Where is daddy? It's storytime!

Storytime is one of the most coveted parts of my day! Some days the 20 minutes I spend reading with my son is all we get together if my work keeps me out late. Bedtime reading has been a ritual we have honored ever since I figured out how to cradle him in one arm while holding a book and turning pages with the other hand. In all this reading a question began creeping up that is starting to bug me. Where is daddy in the baby books?

Right from the start reading "Mama and Me" just didn't feel right. All of these baby animals with their mothers but no daddy in sight. To give the publisher Baby Einstein the benefit of the doubt, I went to their site and searched for father, daddy, and dad. All I got was one book about sign language and products with Spanish words like "Ciudad". Another book we read is "I
Love You As Much". I love my kid as much as the grain in the mill or the grass on the hill too! So you should understand when I say that ending the book with "Now sleep child of mine while the stars shine above, I love you as much as a mother can love" just didn't sit right with me.

There are others also. Take "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" and "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" for instance. While Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton Tail were compliant bunnies, Peter was clearly a "strong willed bunny" and needed to hear the instructions about Mr. McGregor's garden from his dad. I don't know about yours but my dad would have taken care of all that jumping before anyone fell off and bumped their head.

Of the six books pictured above only one mentions a father which is in the predictable distant protector role. Don't get me wrong, I never knew my protective side could be so sharp until I had a child. At the same time he gets all of the hugs and kisses I can dole out. Primo Papas understand the need for both!

If you want a few books that showcase daddy's love for their small children try these out. For papas who have read them or others, let us know what you think.