My Dad, My Rock

A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF 2022
A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY CHILDREN'S BOOK FOR FATHER'S DAY 2022

If I could meet my grandpa,
this is what I would tell him ...
When I grow up, I want to be like my dad.

Oliver has never met his grandpa, and neither has his dad.

In this heartwarming book, Oliver imagines telling his grandpa about the most important person in his life - the man who teaches him to live with joy and feel deeply.

A moving ode to parenthood, the bonds we share with our children, and the ways we shape their lives.

'Santos ably describes the love and encouraging support that children want from parents at all stages of life. Using short sentences, Santos' approachable text feels true to a child's understanding of a nurturing parent, and it will also resonate with caregivers who strive to be positive role models. Forlati's highly textured pastel illustrations offer realistic depictions of the love between a parent and child. Both the text and images share a subdued, comforting tone. A beautifully illustrated, touching tale of love.'
-Kirkus Reviews, starred review

'The text radiates love, as well as pride in this powerful family dynamic. The illustrations, with their muted and nostalgic coloration, are gorgeous and charming. Their intricate details include recurring motifs that show the lifelong bond between the father and his son ... My Dad, My Rock is a heartwarming picture book about father-son love that carries from one generation to the next.'
-Foreword Reviews, starred review

'Accompanied by Forlati's lush, beautifully textured illustrations with an understated but warm colour palette, My Dad, My Rock is a heartfelt and moving ode to the father-son bond ... A genuine delight ... A profound meditation on the ways in which fathers have the power to positively shape their sons.'
-Booklife Reviews, starred review and editor's pick