Title: Things to do with Dad
Author/Illustrator: Sam Zuppardi
Age Group: 1-5
Synopsis: When their day seems to be commandeered by chores, this young boy steers him and his dad back on course so they can complete their tasks and still have fun.
The Low Down:
Sam Zuppardi’s books aren’t usually text-heavy, but Things to do with Dad really skirts the edge of a wordless picture book. Zuppardi’s book doesn’t really need the words and instantly becomes more accessible to younger readers without them. As always, his illustrations speak volumes and his doodle-esqe style is charming and sweet. Bug was very excited that we would be reading this with Daddy soon.
The story starts almost magically, with a dad and son making breakfast and sitting down to huge plates of pancakes. These pancakes explode from the pan with planets, stars, and butterflies, not your everyday humdrum kind. However, the ever looming to do list interrupts the fun. It seems to even destroy the last few pancake butterflies that are dancing around the room. Nevertheless, Dad begins tackling each task, while trying to still engage with his son: bubbles with dishes, blocks while building bookcases, dragon battles with vacuuming. It isn’t working though. The chores are just too time consuming. The little boy decides to take matters into his own hands. He realizes that chores have hijacked his day with Dad. And so, making the bed becomes sailing pirate ships, hanging the laundry becomes joining the circus, and watering the garden becomes exploring the jungle. Father and son then share a sweet moment in their victory over the chore list.
Zuppardi somehow infuses each of his pictures with a warmth that really encompasses the love between these two. The hopefulness shines not only through the characters’ expressions but also the whimsical uplifting settings and color schemes. On the saddest page, where the vacuum is clearly trouncing dragon slaying, even the dragon looks disappointed. And when the new list of “adventures” is presented, the shadows fall so perfectly that it looks as though the list has received a blessing from heaven. The following pages somehow seamlessly flow from chore to adventure, leaving the reader with no doubt as to the level of fun that is being had.
As any parent can attest, completing chores while playing with your little one is extremely challenging. This morning, I convinced Bug that he was a Godzilla creature with sock hands and all the dust needed to be destroyed. I’m sure the recording of me voicing the high-pitched dust particles would be vastly entertaining. Unfortunately, there is no recording. Zuppardi captures that struggle and turns it right on its head. The book becomes not about a struggle but instead how important and meaningful those daily doses of adventure and imagination can be, especially when it’s with Dad. 
Story Tips:
- Turn your own chore list into an adventure list.
- Let your little one tell the story. If you need help with prompts and ideas check out my post on storywalking.
I need more!
I am an unabashed Sam Zuppardi fan. Check out my reviews on his other books: The Nowhere Box (such a fav that Bug has a special Nowhere sign in his bedroom) and Jack’s Worry. Also, keep up-to-date with Zuppardi’s newest releases by checking out his site: https://www.samzuppardi.com/
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