A List Of Books I’m Going To Miss Reading To My Kids

Celebrating Sant Jordi and waving goodbye to some stone-cold classics

Illustration by Tiny Hands Big Heart. Buy this print here.

Did you manage to catch C’mon C’mon? I doubt it’s being streamed on anything you subscribe to but it’s well worth the time you’ll spend tracking it down. Joaquin Phoenix stars as Johnny, a podcast producer for a show clearly meant to be This American Life. The film, shot in a captivating black and white by the Director of Photography who would later give Poor Things its distinctive look, is a visual feast. Johnny travels around the world and is an expert at exposing the emotional core of his interviewees. He does this whilst keeping his own heart emotionally locked away. The film follows Johnny as he spends a week solo parenting his neurodiverse nephew Jesse, getting a wild crash course on fatherhood, and … well. I don’t want to ruin it for you. But I’m 100% confident that “readers who enjoyed The New Fatherhood would also adore this.”

The movie is a classic odd couple pairing. The child who adores stories is paired with a man who crafts them for a living. An adult who knows but cannot feel, with a child who feels and is beginning to know. Johnny reads Jesse a bedtime story twice in the book. The first time, early in the film, they read The Wizard of Oz. Johnny is stunted and flat in his delivery, struggling to connect with the material and his nephew. Jesse interrupts with questions that only a neurodiverse nephew would ask. Later in the movie, they try again. I looked for this moment and couldn’t find it online. So I decided to put it on YouTube myself.¹ If I get in trouble, it’s your fault.

Click to play on YouTube. I can’t embed it. That will probably stop me from getting arrested. YOU WOULDN’T DOWNLOAD A CAR.

He reads Star Child, a children’s book by Claire A. Nivola.

“To visit planet Earth you’ll have been born as a human child.

At first, you’ll have to learn how to use your new body, to use your arms and legs, to pull yourself upright. You will learn to walk and run. To use your hands, to make sounds, to form words. Slowly, you will learn to take care of yourself. Here it is still and peaceful, but there, the colours, sensations and sounds will wash over you constantly. You will see so many living things, plants and animals beyond imagining. Here, it is always the same, but there everything is in motion, everything is always changing.

You will be plunged into Earth’s river of time.

There’ll be so much for you to learn, and so much for you to feel. Pleasure and fear, joy and disappointment, sadness and wonder. In your confusion and delight you will forget where you came from. You will grow up, travel, and work. Perhaps, you will have children, even grandchildren of your own.

Over the years you’ll try to make sense of that happy, sad, full, empty, always-shifting life you are in. And when the time comes to return to your star, it may be hard to say goodbye to that strangely beautiful world.”

Tears ensue—in the film and on the sofa.²

Last week, I spent a few days in London, hunting down some strategy work, speaking to potential new coaching clients, and checking in with friends. I met with Hana, a close friend and writer of the best TNF guest essays ever. We spent time in a bookshop riffing through the piles to find a treat to bring home to our kids. We shared our favourite children’s books with each other. We talked about which part of Snail and the Whale hit us hardest in the feels. (Mine? “She gazed and gazed, amazed by it all, And she said to the whale, “I feel so small.” Hers? “I must not fail,” said the tiny snail." 🐌🐳)

We all know bedtimes can be tough. But bedtime stories can be their most redeeming feature. A great book is an opportunity to introduce your children to new worlds, to characters that might shift their sense of self, and to allow their minds to expand and wander to places previously locked away. That’s why I loved talking to Jon Klassen earlier this year. His books have facilitated countless memories between me and my kids. Something about his work invites the reader to inhabit his characters in a way very few authors can. That list is short: The Gruffalo, the works of Mo Willems, or anything that features a Basset Hound because my kids happen to share their house with one.

I’ve come to realise that a great book can really help you dad out.

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Today is Sant Jordi. As I’ve written previously, April 23rd marks my favourite day on the Barcelona calendar:

April 23rd is St George's Day. And, two years in, I continue to be surprised by the love my adopted home has for the patron saint of my birth one. When you think of St George's Day in the UK, it's hard to shake the vision of a bunch of beer-bellied England fans heading to the Red Lion to sing "God Save The Queen", asking each other "why does everyone go out for the Irish day and not the English one?"

Here in Barcelona, it's an altogether different affair and one of the biggest holidays on the Catalan calendar. In the morning, you'll see kids heading to school dressed as "Sant Jordi" (the local translation) or the soon-to-be-slayed dragon, eventually meeting in the playground as they stare each other down and prepare for battle. In the evening, couples walk the streets, hand in hand, with local landmarks covered in roses.

The tale of Sant Jordi is one you might be familiar with: A dragon holds a small town hostage, demanding to be fed. When the town runs out of cattle, they start to offer their young daughters, chosen by pulling straws. When the king pulls the straw for his own daughter, he attempts to rectify his mistake by offering her hand in marriage to whoever can slay the fiery beast. Sant Jordi enters, stage left. Ends the dragon's life with a sword through the throat. Marries the maiden. And in the spot where the dragon bled out, a beautiful rose bush blossoms year after year. This translates into a local tradition of men giving roses to important women every April 23rd. Not just girlfriends and wives but also mothers, sisters, friends, colleagues and clients.

Also: since 1995, April 23rd has been World Book Day. You've seen those cute kids dressed up as book characters on your Instagram (and on the school run) on this day each year. Here in Catalonia, they've combined the celebrations. A sea of pop-up stalls cover the city, selling books and roses. Traditionally, roses are bought for women, and books for men. But traditions move on, and now you can buy whatever you like, for whomever you like.

A children’s book is a magical thing. A great one will last a long time: first, you’ll read it to them, then, you’ll read it with them. Later, they’ll read it to you—and if they have siblings, fingers crossed they’ll read it with each other. You can start the cycle all over again. Or hand a well-worn copy off to a friend with a glowing recommendation.

It doesn’t take a huge mental leap, or a deep last-time meditation, to realise that the clock is ticking down on some of the books I hold close to my heart. There are some things you take with you out of The Tunnel. Other objects must be left behind, for others to pick up on their journey through the darkness. I’ve spent a long time reading kid’s books. And—spoiler alert—not all of them are good. But, lucky for you, there’s gold in them thar bookpiles.

So, here’s a list of books I’m going to miss reading to my kids. Consider these all well-tested and TNF-approved.

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A brief interlude before we get to the list.

1. If you buy anything from these links, TNF will get a small kickback from evil supervillain Lex Luthor Jeff Bezos. 100% of this affiliate money goes directly into the Therapy Fund. So every time you buy a book, Bezos pays for a few minutes of therapy for a dad in need. So buy with glee, I guess? Apologies that these aren’t Bookshop.org links but I can only figure out how to get those working for US readers. The admin behind the scenes on this post was all getting too much, we’re three thousand words deep, countless hours spent sorting through the bookshelves at home, and I’m desperately trying to finish it before the clock strikes 12 and it’s no longer Sant Jordi.

2. This is where, in the old days, I’d have put a big old paywall, forcing a few dads to fork out cash so they could read the list of books. But we’re trying to do things differently from most newsletters here. Thanks to the 370 parents who have already contributed to “unlocking the commons,” I’m making the entire list of 40+ books available to all 15,433 of you.

If you can, I’d love you to help keep TNF accessible to all dads by signing up for a subscription. This is the last week to get 33% off a yearly sub. I’ve been bowled over by the response to this experiment so far and am hoping we can hit 400 subscribers by the end of the month. We’re getting achingly close.

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Without Further Ado: The TNF Approved Kids Book List

For 0-3 years (AKA “I already miss reading these”)

• The Going to Bed Book, Sandra Boynton, 1982 I have no idea how many times I’ve read this book, but it’s at least 500, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that number was over a thousand. There were times I was waiting for a baby to sleep and I’d read it ten times in a row. This was the soundtrack to my children dozing. I once experimented to see if I could do a Keanu-with-the-camera-thing-in-Speed and record a Voice Note of myself reading it to swap my umpteenth live recital outside the bedroom to a pre-recorded version. And it kinda worked? I can recite this from memory without error, probably more accurately than the Our Father prayer.

• Hippos Go Berserk, Sandra Boynton, 1977 Same author going through her rebellious phase. “One hippo, all alone, calls two hippos on the phone.” It starts small and escalates quickly, like the teenager posting on his socials that his parents are away for the weekend before hundreds of kids turn up to trash his house.

• Triangle, Jon Klassen, 2017 Get your kids on the Klassen train early with his Shapes books. This one with a very naughty triangle, as we know all triangles are.

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle, 1969 I’m not sure it’s as good as we all remember it. But maybe that’s the point. Timeless.

• Press Here, Herve Tullet, 2010. Want to raise a little artist? The Herve Tullet books should be high on your list. This one invites young listeners to play a playful and imaginative game with the reader—simple instructions with colorful payoffs.

• Oh, The Places You'll Go!, Dr. Seuss, 1990 You want your kid to believe they can do anything they set their mind to. Get this book in rotation and start having them believe it as early as possible.

For 3-6 years (Enjoying their last few years and tears in the sun)

• When I Was Born, Isabel Minhós Martins, 2007 Reflects on the wondrous moments of discovery in the early years of life. This hits me in the feels like very few others do. Stunning illustrations too.

• Poo Bum, Stephanie Blake, 2011 When you’re four years old, the word “poo” holds power like few others. Poo Bum is the book to harness that power for parenting delight.

• Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss, 1960 Another classic. Seuss does what only Suess can, telling a whimsical story and making the simple act of trying new things into a heroic redemption arc.

• Oh No George!, Chris Haughton, 2012 Also known as Oh No Branston! in our house after our basset hound. The story of a dog trying to make good decisions with delightfully unexpected results. Haughton’s other books are also worth checking out, each containing a philosophical quote inside the front matter that unlocks a secret within.

• This is Gus, Chris Chatterton, 2019 Another basset book! This one features a grumpy hound who only loves sausages until a tiny basset puppy enters his life.

