17 Best Books for Fathers Day for Kids: Celebrate Dad

A picture collage with children's picture books to celebrate Father's Day arranged in columns and decorative fun font for the booklist best books for Fathers day books for kids.

Best Books for Fathers Day for Kids. This book list contains the best picture books to celebrate fathers (and boy was it hard to make). Reading a heartwarming story together is a lovely way to take a moment and appreciate the strength and protection that dads bring to our lives. I have included living books and board books on this list that feature a dad’s provision and protection of his children. Make sure to save to Pinterest to help prepare for Father’s Day!

Celebrate Dad with a fun and inspiring story from this compilation of picture books with beautiful illustrations and heartwarming stories.

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17 Best Books to Celebrate Father’s Day: A Picture Book Collection

1. Hike by Pete Oswald

A father and son scale the word "Hike" on the cover of a book on the booklist outdoor books for kids. — Hike by Pete Oswald

This is one of my favorite wordless picture books. This amazing book follows a father and son as they hike a difficult trail, overcome obstacles, and make special memories.

2. Hush, Little Bunny by David Ezra Stein

A daddy bunny and a baby bunny smile at each other in a meadow of flowers on the front of the children's book "Hush, Little Bunny," a book on the best books for Fathers Day for kids booklist. — Hush, Little Bunny by David Ezra Stein

This sweet board book takes a spin on the beloved lullaby Hush Little Baby as a little bunny and his dad adventure around the farm.

3. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

A large nut brown hare looks down at the baby rabbit, holding onto his big brown ears on the old children's book cover of "Guess how Much I Love you." — Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare try their best to describe how much they love each other but soon discover that words cannot adequately express their love.

4. Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

A little girl reaches for her dad's hands as she walks down a snowy hill on a full moon night. — Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

A father takes his little girl owling. She trails behind her father quietly for when you go owling you only need hope. This is a classic outdoor book that focuses on a nighttime adventure.

5. One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey

Two siblings walk on the shoreline painted in green and black on the classic children's book "One Morning in Maine" by Robert McCloskey, a book on the ocean books for kids booklist. — One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey

Today’s a big day for Sal. She gets to go to Buck Harbor with her dad. The day starts with her discovering her first loose tooth, and the magical exchange for a tooth is a wish. Before heading to the harbor, she helps her dad dig for clams. While searching for clams, she notices her loose tooth is gone.

6. Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

A young black boy stands on the edge of a diving board looking down on the children's picture book "Jabari Jumps," a book featured on the best fathers day books for kids booklist. — Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

This is a great book about overcoming fears. Jabari has completed swimming lessons and is ready to jump off the diving board. His dad squeezes his hand and is there to encourage and support him.

7. A Different Pond by Bao Phi

A young boy fishes with his daddy in the early morning on the children's picture book "A Different Pond," a book on the best fathers day books for kids booklist. — A Different Pond by Bao Phi

In this sweet story, Bao’s father works two jobs to provide for his family. And in the early hours, he takes young Bao fishing to catch dinner before he heads out for his long workday. I love the focus on family and the father as the provider for the home.

8. Night Job by Karen Hesse

A dad and his son mop the basketball court at night on the front of the children's picture book "Night Job" by Karen Hesse, a book featured on the best fathers day books for kids booklist. — Night Job by Karen Hesse

In this picture book, a young boy goes to work with his Dad who is a school custodian. The son starts the night off by shooting baskets while his father sweeps the gym floor and reads aloud to his father in the library until he falls asleep. His father works hard through the night to complete his job.

9. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen

A family of three children and a dad are walking through a grassy meadow on an outdoor adventure. — We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen

Dad and the kids go on a bear hunt in the great outdoors. They traverse over various terrains and into a cave where they find a big shiny nose.

10. Pete’s A Pizza by William Steig

Pete smiles on the front of William Steig's book "Pete's Pizza." a book on the Best June picture books for kids booklist. — Pete’s A Pizza by William Steig

Pete’s father cheers him up by making a pizza, but this is no ordinary pizza. This pizza laughs when it’s kneaded.

