father’s day picture book

Turning Dad’s sarcasm into a family treasure

It’s hard to give gifts to my dad. Not that he’s picky… rather, he will be a truly happy, cheerful, and grateful man whether you remembered to give him a present or not. A terrific quality, but sometimes it’s hard to know if your gift really landed.

This year, I pulled out all the stops to make my dad a combined Father’s Day – Birthday – Anniversary present that would show him how grateful I am for him. The result was a book written and illustrated by me, poking fun of how insensitive Dad can seem, while simultaneously recognizing him for being the gentlest and most steady man I know. The book took about 40 hours to write and illustrate, and I was proud of myself for seeing this project through to the end, even after the initial buzz of a new creative endeavor had worn off. I printed 2 copies using the (awesome!) service Chatbooks, and had one book sent to Dad, one book sent to myself.

On a sunny Saturday morning, he opened his copy and I read him the story I’d written.

Did I succeed in making a grown man cry? Click the image below to see a slideshow of the book, then scroll down to find out.