“What are the best Children’s books about Dads?” We looked at 288 of the top Children’s books About Fathers, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top 39 titles, all appearing on 2 or more “Best Children’s Dad” book lists, are ranked below by how many lists they appear on. The remaining 200+ titles, as well as the lists we used are in alphabetical order at the bottom of the page.

Happy Scrolling!

Top 39 Best Children’s Books About Dads

39 .) A Perfect Father’s Day written by Eve Bunting

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Very Well Family

When four-year-old Susie treats her father to a series of special activities for Father’s Day, they just happen to be all of her own favorite things.

38 .) A Tale of Two Daddies written by Vanita Oelschlager

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• refinery 29

A story in rhyme in which a little girl describes what each of her fathers does best for her.

37 .) Baby Dance written by Ann Taylor

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Colours Of Us

For babies who are responding to music and movement, here’s a playful poem that has father and child dancing lovingly across the pages.

36 .) Bo at Ballard Creek written by Kirkpatrick Hill

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Biracial Bookworm

It’s the 1920s, and Bo was headed for an Alaska orphanage when she won the hearts of two tough gold miners who set out to raise her, enthusiastically helped by all the kind people of the nearby Eskimo village

35 .) Daddy Hugs written by Karen Katz

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Working Mother

The reader is invited to count the number of hugs that Baby receives from Daddy.

34 .) Enemy Pie written by Derek Munson

Lists It Appears On:

• Fatherly
• Goodreads

Hoping that the enemy pie which his father makes will help him get rid of his enemy, a little boy finds that instead it helps make a new friend.

33 .) Every Friday written by Dan Yaccarino

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes And Noble
• Colours Of Us

Every Friday a father and his child share a special ritual.

32 .) How Many Stars in the Sky? written by Lenny Hort

Lists It Appears On:

• Colours Of Us
• Goodreads

One night when Mama is away, Daddy and child seek a good place to count the stars in the night sky.

31 .) How To Cheer Up Dad written by Fred Koehler

Lists It Appears On:

• A Dab Of Glue Will Do
• Fatherly

A young elephant sees his dad is in a bad mood and tries to cheer him up, not realizing his own mischief caused the bad mood in the first place

30 .) How to Surprise a Day written by Jean Reagan

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Working Mother

There are many different ways to surprise a dad. Some surprises you make. Some surprises you do and some surprises you find. This fun book is full of tips to have fun with your dad and make him feel special.

29 .) I Love My Daddy Because… written by Laurel Porter-Gaylord

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Working Mother

Familiar phrases from a preschooler’s world give a child’s-eye view of being an animal baby. Many different animal fathers are shown caring for their young.

28 .) Just Dad and Me written by American Girl

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Colours Of Us

27 .) Just Like Daddy written by Ovi Nedelcu

Lists It Appears On:

• Dad
• Working Mother

This charming story offers a playful look at the common childhood desire to be “just like daddy.” A little boy wakes with the dawn and eagerly embraces his day. His enthusiastic account of his daily activities, rendered in vivid color by author-illustrator Ovi Nedelcu, alternate with the perspective of daddy himself. This gently ironic compare-and-contrast leads to a satisfying conclusion that is sure to resonate with all readers. Discover what makes it all worthwhile in this transcendent story that celebrates the bond between parent and child

26 .) Lola Loves Stories written by Anna McQuinn

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Biracial Bookworm

Lola loves to hear Daddy read a new library book each night, an activity that spurs her imagination and results in inventive play the next day.

25 .) My Dad Is Amazing written by Sabrina Moyle

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Working Mother

This board book salutes some things that make dad amazing.

24 .) My Dad is the Best Playground written by Luciana Navarro Powell

Lists It Appears On:

• A Dab Of Glue Will Do
• Colours Of Us

How much fun is your dad? Fathers and their children will love reading and rereading this glorious celebration of dads at their playful best.

23 .) My Dad Thinks He is Funny written by Katrina Germein

Lists It Appears On:

• A Dab Of Glue Will Do
• Working Mother

Features a long-suffering boy’s eye-rolling observations of his father’s bombastic and often corny sense of humor, which is comprised of groan-out-loud puns and wisecracking rejoinders.

22 .) Papa and Me written by Arthur Dorros

Lists It Appears On:

• Colours Of Us
• Goodreads

A bilingual boy and his father, who only speaks Spanish, spend a day together.

21 .) Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me written by Eric Carle

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes And Noble
• Goodreads

Monica’s father fulfills her request for the moon by taking it down after it is small enough to carry, but it continues to change in size.

