It’s the very last edition of Dad’s Bookshelf for 2023, and I think we’re finishing the year off very strong. These three picture books are in serious consideration for next month’s Dad Suggests Picture Book Awards, and there’s probably a good chance you’ve seen them being advertised around social media recently.
There are a few artists being featured here that are household favorites for us as well – particularly Oliver Jeffers and Sara O’Leary. Those two authors have a proven track record over the years cranking out picture books that we love every single time. Which of course means I’m very excited to show off and talk about their latest creations.
The three books we’re showing off are Begin Again, The Little Books of the Little Brontës, and Tooth Mouse Pérez – and one thing that makes me very happy about this set of books is their focus on storytelling. The power and importance of storytelling has always been a soft spot for me, and a surefire way to capture my heart and my interest. And these books all highlight that important magic in their own way.
One book approaches storytelling from a global perspective, and ponders how the stories we tell ourselves create our identities and our futures. One explores how imagination and stories can build a happy life, and how vitally important they can be for a magic childhood. And the last book is just a good old-fashioned fairy tale itself, and explores how famous children’s stories can differ from country to country.
I hope you enjoy discovering these new books as much as I did, and that this final edition of Dad’s Bookshelf for 2023 proves to be a fun and useful one. Happy New Year to all of you and see you in 2024!
Dad’s Bookshelf is a continuing, monthly series featuring the kids books we are most excited about each month. The series is named after the real life bookshelf we have in our home, where I keep all of my favorite picture books of all time. While the books we share on Dad’s Bookshelf are often brand new releases, it’s also not uncommon for us to be excited about an older book we just discovered or rediscovered.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links that will lead you to view the books on Bookshop.org and Amazon.
