Walter Wally

Composed of simple, rhythmic poetry terrific for reading aloud and bold illustrations that will delight young budding readers, What Daddy Did Today is a bedtime story for fathers to share with their kids. Don't little girls and boys wonder what Daddy does while he's at work—what he does when he's not by their sides? This sweet story takes them on a wild, imaginative journey speculating the possibilities of what Daddy's day looks like, but in the end reveals the only thing that matters: the love every father feels for his child.

I love the concept of this book. Most children are aware of what their fathers do for a living, but not exactly of what their work consists of, and certainly not why work would be so important that it keeps them away for the entire day. This book isn't an hour-by-hour agenda of what fathers do on a daily basis; it's a colorful, exciting tale that glorifies the diligence and determination of working parents. It will help children understand the extent of a father's love while simultaneously giving them a fun visual that helps them forget the tedious hours of waiting for Dad to get home.

The adventure is fun, the plot consistent, and the ending satisfying, making What Daddy Did Today a thoughtful, livening children's story. However, I can't say it is necessarily the perfect bedtime story, because of two reasons:

First, the illustrations are a bit off. They're obviously digitally drawn, so they're slightly mechanical in form, and the colors have no texture. They seem unprofessional for a children's book and are an amateur attempt at realism. While I love the vibrant colors and the cute animals/rainbows/stars, I just don't find them attractive. Not that children will complain, per say, but as a reader, this is just something that caught my eye.

Second, I find the theme rather outdated. For me, as a child, the question was never What did Daddy do today? but rather, What did Daddy and Mommy do today? Both my parents worked (and still do!), so I guess I never really was ever kept in the dark on just one parent. I understand there are households in which just the father works, so I'm not trying to trivialize, but what about the rest of them? What about families in which the mothers are the breadwinners, families that don't have fathers, families of raging feminists? This book is good for the soul, but bad for today's gender role issues. Again, this prominent conventionalism is not something a child with a homemaker mother and working father would EVER notice, but just a heads-up: the message, while tender, is not universal.

Pros: Child-friendly verses and storyline // Imaginative // Very little text, facilitating reading aloud // Great for connecting kids with their dads // Colorful, vivid full-page illustrations // Heartwarming message

Cons: Awkward illustrations // Rhyme scheme is too forced // A little démodé—negative in implications for modern gender roles, unemployed fathers, self-employed fathers, working mothers, single parents, etc.

Verdict: While the stiff pictures and yesterday's gender roles do irritate me a bit, What Daddy Did Today compensates with an action-packed, whimsical storyline that gives youngsters perspective on a father's duty to work, as well as his elemental love. A great read-aloud bedtime book, Walter Wally's debut is likely to fuel imaginations and delight. Recommended for children ages 3-7

Rating: 6 out of 10 hearts: Satisfying for a first read, but I'm not going back.

Source: Complimentary PDF copy provided by JKS Communications, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!)… (mehr)

What Daddy Did Today: A Father's Bedtime Story by Walter Wally
Very colorful children's book showing what one father does in his daily life. It's not the typical get in the car and drive to work and sit behind a desk.
This is very far from that. Starts with climbing a tree to rescue a cat, he climbs onto a lion because something else needs him to rescue them. This is very imaginative and shows a lot of different creatures.
Lot of good rhyming words also. Love the part about space, it's just right. We also find out what the father's best part of the day is.… (mehr)