The Dad of the Dad of the Dad of Your Dad

Moss, Jeff. The Dad of the Dad of the Dad of Your Dad. New York : Ballatine Books, 1997.

Plot: Moss' collection of poetry about kids and their dads. The book follows a mythical chronological order of fathers interacting with their children, beginning with a prehistoric father and son playing together and ending with a great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather teaching his children the joy of individuality. Throughout the collection, the themes of common father-child issues, such as change, bonding, and growing up enjoy attention through rhymes. A simple, sweet collection.

Genre: Collections, Poetry

Reading Level: Ages 4-9

Similar Titles: The Butterfly Jar, Beneath a Blue Umbrella, Grasshopper Pie and Other Poems

Personal Thoughts: Apparently, Jeff Moss originally wrote songs for Sesame Street, and the influence shows, though not in a "babyish" manner. Instead, much like the lyrics in the show, the stories contain universal appeal in their subject matter, simplicity, and, for lack of a better term, "catchiness." Much like the works of Shel Silverstien, the poems' illustrations are simple, but appropriate and inviting. While some critics fault the simplicity and traditional aspects of the poems, they still credit Moss for creating an easily-approachable series of poems.