The Thing About Dads

The Thing About Dads (Thames & Hudson) Deborah Frenkel and Daniel Gray-Barnett PB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781760765194

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

The Thing About Dads is a heartfelt, joyful celebration of fatherhood in all its forms. From an award-winning duo comes a rhyming ode to the dads who make life extraordinarily special.

Deborah Frenkel is an award-winning picture book author who wrote The Truck Cat, which won the prestigious 2025 Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Picture Book of the Year and ABIA Picture Book of the Year and National Simultaneous Storytime title. She has also written How to Get Home, 100 School Days, The Sydney Harbour Fairy, Boldilocks and Naturopolis.

Daniel Gray-Barnett is an acclaimed illustrator whose debut book, Grandma Z, won the CBCA Award for New Illustrator. It was also in the Society of Illustrators’ Original Art and annual shows. He is self-taught and lives in the Huon Valley in Tasmania.

Deborah Frenkel has crafted a joyful, rhyming story that captures dads in a warm, heartfelt, and loving way. The thing about dads is, they sometimes look tough, but they’re usually filled with the softest of stuff. The story voice is real and endearing. Children will see their dad in the pages, whether he is funny, a big softie, smart, a cook or somewhere in between. Then emerge full of crazy ideas you can do. What I like most is that this book shows dad love and loyalty and that a dad will do anything for their child. The focus is not on masculinity, but the roles dads play, and that role is clear and distinct from a mum. Frenkel has nailed the different dad characters, and I think this is what makes reading the text feel so good. She has used a repeated refrain that makes the reading easy and memorable. The thing about dads is they hide in the loo… I love how she shows that dads have a dad.

Daniel Gray-Barnett’s illustrations are happy and bright. The bright yellow cover is eye-catching with fun dads in action around the title. The book looks like fun before you even open it. The endpapers showcase different dads in different photo frames. Bright colours and cartoon-like depictions of dads not only visually tell the story but are appealing to the eye. Humour appears, bringing smiles to so many spreads. Dad on the loo with hairy legs and a dreamy face is one. Perspective changes from small vignettes to a double-page spread of a dad and child in the bath. I think Daniel Gray-Barnett captures the boundless love, energy and dynamics of dads super well.

The Thing About Dads is written for children 4-6 years with a broader interest age range of children 2-6 years. Commercially, this book would make a lovely Father’s Day gift or read. I can see it appealing to children, parents, teachers and librarians.