms.

Ways to Use These Father’s Day Books

A Father’s Day read-aloud can easily become a meaningful craft, writing or family activity. Try one of these simple ideas:

• Ask children to draw a favorite activity they enjoy with Dad or another special grown-up.
• Invite children to complete the sentence, “My dad is amazing because…”
• Compare the different dads, families and traditions represented in the books.
• Make a handmade card or Father’s Day coloring bookmark after reading.
• Let children create a short book about a funny or memorable day with Dad.

Classroom note: Some children may celebrate a father, grandfather, stepfather, two dads, uncle, guardian or another important grown-up. Teachers can frame the lesson as Father’s Day or Family Appreciation Day so every child has someone special to include.

More Father’s Day Crafts and Activities

• 20 Super Cute DIY Cards for Father’s Day
• 15 Fun Father’s Day Paper Crafts for Kids
• 15 Fun Father’s Day Printables for Kids
• 12 Useful Father’s Day Gifts Kids Can Make
• 15 Awesome Superhero Dad Crafts for Kids
• Father’s Day Scrapbook Layout Craft
• Father’s Day Rosette Badge

Father’s Day Printables from the Artsy Craftsy Mom Shop

• Father’s Day Color by Number Sheets
• Father’s Day Printable Activity Mats
• Father’s Day Coloring Bookmarks for Kids

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best Father’s Day books for toddlers?

I Love My Daddy, The Daddy Book, I Love My Daddy Because and I Love You More are gentle, colorful choices for toddlers. Their simple text and affectionate themes also make them easy to read more than once.

Which Father’s Day books work well as classroom read-alouds?

The Daddy Book, Hair Love, My Papi Has a Motorcycle and And Tango Makes Three work well for classroom discussions about love, caregiving, communities and different kinds of families.

Are there Father’s Day books for different kinds of families?

Yes. This list includes books about fathers and daughters, fathers and sons, animal dads, two-dad families and dads from different cultural backgrounds. A Father’s Day lesson can also celebrate grandfathers, stepfathers, uncles and guardians.

What activity can children do after reading a Father’s Day book?

Children can make a card or bookmark, draw a favorite memory with Dad, write an “All About Dad” page or create a mini-book about a special grown-up. These activities work well at home, in homeschool lessons and in the classroom.

We hope this list of Father’s Day books has given you plenty of ideas for Dad-and-kid reading time! Whatever your child’s age, you are sure to find something here, whether you want a heartwarming story, a bedtime classic or a hilarious tale. Who knows—Dad may want to read some of them again and again!