Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In an intergenerational tribute to matriarchs, What Grandmas Can't Do by Douglas Wood, illus. by Doug Cushman, joyfully enumerates all of the activities that require the help of a grandchild: baking "your favorite cookies," for instance, or telling stories (Grandmas "need a really good listener"). The first two books in this popular series are now available in mini-editions: What Moms Can't Do and What Dads Can't Do. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-A little green dinosaur gives examples of the "things that regular people can do but dads can't," such as cross the street without holding hands, read a book by themselves, or play hide-and-seek without always getting found. This amusing picture book will tickle youngsters' funny bones and make every parent and child smile with recognition. The simple, large-print text consists of one sentence per page. The negative litany is of course a reflection of the efforts of loving fathers to make their sons feel good about themselves. "Dads like to go camping, but they need lots of help setting up the tent. And cooking. Dads like to go fishing, but they don't like to go alone. And they need extra practice baiting the hook." Cushman's large, delightful, pen-and-ink and watercolor cartoons are reminiscent of the characters in The ABC Mystery (HarperCollins, 1996), and they capture perfectly the father-and-son interactions of this appealing reptilian pair. "And most of all, whatever happens, a dad never ever stops loving you." Whether read one-on-one or in a group, this story is sure to generate smiles all around. A great choice for Father's Day programs.-Wanda Meyers-Hines, Huntsville/Madison County Public Library, Huntsville, AL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
The point of view never waivers as the young, green, reptilian narrator enumerates all the things dads--and especially the green reptilian one pictured--can never do. Dads can't cross the street without holding hands, they lose at checkers and cards, and Dads can push, but they can't swing. However, the airy watercolors with pen- and-ink provide a slightly different perspective. All dads should be so incompetent! From HORN BOOK Fall 2000, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Cushman (The Mystery of the Monkey's Maze, 1999, etc.) gives this sugary recitation of paternal imperatives an unusual slant by portraying child and dad as a single-parent family, but that's about all it has going for it. With breezy assurance the young narrator lists all of Dad's faults: he "can't cross the street without holding hands," can push a swing but not sit in one; loses at checkers and cards; needs "help" shaving, cooking, and reading; likes to give baths but can't help getting splashed, and so forth. The child, who, like his ingenuous-looking father, is portrayed as a green, iguana-like creature with hair and human clothing, finishes on a heavily reassuring note: Dad "never quits" (children of divorced or separated parents will certainly buy that) and "never ever stops loving you." Compared to the more natural give and take of Virginia Miller's George and Bartholomew stories (Be Gentle!, 1997, etc.), the father/son relationship here leaves no room for individuality, and comes across more as wishful thinking than any sort of achievable model. (Picture book. 6-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
