What do you think?
Say Daddy!
Mother shares a book about love while Brother shares a book about friendship. Next Aunt Grace shares a book about adventure. Everyone in this family is eager to share books and have the newest member's affection and attention. But all kidding aside, this family knows the bond that is created when reading aloud with someone you love. When Daddy closed the last page, he smiled at me for hours and said, 'Say Daddy! Say Daddy!' He hoped that would be my first word! But wait. Did we hear correctly? 'Book,' I said. 'Book!' Educator Michael Shoulders, who has devoted his career and life to spreading the word that "reading is magic," offers a gentle tale reinforcing the bonding power of a good book and the importance of developing lifelong reading skills. Having been involved in education in many different roles for more than years, Dr. Michael Shoulders travels extensively, visiting schools and speaking conferences across the country. He has written several books for Sleeping Press including D is for A Native American Alphabet. Mike lives Clarksville, Tennessee. Teri Weidner is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. Her previous children's picture books include Give Yourself to the Rain and Look Both A Cautionary Tale. Teri lives in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published February 21, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 27, 2016
1. Book Summary in your own words
In this book, everyone is reading a book to the newest member of the family since the day he was born. Every time a book is finished, they try to get him to speak. But the little one’s first word is not what you would expect.
2. Grade level, interest level, lexile
Grades 1-4
3. Appropriate classroom use (subject area)
This book would be a great tool to use in teaching the importance of reading and setting a foundation for loving books. The class could talk about which book in the story was their favorite and then take a class trip to the library to find the books each student likes.
4. Individual students who might benefit from reading
Students who love to read.
5. Small group use (literature circles)
Students can talk about the different books that are read to the little bear.
6. Whole class use (read aloud)
This book would be great to read to the whole class as it is full of pictures and different kinds of books. The students could wonder what the little bear is going to say for his first word.
7. Related books in genre/subject or content area
Daddy Hugs by Karen Katz
8. Multimedia connections (audio book, movie) available
I could not find any
In this book, everyone is reading a book to the newest member of the family since the day he was born. Every time a book is finished, they try to get him to speak. But the little one’s first word is not what you would expect.
2. Grade level, interest level, lexile
Grades 1-4
3. Appropriate classroom use (subject area)
This book would be a great tool to use in teaching the importance of reading and setting a foundation for loving books. The class could talk about which book in the story was their favorite and then take a class trip to the library to find the books each student likes.
4. Individual students who might benefit from reading
Students who love to read.
5. Small group use (literature circles)
Students can talk about the different books that are read to the little bear.
6. Whole class use (read aloud)
This book would be great to read to the whole class as it is full of pictures and different kinds of books. The students could wonder what the little bear is going to say for his first word.
7. Related books in genre/subject or content area
Daddy Hugs by Karen Katz
8. Multimedia connections (audio book, movie) available
I could not find any
December 7, 2018
Cute book that my daughter chose from the library (it’s obvious who her fave parent is 🙄). Loved the illustrations and storyline of all the family wanting the baby bear to say their name as his first words.
May 8, 2017
Baby gift book for book lovers! The family tries to get the baby to say Daddy, Mommy, Brother, etc. They all read baby a book. And baby's first word is BOOK!
July 18, 2023
I love this and wish they had said book first!
April 5, 2026
We love this book! We love the straightforward storyline that repeats itself with minor variation. Easy to read & the illustrations are calming to the eye. Highly recommend for little ones!
July 20, 2026
From my Aunt Tracy when she went to LA!
March 1, 2017
Sweet
2/28/17 Read with Naomi and Julia.
2/28/17 Read with Naomi and Julia.
August 6, 2011
SUMMARY:
Little Bear was born into a family filled with READERS! Mother Bear read him a book about kindness, caring, and love when he was still in the hospital. She hoped his first word would be "Mommy!" Daddy Bear read him a book about dreaming. He hope Baby Bear's first word would be "Daddy." And so continued the parade of family members who read their own special books to Baby Bear, each of them hoping their names would be his first word. They were surprised...and you will be, too...when Baby Bear said his FIRST word! What do you think it was?
I would give this adorable book to everyone I know having a baby shower or with a little one at home. It's so sweet in the descriptions and illustrations and the end will have you giggling. Lovely!
CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS:
Say Daddy is the perfect book for a family with a new baby and for preschoolers through grade 3 as they grow into readers themselves. It models a beautiful future filled with kindness, caring, love, devotion, giggles, hugs, families, and the joy of books!
LITERATURE CONNECTIONS:
You Can Do Anything, Daddy by Michael Rex
Daddy Mountain by Jules Feiffer
In Daddy's Arms by Javaka Steptoe
Someday is Not a Day of the Week by Denise Brennan-Nelson
Building with Dad by Carol Nevius
Grandfather Buffalo by Jim Arnosky
Horace the Horrible by Jack French Koller
Mommy's Best Kisses by Margaret Anastas
Little Bear was born into a family filled with READERS! Mother Bear read him a book about kindness, caring, and love when he was still in the hospital. She hoped his first word would be "Mommy!" Daddy Bear read him a book about dreaming. He hope Baby Bear's first word would be "Daddy." And so continued the parade of family members who read their own special books to Baby Bear, each of them hoping their names would be his first word. They were surprised...and you will be, too...when Baby Bear said his FIRST word! What do you think it was?
I would give this adorable book to everyone I know having a baby shower or with a little one at home. It's so sweet in the descriptions and illustrations and the end will have you giggling. Lovely!
CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS:
Say Daddy is the perfect book for a family with a new baby and for preschoolers through grade 3 as they grow into readers themselves. It models a beautiful future filled with kindness, caring, love, devotion, giggles, hugs, families, and the joy of books!
LITERATURE CONNECTIONS:
You Can Do Anything, Daddy by Michael Rex
Daddy Mountain by Jules Feiffer
In Daddy's Arms by Javaka Steptoe
Someday is Not a Day of the Week by Denise Brennan-Nelson
Building with Dad by Carol Nevius
Grandfather Buffalo by Jim Arnosky
Horace the Horrible by Jack French Koller
Mommy's Best Kisses by Margaret Anastas
July 13, 2011
Everyone wants the baby to say their name first as they spend time reading stories, and teaching the new baby about the world- but the baby just coos and gurgles. This is a wonderful story about family, and the importance of reading to children. Told from the perspective of a toddler, this story will touch your heart and make you giggle. Say Daddy makes a nice one on one storybook to read with your youngest child and also works as a story time book for themes like family or babies.
Interest Level: Preschool-2nd
Reading Level: 2nd and up
Interest Level: Preschool-2nd
Reading Level: 2nd and up
Read
October 6, 2009This is a book meant to be shared with a young child on your lap. It is warm and cuddly, as a great book should be. Our daughter listened closely and oohed and aahed over the baby bear. She laughed at the responses baby bear gave each person and asked about her first words.
Read our full review and add yours at the Reading Tub.
Read our full review and add yours at the Reading Tub.
June 26, 2011
This book is sweet and humorous. It depicts the way we try to teach children their first words. It also is a fabulous advertisement for reading and the importance of reading. The story is a wonderful one but truly came to life with the author reading it aloud to me this week - nothing like that voice! It would be a wonderful gift for a new father or any father, for that matter.
December 23, 2008
quote from
When Daddy brought me home from the hospital, he read me a book. He said, "This is a book about dreaming - and how our wishes wrap themselves inside tomorrows and wait for us. Unfolding them day by day can be fun."
#852971
When Daddy brought me home from the hospital, he read me a book. He said, "This is a book about dreaming - and how our wishes wrap themselves inside tomorrows and wait for us. Unfolding them day by day can be fun."
#852971
March 11, 2009
definitely a lapsit one on one rather than readaloud. adorable illustrations. everyone in the family enjoyes reading to baby and wants to be his first word for baby who shocks them all by saying "book".
November 18, 2011
A book about book love. What's not to love?! I wish the title were clearer as to what this book is about--nurturing the love of books and reading in little ones, with the supporting them of a loving family and showing by example. The book is so much more than the title. And the artwork is adorable.
September 15, 2008
The title caught me. Our little boy calls his Daddy other names instead of Daddy.
October 6, 2008
Such a sweet picture book! I got chills just reading and thinking about how much this child is loved just as (s)he is. Ages 3-6
December 15, 2008
Punchline: "Say book".
December 17, 2008
What a wonderful book!!!! Visually beautiful with such a loving theme throughout. This will be a book that I buy and save for my grandchildren.
December 15, 2008
How lucky to be born into a book-loving family :)
March 25, 2012
Everyone loves baby and hopes that s/he will be saying their name first.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews