Top Father's Day Picks
Photo by Nicole Blair
In case you missed it, Father’s Day is this coming Sunday: June 20, 2021! If it’s snuck up on you or if you’re still browsing for the perfect gift, we’ve got you covered. Read on for some of our teams top picks to show appreciation for the important men in your life.
From the Kiddos:
Rory the Dinosaur: Me and My Dad by Liz Climo
Meet Rory the Dinosaur. He loves spending time with his dad, but today he wants to go on an adventure all on his own. Rory can't wait to tell his dad about all the things he's doing by himself, like crossing rivers and finding shelter from the rain. But little does Rory know, his father is never far behind. There's nothing Rory's dad won't do for his intrepid son. Liz Climo celebrates the bond between father and child with her adorable, deceptively simple illustrations in this timeless story of a child's quest for independence.
Darth Vader and Son by Jeffrey Brown
What if Darth Vader took an active role in raising his son? What if "Luke, I am your father" was just a stern admonishment from an annoyed dad? In this hilarious and sweet Star Wars® comics reimagining, Darth Vader is a dad like any other—except with all the baggage of being the Dark Lord of the Sith. Celebrated artist Jeffrey Brown's delightful illustrations give classic Star Wars® moments a fresh parenting books twist, presenting the trials and joys of parenting through the lens of a galaxy far, far away.
You're Dad: A Little Book for Fathers (And the People Who Love Them) by Liz Climo
With humor, heart, and adorable drawings, Liz Climo celebrates fatherhood in all its shapes and sizes (and species). Featuring different types of dads and the paths they can travel, Climo’s whimsical animal illustrations take us through the adventures of fatherhood, commemorating the laughter and the tears as well as the stumbles and the triumphs.
For Fans of Founding Fathers & Other Historical Figures:
First Principles by Thomas Ricks
The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and #1 New York Times bestselling author offers a revelatory new book about the founding fathers, examining their educations and, in particular, their devotion to the ancient Greek and Roman classics—and how that influence would shape their ideals and the new American nation.
The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson
In The Splendid and the Vile, Erik Larson shows, in cinematic detail, how Churchill taught the British people “the art of being fearless.” It is a story of political brinkmanship, but it’s also an intimate domestic drama, set against the backdrop of Churchill’s prime-ministerial country home, Chequers; his wartime retreat, Ditchley, where he and his entourage go when the moon is brightest and the bombing threat is highest; and of course 10 Downing Street in London. Drawing on diaries, original archival documents, and once-secret intelligence reports—some released only recently—Larson provides a new lens on London’s darkest year through the day-to-day experience of Churchill and his family.
Blood and Treasure: Daniel Boone and the Fight for America's First Frontier by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin
This fast-paced and fiery narrative, fueled by contemporary diaries and journals, newspaper reports, and eyewitness accounts, is a stirring chronicle of the conflict over America’s “First Frontier” that places the reader at the center of this remarkable epoch and its gripping tales of courage and sacrifice.
For Sports Buffs & Adventurers:
Cheated: The Inside Story of the Astros Scandal and a Colorful History of Sign Stealing by Andy Martino
The definitive insider story of the cheating scandal that rocked Major League Baseball in 2019, bringing down high-profile coaches and players, and exposing a long-rumored "sign-stealing" dark side of baseball.
The Next Everest by Jim Davidson
Suspenseful and engrossing, The Next Everest portrays the experience of living through the biggest disaster to ever hit the mountain. Davidson's background in geology and environmental science makes him uniquely qualified to explain how this natural disaster unfolded and why the seismic threats lurking beneath Nepal are even greater today. But this story is not about “conquering” the world’s highest peak. Instead, it reveals how embracing change, challenge, and uncertainty prepares anyone to face their “next Everest” in life.
The Adventurer's Son by Roman Dial
An instant classic of outdoor literature, The Adventurer's Son is Roman Dial’s extraordinary account of his two-year quest to unravel the mystery of his son’s disappearance in the jungles of Costa Rica. Part detective story set in the most beautiful yet dangerous reaches of the planet, The Adventurer’s Son emerges as a far deeper tale of discovery—a journey to understand the truth about those we love the most.
For Genre Lovers:
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
A murderous android discovers itself in All Systems Red, a tense science fiction adventure by Martha Wells that interrogates the roots of consciousness through Artificial Intelligence: "As a heartless killing machine, I was a complete failure."
Dune by Frank Herbert
A deluxe hardcover edition of the best-selling science-fiction book of all time—part of Penguin Galaxy, a collectible series of six sci-fi/fantasy classics, featuring a series introduction by Neil Gaiman. Science fiction’s supreme masterpiece, Dune will be forever considered a triumph of the imagination. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, it is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who will become the mysterious man known as Muad’Dib. Paul’s noble family is named stewards of Arrakis, whose sands are the only source of a powerful drug called “the spice.” After his family is brought down in a traitorous plot, Paul must go undercover to seek revenge, and to bring to fruition humankind’s most ancient and unattainable dream. A stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism and politics, Dune won the first Nebula Award, shared the Hugo Award, and formed the basis of what is undoubtedly the grandest epic in science fiction.
While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams
As political wrangling ensues in Washington to potentially replace the ailing judge whose life and survival Avery controls, she begins to unravel a carefully constructed, chess-like sequence of clues left behind by Wynn. She comes to see that Wynn had a much more personal stake in the controversial case and realizes his complex puzzle will lead her directly into harm’s way in order to find the truth. While Justice Sleeps is a cunningly crafted, sophisticated novel, layered with myriad twists and a vibrant cast of characters. Drawing on her astute inside knowledge of the court and political landscape, Stacey Abrams shows herself to be not only a force for good in politics and voter fairness but also a major new talent in suspense fiction.
Additional photos, blog contribution, and editing by Shannon McCarthy.