Wednesday, May 8, 2013

My Dad Thinks He's Funny - book review






Today's book in entitled, "My Dad Thinks He's Funny" authored by Katrina Germein and illustrated by Tom Jellett.  It is recommended reading for ages 5-8.


Dad jokes anyone?  We all have them filed away somewhere from our childhood  (fortunately or unfortunately).  Yes Dad jokes can cause your eyes to roll, make you exclaim, "I don't believe you just said that, and of course the long, long sigh..."Yea that's my dad alright."  If any of the above refer to you then you have to let dad be the nighttime reader of this book.  The one line zingers, string of jokes and fun wordplay in this book are admirable.  For example when people say, "How are you feeling?" Dad says, "With my hands."  Or the infamous ... "Would you like sugar?" and Dad says, "I'm sweet enough."  The changing size of the font throughout gives the book a crazy quirkiness.  The book is light-hearted, entertaining and provokes many laughs.  You can then dissect your own family and document the favourites of the dad living in your household.

Tom Jellet's illustrations are mixed media, colourful and cartoonish (is that a word?...well it is now) and gives the book a happy vibe.  Reading the book together will surely give everyone a good chuckle.  This would be a great book for Father's Day or for a new dad on the birth of his baby.





About the author:







Best-selling Australian picture book author Katrina Germein has been published worldwide. Her first book, 'Big Rain Coming', has remained continuously in print for over ten years and her recent title, 'My Dad Thinks He's Funny' was Highly Commended in the Prime Minister's Literary Awards. The sequel, 'My Dad STILL Thinks He's Funny', is soon to be published. Katrina's work has been featured on children's television programs such as Wurrawhy, Yamba's Playtime and Play School and her work has won Notable Book commendations form The Children's Book Council of Australia. Katrina calls Adelaide home but follows the sun around Australia as best she can. Her new picture book 'Somebody's House' will be published by Walker Books in May 2013. www.katrinagermein.com

About the illustrator:








Tom Jellett is an Australian illustrator based in Sydney. Tom has been an editorial illustrator for News Limited, working on The Australian, The Weekend Australian and The Daily Telegraph.
He has also illustrated a number of books for children, including Australia at The Beach by Max Fatchen, The Littlest Pirate series by Sherryl Clark for Penguin Books, The Gobbledygook is Eating A Book by Justine Clarke and Arthur Baysting, My Dad Thinks He’s Funny by Katrina Germein and the follow up My Dad Still Thinks He’s Funny for Walker Books.
Tom has also been included in the Editorial and Book category for Illustrators 53, exhibited at the Society of Illustrators, New York in 2011 and 2013. He was also included in Communication Arts Illustration Annual 2012, 3×3 Children’s Show No. 9, and was also Highly Commended in the 2013 Illustrators Australia Awards.

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