The Best Daddy of All

By Peter Horn, illustrated by Jessica Meserve, translated by Johanna McCalmont. NorthSouth Books, 2025. 40 pages. $19.95/hardcover. Recommended for ages 4–8.

On a fall day, Sebastian and Daddy Tortoise discuss the fact that dads can help keep you warm. That leads to a discussion of other talents exhibited by fathers they know. This turns into a guessing game for Sebastian as his father gives him various hints. Daddy Tortoise might say the father in question can spin intricate webs that glisten in the morning dew and ask Sebastian whose dad can do that. Ultimately, this guessing game leads to the discovery of the best dad of all.

This lovely and loving tribute to fathers would be a great one to share with young children for Father’s Day. The detailed illustrations by Jessica Meserve are exquisite. The short biography of Meserve at the end of the book informs us that she finds inspiration and happiness from the outdoors. That is clear from the quality of the illustrations.

I think children would enjoy the guessing game in the text. Can they figure out which animal is being described? I highly recommend this book for families with young children.

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Eileen Redden serves as the young Friends book review editor for Friends Journal. She is a retired educator, a mother and grandmother, and worships with the Lewes (Del.) Worship Group.