My Dad is a Grizzly Bear

This book is a tribute to Dads everywhere who love being Dads and who love being with their kids.

It captures a small child’s view of his father – the size, the strength, the security and the kindness, as the family go about every day activities – at the movies, going for walks, having parties and going camping.

The illustrations by Dapo Adeola are bold, bright and funny, with great use of colour. He is known for challenging stereotypes around race and gender and portrays a happy mixed-race family in a community of diversity.

There is a variety of sized font in the text denoting increasing volume, and many descriptive words are in bold for emphasis making it easier for children to anticipate what might be going to happen next.

This is a fun book and I would recommend it for pre-schoolers and Dads everywhere.

Title: My Dad is a Grizzly Bear

Author: Swapna Haddow (NZ)

Illustrator: Dapo Adeola (UK)

Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books

ISBN: 9781529013979

Price: $17.99

Format: Paperback

Publication: May 2021

Ages: 3-5 years

Reviewer: Anabel McPhee, Librarian, The Catlins Area School, South Otago

Recommendation: Recommended

Opening sentence: “Shhhh Beware. My Dad is a grizzly bear.”

You can buy this book here