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Why a Daughter Needs a Dad: A Unique and Thoughtful Gift for Dads or Daughters
From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Gregory Lang! The perfect gift of love or a sweet keepsake for a daughter of any age to show why Dad is so amazing! In this touching book, author and photographer Gregory Lang beautifully illustrates the depth of love, support, and guidance that fathers provide to their daughters. Through inspiring quotes, heartfelt reflections, and stunning photographs, this book is a reminder of the unique and irreplaceable bond shared between a father and his daughter. For new dads, fathers-to-be, or for that perfect father-daughter moment at birthdays, Father's Day, and other special occasions, this sweet storybook celebrates how a father is always there for his little girl. reminding her to be artistic, thoughtful, honest, and smart, but most of all, true to herself.
80 pages, Hardcover
Published May 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
June 20, 2022
Happy father's day everyone! I decided to review this as my daughter gave it to me (most likely chosen by my wife, but still) today.
The book is less of a "why" as the title proposes and more of fatherly advice for little girls. The pictures in it are sweet, with a daddy animal and a daughter animal interacting in some way. The book unfortunately falls in a category of children's literature that I'm not particularly a fan of: the book that is written obviously to make the parent emotional. This is the sort of book that I'm the obvious target audience and the child is the excuse to read it. I'm not particularly a fan of the style as there's a disingenuous aspect to it in my mind. That said, the gesture was nice and to my daughter I told her it was the perfect book.
All in all though, the book is cute enough and there's some solid lessons for a child here. 3/5 stars.
The book is less of a "why" as the title proposes and more of fatherly advice for little girls. The pictures in it are sweet, with a daddy animal and a daughter animal interacting in some way. The book unfortunately falls in a category of children's literature that I'm not particularly a fan of: the book that is written obviously to make the parent emotional. This is the sort of book that I'm the obvious target audience and the child is the excuse to read it. I'm not particularly a fan of the style as there's a disingenuous aspect to it in my mind. That said, the gesture was nice and to my daughter I told her it was the perfect book.
All in all though, the book is cute enough and there's some solid lessons for a child here. 3/5 stars.
December 5, 2022
This book is soooo cute for toddlers. I love this book, everyone has a dad and everyone needs a daddy. This is less about why a daughter needs a dad and more about father/daughter time and good advice from daddy. I couldn't help but remember my grandpa too. God bless all the daddy's of the world. Good gift for father's day.
February 26, 2023
As somebody who has a wonderful dad and wishes all little girl were as lucky I had to check out this book. It really is more for the dads than the daughters. Something that would be an emotional gift for the father's day the adult would enjoy but not so interesting for the kid. At the same time a toddler would definitely enjoy the illustrations which show different animal dads with their baby daughters. Definitely very cute.
June 16, 2025
Less of a 'why' book and more so just how to be a good kid? Probably better for older kids than my little baby
June 21, 2024
So cute. Thanks Aunt Erin!
July 30, 2025
I loved having my dada read this to me! He’s the bestest in the westest!
March 5, 2022
As my husband and I read this book to our children, we kept passing it back and forth from being legitimately brought to tears. Such a sweet book!
February 24, 2020
I cried. A lot. This book made me think of my dad. Also made me think of my husband as a dad to our daughter.
April 20, 2021
I literally only read this book because I was going to make a joke page-by-page review on my instagram stories but the more I read, the more personally attacked I felt and I didn't think it was funny anymore. lmao. So I mean, take this review with a grain of salt - I'm lacking in the ability to be sincere AND I have daddy issues so this is a twofer.
It's a dumb idea. No, a daughter does not need a dad. Moms are good. Grandparents are good. Whoever the legal guardian is = good. A child just needs a loving caregiver. I had a dad and I often think I would have been better off without one because he was abusive and/or neglectful. I think this sends out a weird message, is non-inclusive, and feels like it's one of those books that an Instagram mom would buy and then take staged pictures of her husband reading it to their daughter and then the book will be forgotten about forever.
Personal therapy shit aside, the book is honestly very repetitive and I - an adult (sort of) - could barely pay attention to the whole thing. I think a child would just be like "hey, why isn't dad teaching ME how to ride a bike or telling me that I'm super wonderful?" and it's just going to give them a complex instead.
The pictures are kinda cute.
It's a dumb idea. No, a daughter does not need a dad. Moms are good. Grandparents are good. Whoever the legal guardian is = good. A child just needs a loving caregiver. I had a dad and I often think I would have been better off without one because he was abusive and/or neglectful. I think this sends out a weird message, is non-inclusive, and feels like it's one of those books that an Instagram mom would buy and then take staged pictures of her husband reading it to their daughter and then the book will be forgotten about forever.
