Papa Doesn't Do Anything! (But Love You)

May 1, 2025

PreS-Gr 2-Speaking for layabout fathers everywhere, a papa pooch responds to his little pup's titular observation with a tally of all the things he does or has done besides sitting around watching TV all year long. Like what? Well, besides doing crossword puzzles and being handy around the house ("I'm stronger than you, / so I can open most jars"), he claims to having played in a band, met a famous person once, and had multiple "careers." Other papas are artists, or soldiers, or "even work/ at the general store." He, on the other hand, is dedicated to always being there to, well, watch his child grow up and to lend help, though only when specifically asked. Fallon ratifies the young dog's premise at the end, linking it to a promise as vague as it is fervent: "From the looks of it PAPA doesn't do much-and it's true./ But PAPA would do anything, ANYTHING for you." Again, like what? Neither earlier expostulations nor Ord��ez's generic closing view of doggy parent and child standing in an open field clarify what "ANYTHING" might be. Moreover, readers are likely to find the staring, googly eyes of the flop-eared figures in these illustrations more creepy than cozy. VERDICT This will sell on the author's name, but the invidious message that fatherhood's not really a job is the clearest one here.-John Peters

Copyright 2025 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2025
In talk-show host Fallon and illustrator Ord��ez's latest picture-book collaboration, an elderly pooch waxes rhapsodic about a life well lived. Observing Papa sitting in his chair watching TV all day, a young pup says, "I'm starting to think...you don't do ANYTHING." So Papa proceeds to list his accomplishments, both big and small, mundane and profound. Some are just a result of being older and physically bigger (being tall enough to reach a high shelf and strong enough to open jars); others include winning a race and performing in a band when he was younger. Eventually, the pup realizes that while Papa may have slowed down in his old age, he's led a full life. The most satisfying thing about Papa's life now? Watching his grandchild take center stage: "I can say lots of thoughts / but I choose to be quiet. / I'd rather you discover things and then try it." Fallon's straightforward text is sweetly upbeat, though it occasionally lacks flow, forcing incongruous situations together to fit the rhyme scheme ("I cook and I mow, / and I once flew a plane. // I play newspaper puzzles because it's good for my brain"). Featuring uncluttered, colorful backgrounds, Ord��ez's child-friendly digital art at times takes on sepia tones, evoking the sense of looking back at old photos or memories. Though the creators tread familiar ground, the love between Papa and his little one is palpable. A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren.(Picture book. 3-6)

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