• Mix It Up, Herve Tullet, 2014 Your kid liked Press Here? Here’s where you head next. All about colour palettes and encouraging creative experimentation.

• I Am Invited to a Party, Mo Willems, 2007 There’s a whole host of Mo Willems books coming up. I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of his oeuvre, but everything I’ve read I’ve loved. Here’s a perfect introduction to two characters you will come to love: Gerald the elephant and Piggie the pig. Join them as they prepare for a party where THEY MUST BE READY for whatever the night may throw at them.

• I Broke My Trunk, Mo Willems, 2011 Next up, Gerald the Elephant tells the absurd story of how he broke his trunk. It IS a crazy story.

• Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, Mo Willems, 2003 Willems breaks out of the Gerald and Piggie series with an interactive book that encourages back and forth with younger children—an argument between a pigeon and a narrator where you and your little one can play together.

• The Snail and The Whale, Julia Donaldson, 2003 Like I said up top, this one gets me without fail. Each time I read this to my kids I worry I might never do it again.

• The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson, 1999 “A mouse took a walk in a deep dark wood,” and children’s books were never the same. A masterclass in rhyme and repetition. A staple in every house that loves a good bedtime story. Another that I can pretty much recite from memory. The sequel is equal.

• The Detective Dog, Julia Donaldson, 2016 Donaldson rhymes like no other. Whilst my heart will always belong to The Snail and The Whale, my head says this one is a more enjoyable experience to read together.

• The Hat Trilogy, Jon Klassen, 2011-2016 Klassen’s magnum opus. The greatest trilogy since Christopher Nolan convinced Christian Bale to don a batsuit. A collection of tales on hat-adjacent skullduggery and the most fun you’ll have reading to your kids.

• Show and Tell, Rob Biddulph, 2019 25 children in Class 2L partake in a show and tell competition. A creative and spirited contest of show-and-tell at school where imagination wins, featuring a cast of kids consisting of almost every letter of the alphabet, from Adam to Yao (and featuring a special guest alien Zog).

From 6-9 years (I still have a good few years left on these)

• Hair Love, Matthew A. Cherry, 2019: A heartwarming ode to loving your natural hair, an inspiration for an Oscar-winning animation, and a celebration of fathers and daughters everywhere.

• Ada Twist, Scientist, Andrea Beaty, 2016 Follow a curious girl who uses science to understand her world. Positive role modelling for those who want their daughters to grow up believing they can be anything. Also worth checking out other books in the series like Iggy Peck, Architect and Sofia Valdez, Future Prez.

• We Are in a Book, Mo Willems, 2010 Willems gets meta, channelling his inner Charlie Kaufman as Gerald and Piggie become self-aware, realising they’re in a book that becomes a delightful experience for young readers. I never tire of Gerald starting to panic when he looks down and realises they’re running out of pages.

• KEVIN, Rob Biddulph, 2018 I’m biased, of course. But even if the book were called DAVE I’d have loved it just as much. Explores the power of creativity and the importance of owning up to your mistakes through the adventures of a boy and his hairy imaginary friend, Kevin.

• The Skull, Jon Klassen, 2021 Klassen’s first book for older kids. A folklore story about what happens when the underestimated seek their fortune. Probably the most beautiful book I own, including all my grown-up ones.

• The Day The Crayons Quit, Oliver Jeffers, 2013 Crayons have feelings, too! Jeffers lets each colour tell its origin story to its owners in letters that are both funny and poignant.

• All the Ways to be Smart, Davina Bell, 2018 Celebrates the many different ways children can be smart beyond the academic. Lovingly crafted with a positive messages.

• This Is How We Do It, Matt Lamothe, 2017 A rich glimpse into the daily lives of children from around the world, emphasizing all the wonderful things that make us different and all those things that make us the same.

• Greek Myths, Jean Menzies and Katie Ponder, 2021 A book so good I wrote an entire newsletter about it. The illustrations are phenomenal. The follow-up Norse Myths paired illustrator Ponder with another writer—it didn’t quite capture the original magic. Last week, I picked up Egyptian Myths, featuring the original duo, and have high hopes based on an initial flickthrough.

• Matlida, Roald Dahl, 1988 Finishing up with a stone-cold classic, as we cross the line where picture books end and chapter books begin. I’d like to have said, “I could pick any Roald Dahl book here,” but to be honest, some haven’t aged well. This book, however, is worth its weight in gold, and you can follow it up with the Netflix adaptation of the musical, which is a RIOT.

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My list ends at age nine because my knowledge base maxes out here. If you’ve got any tips on what we should read next, or feel like there are books that deserve to be on this list that I’ve missed, let me know in the comments.

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Good Dadvice

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This week’s illustration is from Tiny Hands Big Heart, a Barcelona-based street artist originally hailing from Ireland. My daughter and I have been huge fans of her work since it started popping up around the city; I’m delighted to share her Sant Jordi illustration here. You can buy it as a print if you like.

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1. Hilariously, today is also World Copyright Day. The universe has a wonderful way of raising a smile.

2. A24 released a limited version of the book. Because, why not?