In Celebration of Fatherhood

While Father’s Day began being acknowledged way back in 1910 in a Spokane YMCA, it is a tradition that is very much alive and well.  The Kirkwood Public Library is here to help with all aspects of your celebration, as you prepare to pay tribute to the father figures in your life!
 Check out our blog for some book titles on everything from humorous anecdotes about fatherhood (Dad Is Fat, Familyhood) to parenting guides (Fathering Your School Age Child).  Come to Books and Beyond, the gift shop in the Library run by the Friends of the Kirkwood Public Library, for the perfect gift.  There you will find everything from travel journals to reading lights to Interview Journals for Dad and Grandpa.  They also have an assortment of gifts at kid-friendly prices, such as a #1 Dad Pen for $3, and a trophy for $2.  Be sure to head up to the Library’s third level, where amongst the cookbooks you can find that perfect barbeque recipe (Big Bob Gibson’s BBQ Book, Indoor Grilling).
Lastly, how about some titles that you and Dad could read together?  Take a look at The Reading Promise:  My Father and The Books We Shared by Alice Ozma – it’s the story of eight years of read-out-loud sessions the daughter of an elementary school librarian shared with her father at bedtime.  There’s also The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe, the book discussions the author shared with his mother during her chemotherapy treatments.  Fathers of any age can find something at the Library to share with their child or grandchild, such as books on sports (try Cal Ripken’s excellent books about baseball players struggling to be accepted), picture books (Dan Andreasen’s Saturday With Daddy)  and classic series (J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books are so much more exciting when read in a deep, scary voice!).  Kirkwood Public Library also offers Family Book Club (grades  4-6) and Family Book Club Junior (grades 2-3).
Have a safe and wonderful Father’s Day this year!  

Lisa Henry is the Director of Operations at the Kirkwood Public Library and is currently reading Marian Keyes’ newest The Mystery of Mercy Close.