NOSAKHERE GRIFFIN-EL
by Nosakhere Griffin-EL
For New Pittsburgh Courier
One of the amazing things about picture books is that they have the power to teach children and adults powerful lessons. Yes, picture books can even teach adults lessons, but only if we pay attention. This Father’s Day, June 18, I wanted to share books that serve as tools for fathers at all stages and ages.
First, I like to share with you the book titled “Irene’s Wish.” This book stresses the importance of fathers spending time with their children. The main character, Irene, wants to spend time with her father, who is an expert planter, but she cannot because her father is too busy working. So guess what she does? She makes a wish and it comes true. Well, not in the way you’d expect.
The author takes creative liberty and transforms the father into something that cannot move—a tree. As a result the little girl is able to spend time with her father. This book presents a powerful lesson to fathers—spend time with your children and do not choose to work hard all of the time!
The second father’s day book is titled “I Love You More Than…” This must-read book provides fathers with the language to express how much we love our sons and daughters. The author tells his son that he thinks about him all the time. The author clearly communicates to his son how valuable he is! The vibrant illustrations capture the playful and seriousness of a bond between a father and child. The purpose of the book is to highlight the importance of loving communication between father and child, while also providing fathers with words and phrases to use when talking with our children.
The last book, titled “Daddy Speaks Love,” is another must-read book. One of the things I love about this book is that it captures every aspect of fatherhood. The book captures the joy of a father holding his child for the first time. It illuminates the power of a father affirming his child after a mistake. It holds space for fathers as protectors who teach their children how to approach an unjust world. It elevates fathers as men who provide comfort to their children when they are scared. Yes, this book is a teaching tool for fathers to re-remember what it means to be a father. For new fathers, this book serves as a tool to guide you in your early days as a new dad.
I selected these three books because they help fathers realize the important role they have in raising their children to maximize their potential. These books also serve as tools to assist us in being better fathers and better men. Third, these three books provide us a language that we fathers can use when engaging in conversations with our children. Lastly and most importantly, these books center love as both the language and practice of fatherhood. Reading these books to will energize fathers to continue their process of loving our children to become great people!
These three books can be found at TheYoungDreamersBookstore.com.
(Nosakhere Griffin-EL, M.Ed., Ph.D, who resides in Pittsburgh, is co-founder of The Young Dreamers’ Bookstore, a semi-finalist for the BNY Mellon Up Prize Social Innovation Challenge Award, and the 2018 Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Community Advocate of the Year.)