11. Love You Little Lady by Brett Young

A dad dances with his little girl in their living room while mom smiles and watches on the picture book "Love You Little Lady" by Brett Young, a book featured on the best fathers day books for kids booklist. — Love You Little Lady by Brett Young

This beautiful picture book was inspired by the single “Lady” by country music singer Brett Young. It’s about the sweet relationship between a growing little girl and her parents.

12. The Apple Pie That Papa Baked by Lauren Thompson

Papa wearing black overalls, carrying a fresh apple pie, and holding his daughter's hand skips underneath the big apple tree on the children's book cover of "The Apple Pie that Papa Baked" by Lauren Thompson, a book on the apple books for kids booklist. — The Apple Pie That Papa Baked by Lauren Thompson

This delightful book reads like the English nursery rhyme The House that Jack Built. The author traces the apple pie back to the apple tree’s roots and the rain. The best part is the loving bond between the father and his daughter.

13. Because Your Daddy Loves You by Andrew Clements

A dad and child sit together on the beach on the children's picture book "Because Your Daddy loves You" by Andrew Clements, a book on the best fathers day books for kids booklist. — Because Your Daddy Loves You by Andrew Clements

This is such a great book to celebrate the love of a Father on Father’s Day. A father takes his young child to the beach with each mishap the father is right there to make everything better from losing a beach ball in the ocean to a melting ice-cream cone.

14. Our Shed: A Father-Daughter Building Story by Robert Broder

A dad and his daughter build a shed together on the front of the children's book "Our Shed: A Father-Daughter Building Story," a children's picture book featured on the best fathers day books for kids booklist. — Our Shed by Robert Broder

This lovely picture book is about a father and a daughter building a shed together. I love the practical skills being passed down to the daughter and the presence of her creative and wonderful imagination.

15. Papa’s Mechanical Fish by Candace Fleming

An inventor drives his creation of a mechanical fish in the busy Michigan Lake filled with fish on the book cover of "Papa's Mechanical Fish" by Candace Fleming. — Papa’s Mechanical Fish by Candace Fleming

Papa is a great inventor, but his inventions don’t necessarily work until he creates the mechanical fish. He takes quite a few tries to get the machine right. His family supports and helps him along the way. This book is based on true events and shares the story in the back of the book. While this book is not about oceans, I still wanted to include it. Once you read it, I believe you will see why.

16. Let’s Go to the Hardware Store by Anne Rockwell

A young girl and boy siblings stretch out a measuring tape in the hardware store with their dad on the beloved children's book "Let's go to the Hardware Store" by Anne Rockwell, a book on the Best August picture books for kids booklist. — Let’s Go to the Hardware Store by Anne Rockwell

This is a great book about a father and his children who go on an adventure to the hardware store to gather all the tools so he can fix the new house. The children examine different tools and materials. It is such a simple story with simple text and colorful illustrations.

This book is out of print. Check for it at your local library or secondhand bookstore.

17. The Berenstain Bears: We Love Our Dad by Mike and Jan Berenstain

The beloved Berenstain Bears surround papa bear with fresh lemonade on the book cover of "We Love Our Dad!" This is a classic paperback book featured on the best fathers day books for kids booklist. — The Berenstain Bears: We Love Our Dad by Mike and Jan Berenstain

If your little ones enjoy The Berenstain Bears, this is a great book for Father’s Day. The bear cubs spoil Papa Bear for Father’s Day by doing his chores around the house, but they need help quite a bit.

Featured Craft for Father’s Day

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Thanks for Stopping By!

Lastly, thank you for stopping by! Please say Hi in the comment section and share your favorite Father’s Day book on this Best Books for Fathers Day Books for Kids Booklist! This was a hard booklist to curate to give Dads honor. If you have any recommendations, please feel free to share them in the comment section. If you enjoyed this booklist, be sure to subscribe to my mailing list for monthly picture booklists delivered right to your inbox.

HAPPY Father’s Day!