Personal therapy shit aside, the book is honestly very repetitive and I - an adult (sort of) - could barely pay attention to the whole thing. I think a child would just be like "hey, why isn't dad teaching ME how to ride a bike or telling me that I'm super wonderful?" and it's just going to give them a complex instead.
The pictures are kinda cute.
January 7, 2026
Bought this as a little something extra for my Dad’s birthday gift and OOF did it make me totes emosh 😭😭😭
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February 21, 2020Picture Book (age 5-7)
This title is an excellent book for a dad to read to his young daughter. The message portrayed in this book is one that every little girl needs to hear. They need to understand that they can be anyone they want. It also teaches values and morals that every little girl needs to have. Lastly, the most important thing is your little girl will learn through these beautifully written words that no matter what she does or becomes, she will always have her father's heart, support and that she will never be alone in this world. Your little girl will not only love the story; she will fall in love with the gorgeous illustrations of all the daddy and baby animals on every page.
This title is an excellent book for a dad to read to his young daughter. The message portrayed in this book is one that every little girl needs to hear. They need to understand that they can be anyone they want. It also teaches values and morals that every little girl needs to have. Lastly, the most important thing is your little girl will learn through these beautifully written words that no matter what she does or becomes, she will always have her father's heart, support and that she will never be alone in this world. Your little girl will not only love the story; she will fall in love with the gorgeous illustrations of all the daddy and baby animals on every page.
December 3, 2021
While the text doesn't always go with the illustrations--animal fathers and babies in nature are shown, while the text often refers to strictly human activities like riding a bike and performing in a school play--the pictures are still darling and smile-inducing. I could definitely see this as a Father's Day gift a dad and daughter could read together. And, I greatly appreciated that one page emphasized the value of kindness to both other people AND animals--an important lesson that is too often ignored in materials directed toward kids and families. Kindness counts for all of us!
March 22, 2024
This book has a weird theme of exclusive belonging: it insists that every daughter *needs* a dad. Well what happens if they don’t have one? What happens if someone is raised without a dad?
Kids will survive without a dad. In insisting “every daughter needs a dad,” the author is creating difficult questions that dads will have to answer down the line, when simply *not* insisting every daughter needs a dad in itself creates a better understanding of the reality that not every person will (or necessarily needs to) grow up with a dad.
Kids will survive without a dad. In insisting “every daughter needs a dad,” the author is creating difficult questions that dads will have to answer down the line, when simply *not* insisting every daughter needs a dad in itself creates a better understanding of the reality that not every person will (or necessarily needs to) grow up with a dad.
June 16, 2021
A lovely book with sweet sentiments about a Dad and his daughter. Each page has a cute watercolor drawing of a grown animal with a baby one. I bought this for my Grandson who is new father. My Great-Granddaughter is three months old; so it will be awhile before she can enjoy it, but Daddy will enjoy it now!
June 6, 2023
Bought this for my son who is expecting his first child, who be be a girl, with his fiance. Such a sweet story explains why daddys are important and not just to daughters but to all of their children.
December 6, 2024
I read this to my 2.5 year old daughter. I loved the cute and colorful illustrations, and all the rhymes. 16 pages of sweet words from a dad to his daughter. Planning to give this on Father's Day for my husband to read to our daughter.
June 18, 2019
Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
November 10, 2019
This book is great to read with your children. My daughter loved it and I'm sure yours will too.
September 3, 2020
Excellent pictures but I was not a fan of the words when reading to my young children. It did not rhyme and was not catchy.
June 21, 2021
This is actually a really cute book.
June 28, 2021
Why a Daughter Needs a Dad was very similar to Why a Daughter Needs a Mom; both were cute with nice reminders for the daughter to know they will always be there for them.
July 23, 2022
I got Daddy this book for Father’s Day. I loved reading it with him today!!
December 25, 2022
Healing my inner child cause my abusive dad
January 13, 2023
Beautiful illustration! Not sure the text will completely apply to every family but over all cute & sentimental.
June 11, 2023
A sweet, poetic ode to the bonds between a father and a daughter. Artwork portrays a variety of animals, fathers and daughters.
June 11, 2023
Cute art, poor writing.
June 11, 2023
Reminding Me Of My Father Long Passed
This book is beautiful. Thank you for creating it for all of us daddy’s girls. Love! Happy Father’s Day. :)
This book is beautiful. Thank you for creating it for all of us daddy’s girls. Love! Happy Father’s Day. :)
December 14, 2023
Got this for my niece to give to her father (who has custody), they both really liked it.
January 5, 2024
A cute book that my toddler likes to read with her Daddy.
January 16, 2024
Though I usually prefer whimsical fun books, this book was a wonderful read and ensured tear ducts were still working.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews