What Mommies Do Best/What Daddies Do Best Book and Audiocassette Tape Set

by Laura Joffe Numeroff

Daddies can do lots of things, like bake you a birthday cake, play with you in the park, and take you trick-or-treating. But what do they do best? Mommies can do lots of things, like teach you how to ride a bike, sew a loose button on your teddy bear, and read you a cozy bedtime story. But what do they do best? The answer is made perfectly clear in this irresistible celebration of parents and the everyday things they do. The 2 texts are bound back to back and upside down.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Storytime, Animals, Fiction, Love

32 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Laura Joffe Numeroff is the NYT best-selling author of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, What Mommies/Daddies Do Best and Raising a Hero. She was born in Brooklyn, New York and graduated from Pratt Institute. Laura grew up as the youngest of three girls, surrounded by art, music, and books. An avid animal lover, Laura has always wanted to write a book about service dogs. She now lives in Los Angeles, California.

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The students LOVED that the "Mommy" story and the "Daddy" story were both in the same book that that each had the same text but differing illustrations. The book serves as one more in a list of texts that help us really drive home with the kids ideas about gender 'norms' and specifically (in this case) the idea that all parents are equally equipped to offer the same loving, caring experiences to children. Dads aren't the only ones good at building snowmen and moms aren't the only ones good at sewing the eyes back on a teddy bear. As we work to build equity and fairness across genders within the students' peer group, we want them to see examples of that equity continuing into and through adulthood.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet little book about what mommies and daddies do for their children. Read one side and then flip to the other. I read the daddy side first and was pleased to see that daddies don't just do the rough-and-tumble "guy" stuff with their kids. They sew on missing buttons and bake birthday cakes, too. I wondered what there was left for mommy to do, but found that mommies do the same things. The text is identical on both parts. The illustrations, featuring a host of different animals, convey fun and affection between parent and child.

[Danielle Mootz · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids LOVED this book. They enjoyed the mommy side and when I finished it I quickly flipped it and began the daddy side. You would have thought I was a magician.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that the book is two-sided! So fun!
A book about things you can do with mommy or daddy.

(Halloween is mentioned on both sides. Daddy dresses like a ghost, Mommy like a witch. Just so you know.)

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not only is this really sweet, but the mommies and daddies all do the same things - comfort a sad child, ride bikes, bake cakes, play catch, etc. Gender roles are for lesser books, y'all.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a sweet read. I picked this book out because I was being prideful and thought I'd like to read a story about what I do best. As I read through the book I thought to myself all of the things I've done for my children. When I got to the middle of the book I saw "Best of all, mommies can give you lots and lots of love!" As I glanced over to the next page I realized that it said the same thing but upside down and "mommies" was replaced with "daddies". I flipped the book around and to my surprise "What Daddies Do Best" was there. This just tickled me because it had everything that the mommies did, but the daddies did it differently.

This book shows a good sense on how mommies and daddies are different and they love their children in different ways but in the end mommy and daddy gives "lots and lots of love!" This book can be comforting for children who either live with both or only one of their parents. It can teach children even though mommy and daddy do things differently, they will still love you all the same. This is a good book to read aloud when you have a side-by-side day in your classroom. Students would feel proud to have their parents with them after reading that story. The only thing I would be wriery of is maybe a sturdent may feel bad becuse their parent isn't there but it is a good book to read on that day non the less.

Greade:Kindergarten, Lexile:390L, Guided Reading Level: E

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mommies and Daddies can teach you how to ride a bike, make a snowman and bake a cake. Plus so much more.
I didn’t know that this was flip book, you read the story one way and then flip the book and read a different storyline the other way. In this case, when you read one way it’s what Mommies do best. The other way it’s what Daddies do best. You see baby animals and their parents working together and having fun. Cute book.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this children's book because there is a lot of people out in the world who think a mom only can do this and dads can only do this. Me personally losing my dad at such a young age really teaches you that your mom can do anything and everything. So for all the children out there with single parents this book will show you all the things they do best:) also the illustrations are freaking adorable.

[Ginny · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book's set up was nice. It has "What Mommies Do Best" and "What Daddies Do Best" in the same book (Each story ends, and meets up, in the middle of the actual book). I think this feature would be great for a mother-father-child family, because both the mother and father could potentially read to the child with their specific portion of the book.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute story that highlights the fact that Mommies and Daddies can each do fun, great things with their children.

The Mommy story is on one side and the Daddy story is on the other. Our girls really enjoyed this story and we've read it a few times.

[Ginny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute. I liked how the book had the mommies and daddies not doing stereotypical gender things. Of course a Dad can sew on a teddy bear's missing eye! In this house, Mommy and Daddy definitely can do the same things!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of our favorite books for preschoolers. I love that none of the parents are completely excellent at everything, and that every activity is shown with two different interpretations. My kids love that the book reads forward and then turn it over and read it backward.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our twin toddlers are obsessed with this book right now. Their dad reads the daddy one and then they flip it over so I can read the mommy side and so it goes like a merry-go-round that won't quit. Good thing we all like it. Simple but so sweet.

[Angelica Bergman · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son really enjoys this book! He loves that there is a mommy and a daddy side. I like the fact that it lets kids know that mommies and daddies can both help and be there for anything. That they are both good at things, just differently. Great kids book!

[↜ƈɦǟռ☂ɛℓℓɛ↝ · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★What Mommies Do Best/What Daddies Do Best
Another great story, well kind of two. Mine is a flip book, one side for mommy, the other side for daddy. It shows various things you can do with each of them, but they both are going to love you.

[Dorothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: It’s about all the things that a dad can do, like teach a child to ride a bike, bake a birthday cake, read bedtime stories, or tuck a child in at night. BUT the best thing that Dads can do is give their child lot and lots of love. It’s about all the things that mothers can do, like hold you when you’re feeling sad or take care of you when you’re feeling sick. BUT the best thing that Mommies can do is give their child lots and lots of love. It's a book that is two for one, the beginning is What Mommies Do Best and then at the end of that part of the book What Daddies Do Best. The things that Mommies and Daddies do best throughout this book as similar. Like Mommies can teach you how to bake a cake and ride a bike like Daddies do. Also, Daddies can hold you when you're feeling sad or sick just like Mommies can. Mostly though both Mommies and Daddies are the best at giving their children LOT and Lots of love.

My thoughts: This was such a cute book for children. It just really showcases what mothers and father do for their kids. The things that kids don't even really think too much of, things that parents do because they're parents. For example, taking care of us when we're sick or feeling sad, or loving us even when we're a bunch of brats.

Use in the Classroom: I would use this book as a lead in to a project for Mother's Day and also for a project for Father's Day. Read each part of the book aloud for their specific day. What Mommies Do Best for Mother's Day and What Daddies Do Best for Father's Day.

[Paige Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of Numeroff’s What______Do Best Series. This story is about all the different things mom and dad’s “do best” like holding you when you're sad or taking you trick or treating. Numeroff uses a variety of animals to demonstrate these relationships, differing from focusing on one animal in her other series. Both stories have the same text and story and are combined in one book, but change either saying mommies or daddies. Not all students/children have a mom or dad, so you could incorporate other male or female figures that act like a parental figure to the child while reading. You could use the other books in this series to help with this too. This book has an interesting format because both sides of the book act as a front cover and tell the story from either mommy's side or daddies' side, and towards the end they meet in the middle, saying the same ending sentence. Students and children will think this book is “magic” with how you flip it to read both stories as well as how they both read the same but have differing illustrations and characters! The book shape is more rectangle and vertical and the illustrations and text are limited to one page - doesn’t cover the whole landscape. The covers are the same styling with differing characters and words. The format as well as the organization of this story shows students that mommy and daddies are equipped to show the same love to you and can do almost all the same things with you. Breaking gender norms. Lastly, it follows that same traditional, warm, and animal character style that Numeroff is known for.

[Luis Fe Domínguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Otra delicia para compartir con niños, ilustrado tan encantadoramente con una diversidad animal fascinante. Se convierte entonces, quizás, en una nana de cuna. Una declaración de amor al prójimo; una encantadora retahíla de acciones para hacer con mamá y papá al mismo tiempo, sin pretender quitar mérito a ninguno; una guía ilustrada para padres.

Su objetivo es directo y no pretende tomar partido de ningún bando, es más, se vuelve tan eficaz que la historia puede ser recursiva un montón de veces. Es decir, imagina la cantidad de veces que puedes utilizar este libro como discurso o argumento para demostrar que amas a otro ser que engendras o cuidas.

Lo mejor de todo es que pocas historias llegan a las manos de Latinoamérica, específicamente al Caribe para demostrar o justificar el amor hacia niños. Nuestros mejores cuentistas o ilustradores vuelcan sus energías en la política y las actividades sociales, quiere decir esto, que encontrar historia para relatar a niños de forma física, con un ingenio y encanto como esta produce placer y una determinación adición a la literatura infantil ilustrada.

[Maddi Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book for the early primary grades, kindergarten through first grade. I would categorize this book at contemporary realistic fiction.

I like how this book doesn’t favor a mother or a father. The book emphasizes the importance of both parents, regardless of the activity being done. I would own this book as a parent, as well as an educator. I think it is important to incorporate books that talk about family in the classroom. Students might feel homesick, or want to read something that reminds them of their family. This book is awesome because it does both! The only potential issue that I can think of is the confusion with the dual stories. Some students might not understand that you have to flip the book upside down, and start at the back to read the other part of the story. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book!

[Maliha Arman · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is an interesting way to introduce the different roles of parents. It compares and contrasts the roles but also states that no matter what both parents will love their child. I would really have to study my classrooms family dynamics before introducing this book in my class; due to the fact that some children may not have parents, may be adopted, and or not only have one of the parents present.

[Taylor Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was caught off guard with this one! Half way through it switched from dads to moms and had you flip the book the other way to read the text. Very creative. I love the concept and it is very accommodating in a classroom where single parents or same sex parents can be a touchy concept- so why not cover both moms and dads in the same book- but separately! Simple text, but very powerful intrinsically.

[Cathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that you can read half-way and then turn over and get a different story (so half is about daddies and the other half is about mommies). We own a couple of other books like that, and our kids loved them--so fun to see the different perspectives. This is a great children/parents book for little kids. Laura Numeroff's text is sweet and gentle, and Lynn Munsinger's illustrations are marvelous. She even makes porcupines look lovable!

[Julian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It helps kid start navigating the unnecessary gender divide that they will face throughout their whole lives. Mom throws baseballs and teaches her kid to ride a bike, while dad sews broken toys and takes care of the sick child. Both do exactly the same things and are good at them. Both love their kids and they show it. Family favorite at the moment.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm trying to read to my baby boy before he's born and while doing so, find the books I really like that I want to add to my registry and eventually his little library! My husband and I really liked this one. It has a side for mommies to read and when you flip it over daddies can read what they do best! Really cute with fun illustrations!

[Carina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I picked out for myself at my school library. I’m in 4K. When my mom read this book to me, we both thought “some of these things are things I do with my dad,” and then we were surprised to find that the book flips around and includes What Daddies do Best, too! Mommies and Daddies are great!

[Robby Owen]

This is a double book that I think is very unique because one side is slightly different than the other so a mom can read and a dad can read and have two different stories for the listener. I like how the author did this because I know from when I was a kid that it is nice to know that your parents do this for you.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this book shows that Moms and Dads love their children. I love how it shows that both can connect through the same activities with their children. I love books about parents and children connecting - which to me is one of the greatest sources of joy in life. 5 stars!

[Hannah S.]

These were very touching books. I had never see or read these until last year. The artwork that goes with it helps you be nostalgic about your own childhood.
It's nice that she has books outside of her regular series as well.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Animal Fantasy
k-1st
This is a really good book for young readers. It teaches the importance of our parents by using animals as the characters. A very good and quick read. I loved the illustrations and the creativity of using the animals.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it when I read one side. But was disappointed when it was the exact wording for the other side. I agree mommies and daddies can do all of these things equally, but as an adult reader to little people, the repetition was a bit too much of a cop out.