A Perfect Father's Day

by Eve Bunting, Susan Meddaugh (Illustrator)

Overview

"I'm taking you out for Father's Day," Susie tells Dad. "First we'll go for lunch." "Good," Dad says. "May I drive?" "Certainly," Susie says. She chooses the restaurant, and pretty soon Dad can see that she's filled this special day with treats—treats for both of them! When they get back home, Mom's final surprise (that isn't really a surprise at all) is a perfect ending for the perfect day.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780395664162
Publisher:	Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date:	03/22/1993
Edition description:	None
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	212,326
Product dimensions:	8.81(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.13(d)
Lexile:	430L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Eve Bunting has written over two hundred books for children, including the Caldecott Medal-winning Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz, The Wall, Fly Away Home, and Train to Somewhere. She lives in Southern California.

Susan Meddaugh was born and raised in Montclair, New Jersey. She graduated from Wheaton College, where she studied French literature and fine arts. After working briefly with an advertising agency in New York, she moved to Boston and worked at a publishing company for ten years, first as a designer, then art editor, and finally as art director. While there, she did the illustrations for Good Stones (Houghton Mifflin) by Anne Epstein, and then decided to strike out on her own as a freelance illustrator and creator of children's books. Since that time, Susan has written and illustrated many popular books for children, including Martha Speaks, which was chosen as a New York Times Best Illustrated Book for 1992. In 1998 she was awarded the New England Book Award, given by the New England Booksellers Association to recognize a body of work. Her work also was acknowledged with a New York Times Best Illustrated Award. She lives in Sherborn, Massachusetts.

Editorial Reviews

"It's Father's Day, and four-year-old Susie has planned a perfect outing with all the things she knows her dad will like the best. . . . Bunting's simple, witty text sketches a warm father-daughter relationship and affectionately glances at the four-year-old mind at work. Meddaugh's bright watercolors and pencil illustrations add to the humor as they show the two enjoying the day but with clearly differing levels of energy and points of view." Booklist, ALA

"Clearly the perfect Father's Day requires the perfect father, and Susie's parent quite literally takes the cake. Meddaugh's balloon-colored cartoons are perfectly tuned to the spirit of the day. With more spontaneity than most made-to-order picture books, this is an engaging family portrait and a winning tribute to 'Dad.'" School Library Journal

From the Publisher

A little girl plans A Perfect Father's Day, full of treats guaranteed to delight Dad. Eve Bunting's humorous text shows the four-year-old ferrying her father from one activity to the next. He gets to eat kiddie food, climb monkey bars and buy her a red balloon. Youngsters will love Susan Meddaugh's expressive watercolors showing numerous dads and youngsters in colorful crowd scenes. They will enjoy picking out the main dad and little girl, so clearly pleased with Dad's enjoyment of all her favorite things. This witty book is sure to spark both laughs and plans for Dad on his big day. 1991, Clarion,
— Mary Quattlebaum

Children's Literature

Susie takes her Dad out for a perfect Father's Day - it's a day full of all the activities that she loves best. It ends with a delicious chocolate cake and four candles and a special hug for Dad. Warm and loving relationship as seen through the eyes of a four-year-old and perfectly illustrated in pencil and watercolor.

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

PreS-Gr 1-It's Father's Day and four-year-old Susie wants to make it the best one ever for her dad, so she plans to do all of his favorite things, including lunch at a fast food restuarant, playing on the monkey bars, and riding the merry-go-round. When they arrive home after a busy afternoon, Susie announces that it has been a perfet day, and her dad agrees. Read by a young girl and an adult male, the clear, word-for-word narration of this Eve Bunting tale (HM, pap. 1993) aptly conveys the precocious innocence of Susie and the gentle patience of her father. Upbeat background music, reminiscent of a summer's day, quietly accompanies the story and allows time for page turns. The lively narration enhances Susan Meddaugh's illustrations and completes the feeling of love shared by a father and his daughter on a very special day of the year.-Veronica Schwartz, Des Plaines Public Library, IL Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

School Library Journal