"Superdads work super hard to house
and hide their young.
A baya weaver dad uses his excellent
engineering skills to attract a mate
and make a home for his future chicks.
He ties together hundreds of strips of
leaves and grasses using only his beak."
Thirteen days until we celebrate the fathers, grandfathers, uncles, sons, and other male caregivers who make life better. In the animal kingdom, there are some dads who do remarkable things. While often it is the moms who get the credit for most of the child rearing, it is interesting to note that dads can and do take the lead.
A brown kiwi dad takes charge in egg-sitting, keeping developing chicks warm for 'up to eighty days'. Imagine the patience! Compared to the two kiwi eggs, a giant water bug dad has 150 eggs stuck on his back, doing endless push-ups to keep them oxygenated until they are ready to hatch. Superdads are very good at making the environment safe and healthy for their young.
Other dads are deft workers when it comes to creating a home for the family, as well as assuring that the young are safe from predators. A sungrebe has secret compartments under his wings to keep his chicks safe. The authors go on to share the various ways that dads help feed. protect, play with and teach important life skills.
"A sandgrouse dad flies long distances across the
desert to find water. He drenches his feathers and
then races back to feed his thirsty chicks."
The text is important and includes excellent information about many dads in the wild I did not know. I think kids will really like learning about them. The comic strip illustrations add context, while also featuring most enjoyable humor. Speech bubble conversations will appeal to adults sharing this book.
Organizing the presented information according to the tasks carried out by the male members of certain species might encourage kids who love research to check to see if they can find other dads who act in the same way. In back matter, the authors reintroduce each creature considered and tell where each lives and then adds a fun fact that is sure to surprise. A list of books for further reading, online resources, audiovisual resources and an internet connection to the authors complete the book.
Kids who love surprising facts will appreciate this book, and have lots to share with friends when they are done their reading. Hooray for dads!
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