A Father Like That

A young boy, whose dad left before he was born, imagines what it would be like to have a father around: they could leave the house together, do the dinner dishes, and play checkers. Dad would help with homework and reassure the boy when he has nightmares. "He would always be on my side, and I could always talk to him." But that's all wishful thinking. Yet his mother likes the father the boy describes, and she tells him, "In case he never comes, just remember when you grow up, you can be a father like that yourself." The first-person voice adds poignancy to the boy's daydreams. The warm-toned illustrations and close-up perspectives of the pretend family reflect an affectionate relationship between father and son. Originally copyrighted in 1971, at a time when fatherless families were becoming a societal issue, the text was most likely intended to be a reassuring, positive message. The handsome paintings depict a contemporary setting, but will today's young boys be consoled by the prospect of being a great dad when they grow up, or is that day too remote to make a difference in a boy's outlook? Cummins, Julie
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