Father’s Day was first celebrated in the United States in 1910, but it only became a nationally-recognized holiday in 1972. This year, it falls on Sunday, June 21. Some families might be spending more time than usual with their dads right now. Others are giving up some time with their fathers to help slow the spread of coronavirus. We have put together a list of titles to help celebrate the day, either way.

Dads

Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 2
Celebrate all that fathers do: building, fixing, cooking, cleaning, laughing, crying, hugging, playing and more! John Coy and Wing Young Huie—the author and photographer behind Their Great Gift—reunite for a new book that shows a wide range of fathers and children, particularly highlighting families of color and lower-income families, who often aren’t depicted in children’s books. This beautiful book is a perfect Father’s Day gift!

Mitzvah Pizza

Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 4
Missy loves Saturdays with her dad. Every week they do something special together. Usually, Dad brings the funds and Missy brings the fun, but this week, it’s Missy’s turn to treat with her own allowance—until she and her dad stop for pizza, and Missy discovers a special way to do a mitzvah.

Lily Learns about Wants and Needs

Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 2
Lily wants a new bike. And a new raincoat. And ice cream. But how many of these things does she need? As Lily and her dad drive around town, Lily soon discovers that wants and needs are different things. She picks out which things people have to have. She might even remind her dad that he doesn’t need root beer!

Cardslinger

Interest Level: Grade 4 – Grade 8
It’s 1881, and a newfangled card game called Mythic is sweeping the nation. Twelve-year-old Jason “Shuffle” Jones doesn’t like it. He and his father created the game for themselves, before his father went missing. Mythic should have disappeared with him. But when Shuffle discovers a clue in a pack of Mythic cards, he sets out on a quest to find his dad. Along the way he clashes with a devious card swindler, an epic twister, and the ruthless bounty hunter Six-Plum Skylla and her gang. As he gets closer to the truth, will he turn tail or push all-in to become a real hero?

Dad’s Favorite Cookie

Interest Level: Grade 1 – Grade 4
Yuka is a Japanese girl whose busy father has a ramen shop. Yuka cannot spend much time with her father. Read about her day spent waiting for him to come home.

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Looking for more books for the kids in your life? Check out our other lists!