Daddy Makes the Best Spaghetti

With Father's Day coming up I thought I'd share our long time favorite book celebrating Dad.

The Details:


Written and Illustrated by Anna Grossnickle Hines
Copyright 1986
Grade level (according to Scholastic) Pre-K to Second Grade


This book has been well loved and well read in our house for the past 9 years.  We got it in June of 2009, the first year my husband became a dad.  While scholastic.com has the reading focus of this book for preschoolers through second grade, we have read Daddy Makes The Best Spaghetti to our children since infancy.  The girls love it and when it's daddy's turn to read at night or around Father's Day this is the book they use to always pick out, now-a-days they have a much larger variety of books they like to read but it's still on the shelf and ever once in a while they ask him to read it to them.

The title alone grabbed my attention.  My husband is a great cook, and he loves spaghetti and pizza so I knew I was getting this book just based on the title, then when I saw the cover image it sealed the deal.  A good dad is someone who is there all the time, a great dad is one that is there and is fun and silly. The cover art portrays that fun loving child-father relationship.  The spaghetti pot of the head marching around having fun.  This "fun" dad is through the whole book, which I think is why it's a favorite of ours.  The dad is excited and happy to spend time with the child, and makes everything they do entertaining.

Anna Hines wrote a wonderful story that captures this one child's evening with his family.  It's beautiful.  Dad picks Corey up from day care, they talk about dinner, go shopping, and cook, just in time for Mom to get home and eat together.  After dinner Corey helps mom clean up, then gets a bath, book, and bedtime.  I love the family bond that is captured in both the illustrations and the text.  The two tie together seamlessly.   If you want to read more about the book check out what Publishers weekly said on their review.

There are so many lessons in this book to take and apply while reading


1. Talk to your children about meals, get their input on what to eat.
2. Take them shopping with you, let them help you with the list and point out prices.
3. Let children help you in the kitchen!  OK I know this one is hard at times when you're rushing to get meals done and kids off to their sports or bed, but when possible let children help you cook.
4. Chores.  I mentioned in Benny's Pennies about how we took that book and started chores to earn money, and how kids like to help.  Something as simple as setting the table gives them responsibility and lets the be involved.
5. Talk about the routine of your day.  For older kids you can have them tell you what Corey's routine is.

Dads have a way to make everything seem fun, and Anna Hines made the dad in this book comical, and never dull, representing everything a father figure should be.

We have a little time still before Father's Day so if you're looking for a book for your children to share with their dad, or to give as a new father's day gift, or an announcement I'd recommend this one
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And don't forget to share with Dad why he is the best! (Link back to I Love You More Than Rainbows for some ideas)

I hope all the great, silly, fun-loving, entertaining dads out there have a wonderful Father's Day. Before I leave I want to leave you with a couple articles that praise father's and show why we celebrate dads and how important father figures are:
The Important Role of Dad
Why Kids Need Their Dad

Gift ideas for Dad:

I Love You More Than Rainbows

My kids love holidays...all occasions to celebrate anything.  So with Valentine's Day this week they read and reviewed I Love You More Than Rainbows by Susan E. Crites.  It's not necessarily a Valentine's Day book but it does talk about loving people more than objects and makes a great point.

Before I go into my review let me give you the details:

                                           Written by: Susan E. Crites

                                           Illustrated by Mark and Rosemary Jarman

                                           Published in Nashville, Tennessee by Tommy Nelson Jan 2008

                                           Copywrite: 2007

                                           Format: board book (link above), also available in hardcover

This is another great used book find that I picked up when my youngest daughter was 2 because it was a colorful board book and has been well read in our house.  On Amazon it says this book is for children aged 5-6 but again I want to argue with this.  I started reading this to my 2 year old daughter and it was immediately a favorite that she'd ask for over and over again.  We'd cuddle up on the couch and I'd read aloud how much I loved her.  It was such a sweet bonding time we had together.  I would say get it for your babies and enjoy it for many years, when they learn to read they can read it to you telling you they love you more than all their favorite things.

I love the message that Susan E. Crites sends to children in this book.  We can like and enjoy many experiences but we love each other more than that.  To take a couple quotes from her book:

"I love you more than a candy store filled with all your favorite treats."

That sends a very clear message to children.  No matter what there is in the world I love you more.
Crites did a wonderful job coming up with so many different things that people say we love, and showing that we love our kids and each other more.

"I love you more than the fun you have when you make lots of noise!"

The illustrations are wonderful throughout the whole book.  Each page transports the readers to a new place, new season, and new adventure that children enjoy doing.

This book can be used for any holiday that you talk about loving someone else, it would make a great lesson for libraries, preschool through first grade.  Valentine's day you can talk about friendship being more important than favorite food, toys, or activities and how we love our friends more and what we love to do with our friends.  It would also work for Mother's and Father's Day as well.  Here are some examples:

To make these they can be as simple as you need just using construction paper and writing the note, or to give more of a gift attach a favorite candy bar, or cookies in a jar to make together.  Use your imagination and create something special.


The lesson learned from this book is so valuable.  I reference the book all the time, when the kids are fighting over who ate the last (in today's case) mint, or used special markers or stickers.  These are big deals in our house.  I have to sit each child down and explain how the object that is gone is only a thing and can be replaced, the important thing is that they love each other more than anything, and that I love them even more.

The Bottom Line: A Valuable Lesson and Wonderful Book

The Illustrations: are fun, vibrant, attention grabbing, and aid the story

The Story Line: is easy, fun, and entertaining to read

Make sure you tell the ones you love how much you love them!