How (not) to annoy Dad by Dave Hughes and Holly Ife

Illus. by Heath McKenzie. Scholastic Australia, 2019. ISBN: 9781760663735.
(Age: 4-8) Recommended. Themes: Humour, Fathers, Father's Day, Parent and Child. A hilarious take on family life will have readers chuckling aloud as they follow three children having lots of fun with Dad. Everyone will be familiar with children's attempts to do things for and with Dad and in How (not) to annoy Dad their efforts often have disastrous results. Each double page spread has a heading in bold upper case letters like 'WAKE DAD BRIGHT AND EARLY TO START THE DAY' and then the results are illustrated with little details like the clock showing 54.50, 5. 25, 5.50, and 6.15, each time with a very funny picture to go with each. Further pages show Dad being made a healthy breakfast, having fun in the park, doing interesting things and visiting interesting places finally culminating in a caption that reads 'BE SO ADORABLE THAT DAD CAN'T WAIT TO DO IT ALL AGAIN TOMORROW'.
McKenzie's illustrations are an absolute hoot. His koala family, complete with Dad with a gap in his teeth are just too cute for words, and the chaos that the three children bring is brought to life on each double page spread. I particularly love 'PLAY FUN FAMILY GAMES TOGETHER' with an exhausted dad putting up with the child who is determined to win, the one who is in tears and throws a tantrum and the tiny child who just wants to play hide-and-seek.
Perfect for Father's Day, this is a book that will be enjoyed by adults who read it aloud as well as the emerging reader who will have lots of fun with the text and pictures.
Pat Pledger