Superdads! by Heather Lang and Jamie Harper, illustrated by Jamie Harper. Candlewick Press, 2024.9781536217964
Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 3.5
Format: Hardcover
What did you like about the book? This book shines a light on males of the animal species who contribute greatly (sometimes solely) to the care of their offspring. A kiwi dad sits on the eggs for up to eighty days! A giant water bug has up to 150 eggs stuck to its back. A Darwin frog carries his tadpoles in his mouth until they turn into froglets and he burps them up! Glass frogs can give their enemies a fierce kick if one comes near its eggs. African bullfrog dads dig a trench to a new water source if the water begins to dry up where his tadpoles are. So yes, there is a lot of very intriguing and interesting information here presented with artwork done in traditional and digital collage. The illustrations do a great job of depicting exactly what kind of heroes these animal dads are. Backpages include additional sources in books, audiovisual and online sites and also a little bit more about each animal addressed.
Anything you did not like about the book? I think the jokey asides detract from the information; also there is so little information about each subject – though there is a little additional information at the end. There is a lack of consistency jumping from birds to bugs to mammals and back again which only causes confusion.
To whom would you recommend this book? Animal Dads (1997) by Sneed B. Collard and Steve Jenkins does a better job. Though not specifically about dads, Partners and Parents (2000) by Michael Chinery and Animals Finding Mates (2018) by World Book are also more detailed and better organized.
Who should buy this book? Public and elementary school libraries
Where would you shelve it? E or J 590
Should we (librarians) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? No.
Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City: Katrina Yurenka, Retired Librarian, Contributor, Youth Services Book Review
Date of Review: May 8, 2024
Youth Services Book Review 
You must be logged in to post a comment.