IT'S Dad's big day this Sunday.
If you find it hard to express how you feel about him, why not let someone else do it? These books about dads are just the thing for putting into words just how much your dad means to you.
- Dads are the Original Hipsters, by Brad Getty. Published by Chronicle Books, 136 pages, $14.95.
In today's image conscious world, young men seeking to stand out from the crowd will be surprised to discover their route was trail-blazed long ago by their fathers.
Skinny jeans, skateboarding, big headphones, you name it, your dad did it. Brad Getty has put together an entertaining collection of photos, mostly from the '60s and '70s, that prove his point: those guys who are now called dad were pretty cool back in the day.
Not only did your dad set some long-surviving fashion statements but he did some impressive stuff that today's hipsters will be hard pressed to match. Your dad rode motorcycles, went to music festivals, traveled around the world, protested, partied all night, and did many more activities that paved the way for the next generation.
After looking through Getty's book you will likely have a lot more questions for your dad and possibly gain a new respect for him.
- Terry Peters
- Handy Dad in the Great Outdoors, by Todd Davis. Published by Chronicle Books, 160 pages, $24.95.
There are many activities that you can do with your children but few will create memories that can compare with a camping trip. Time spent outdoors as a family is full of fun and adventure for a child and a lot more work for the parents.
To help Dad with keeping the campsite together and the kids entertained Todd Davis has packaged 30 inspired activities together with easyto-follow instructions.
From camping basics like how to set up your tent properly, to traditional skills like starting a fire without matches, Davis moves on to fun activities like playing flashlight tag and building a bridge across a stream.
Teaching your kids outdoor survival skills through fun projects are great ways to make the camping experience more exciting. Blazing a trail, using a compass, getting water from a tree are all things Davis includes. There are also pranks to pull like creating fake blood and making your own ghost fog.
With a little help and planning you can take ideas from this book and turn them into a camping trip your family will always remember.
- Terry Peters
- Darth Vader and Son, by Jeffrey Brown. Published by Chronicle Books, 64 pages, $16.95.
What if Darth Vader had been around for Luke Skywalker's childhood?
Would they have played hide and seek together? How would Vader have dealt with bedtime or putting toys away?
Jeffrey Brown draws us into to his cartoon version of this unlikely father son combo and puts his own spin on some typical scenarios.
From space travel and the perennial back seat question of "Are we there yet?" to having to explain what you do for a living, those normal comments from children get a brand new look.
- Terry Peters
- Dad's Playbook, by Tom Limbert. Published by Chronicle Books, 120 pages, $14.95.
There have been many comparisons between the role of a coach and a father. They both have the goal of guiding someone towards achieving their potential and along the way learn some valuable lessons that will stay with them in the future.
Tom Limbert has collected some outstanding quotes from professional coaches involved in a variety of sports. He divides them into separate categories based on subjects: Lead and Inspire, Believe and Praise, Love and Respect, Teach and Learn, and finally Live and Enjoy.
NBA coach Pat Riley said "There are only two options regarding commitment. You're either in or you're out. There is no such thing as life in-between." Sports analogies are present throughout the pages but generally reflect on lessons that apply to dayto-day life, like the comment from College football coach Lou Holtz, "The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely the one who dropped it."
Many lessons in life can be learned through sports and some of the best coaches have shared their views in this collection.