20 .) Pet Dad written by Elanna Allen

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Working Mother

Denied a pet, Nell decides her father will do and sets out to train him to sit, fetch, and more but he only responds by barking “No!” until she finds the right reward.

19 .) Ramona and Her Father (Ramona, #4) written by Beverly Cleary

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Goodreads

The family routine is upset during Ramona’s year in second grade when her father unexpectedly loses his job.

18 .) Superhero Dad written by Timothy Knapman

Lists It Appears On:

• Parents
• Working Mother

Dad might not have a superhero mask or wear his pants outside his trousers, but his super snores can be heard a thousand miles away, he tells super jokes and can even make super-scary monsters go away at bedtime.

17 .) Ted written by Tony DiTerlizzi

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• The Guardian

A young boy manages to get his busy father’s attention with the help of a special imaginary friend.

16 .) Tell Me One Thing, Dad written by Tom Pow

Lists It Appears On:

• Dad
• Goodreads

Molly and her father play a bedtime game that shows how much they love each other.

15 .) The Daddy Book written by Todd Parr

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Colours Of Us

Represents a variety of fathers, with lots of hair and little hair, making cookies and buying doughnuts, camping out and taking naps, and hugging and kissing their children.

14 .) The Listening Walk written by Paul Showers

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Goodreads

A little girl and her father take a quiet walk and identify the sounds around them.

13 .) We’re Going on a Bear Hunt written by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes And Noble
• Goodreads

A typically wonderful Oxenbury family sets out with gusto on a bear hunt, and the old story comes to life. Paintings are simply marvelous … Rosen’s retelling is spare, with a driving rhythm, and some new sounds add sparkle to the traditional tale. A predictable story in which brave bear hunters go through grass, a river, mud, and other obstacles before the inevitable encounter with the bear forces a headlong retreat.…

12 .) Dad By My Side written by Soosh

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Romper
• Working Mother

A child celebrates a close connection with her father, from how they play together and teach each other new things to how he protects her and always makes time for her

11 .) I Love My Daddy written by Sebastien Braun

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Barnes And Noble
• Read Brightly

A father bear and his cub spend the whole day together.

10 .) Just Me and My Dad written by Mercer Mayer

Lists It Appears On:

• A Dab Of Glue Will Do
• Goodreads
• Very Well Family

Father and son go camping, but who is really taking care of whom?

9 .) Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale written by Mo Willems

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Barnes And Noble
• Goodreads

After Trixie and daddy leave the laundromat, something very important turns up missing.

8 .) My Dad Used To Be So Cool written by Keith Negley

Lists It Appears On:

• Fatherly
• Five Books
• Read Brightly

A young boy tries to imagine his dad as the cool guy who once played in a band, rode a motorcycle, and got tattoos before he became a father.

7 .) Nelly Gnu and Daddy Too written by Anna Dewdney

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Goodreads
• Read Brightly

Nelly Gnu spends a day building a play house with her father.

6 .) Owl Moon written by Jane Yolen

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Goodreads
• The Bump

On a winter’s night under a full moon, a father and daughter trek into the woods to see the Great Horned Owl.

5 .) Pete’s A Pizza written by William Steig

Lists It Appears On:

• Five Books
• Goodreads
• The Guardian

When Pete feels miserable because rain makes it impossible to play ball outdoors, his father finds a fun indoor game to play with his son.

4 .) The Night Before Father’s Day written by Natasha Wing

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Colours Of Us
• Very Well Family

In rhyming text based on “The night before Christmas”, a father’s wife and two children prepare several special surprises for him for Father’s Day.

3 .) Ask Me written by Bernard Waber And Suzy Lee

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Barnes And Noble
• Brit
• Romper

A father and daughter explore their neighborhood, talking and asking questions as they go.

2 .) Because I’m Your Dad written by Ahmet Zappa

Lists It Appears On:

• A Dab Of Glue Will Do
• A Mighty Girl
• Fatherly
• Romper

The son of an unconventional father promises a similar childhood for his newborn.

1 .) Guess How Much I Love You written by Sam McBratney

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes And Noble
• Goodreads
• The Bump
• Working Mother

During a bedtime game, every time Little Nutbrown Hare demonstrates how much he loves his father, Big Nutbrown Hare gently shows him that the love is returned even more.

The 200+ Additional Best Kids Books Featuring Fathers

20 Best Children’s Books Featuring Or About Good Fathers Sources/Lists