Ahmet Zappa is probably best known for his famous surname — and for being the only one of the Zappa children with a semi-normal first name. However, he’s also a pretty darn good writer.
His famous father was best known for his political statements and creative music, as well as lyrics such as, “There is no hell. There is only France.” However, Ahmet is more about family fare. He wrote the film The Odd Life of Timothy Green, he’s working on a big-screen version of Fraggle Rock, and he just released his second children’s book.
After growing up with a learning disability, Ahmet made it his mission to write books that can help children discover the world of reading. Because I’m Your Dad continues that mission. It’s also the second time Ahmet has explored his fascination with monsters, which was first displayed in 2006’s The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless.
However, this is a picture book and it’s not scary in the least. These cute, cuddly illustrations were done by Dan Santat, who is also known as the creator of Disney’s animated hit The Replacements.
The book is absolutely perfect for bedtime. It’s an easy-breezy read about two monsters and their extra-close relationship. We get to see the daddy monster promising a childhood filled with tickles, French toast for dinner, robots, and super-loud rock music. It’s a sweet, simple story, with an ending that will bring a tear to your eye. I’m not kidding, either. My 6-year-old wanted to know what was wrong while we were reading. Be more prepared than I was, and plan to have a few tissues nearby.
If you’re already stumped about what to get for Father’s Day next month, this book is a winner that’s worthy of repeat reading.
“I wrote this book for anyone who is a father, has a father, or hopes to someday be a father,” says the author. Guess what, though? It works well on moms, too. If you want a little peek, check out the super-cute trailer below.
Disney Publishing Worldwide provided me with a copy of this book for review purposes.
