Lots of books focus on the relationship between mother and child. Rarer are the stories that highlight the paternal bond. In honor of Father's Day, we asked Amy Graham, a bookseller at the Vermont Book Shop in Middlebury, to recommend titles that give dads their due. For an additional suggestion, check out our write-up of Weekends With Max and His Dad, a new release by Vermont author Linda Urban.

Daddy Hugs

by Nancy Tafuri

Says Graham: This beautifully illustrated, gentle picture book depicts loving scenes between fathers and their young throughout the animal kingdom, culminating in the best daddy hug of all. The detailed watercolor and pencil illustrations include lots of little creatures to search for, making this an excellent book for kids to read snuggled up with their own daddies at bedtime.

Gator Dad

by Brian Lies

Says Graham: Love, laughter and adventure abound in this humorous tale of an alligator dad's day with his three young gators. Lies drew on his own experience as a stay-at-home dad to create this vibrant picture book depicting everything from grocery shopping to a playground outing to a blanket-fort-building session back at home.

The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher

by Dana Alison Levy

Says Graham: This wonderful, laugh-out-loud funny and tender middle-grade novel depicts a two-dad family with four adopted boys, as well as a dog and a cat, going through the ups and downs that all families experience. Kids and parents alike will relate to the mishaps that abound as each boy struggles to find his place in the world, with the support of his loving dads. Don't miss the further misadventures of this family in their brand-new sequel, The Family Fletcher Takes Rock Island.