My Very Punny Dad

My Very Punny Dad

*The award-winning children's book all about word play! Teaches kids how language can be a wonderful source of creativity!* My Very Punny Dad is a heartfelt story for parents with an appreciation of puns and kids who are starting to understand all the silly ways in which language can be used. While a young girl goes about her day, her father wants to keep the laughs coming with his constant "dad jokes." But just like snacking on cheese, can there be too much of a gouda thing? Humor through rhythm and rhyme from author Ryan Milligan, combined with wonderful illustrations by Justin Castaneda make for a reading experience that will bring a smile to everyone's face – and perhaps some eye rolls as well. Second Place Winner - The BookFest Awards (Fall 2022), Humor Category Honorable Mention - Royal Dragonfly Awards (2022), Humor Category "... My Very Punny Dad , is full of laughs and, yes, you guessed it, lots of very clever puns. The illustrations are just as clever... This is definitely a fun read, but the best part of the story is the family bond, the love readers will instantly feel that exists between the members of this very punny family." - Readers' Favorite "A sweet cornball tale." - Kirkus Reviews My Very Punny Dad  was such a fun project to work on! I've been enamored with puns and word play ever since I read Amelia Bedelia as a young boy, so I decided to make that the topic of the book. Blending all of the "dad jokes" into a story with meter and rhyme was a challenge, but a very rewarding one when everything finally came together. Puns are a form of creativity, and I believe that creativity is one of the most important things a young child can learn. Knowing how to think outside the box - in this case, using words outside the original rules and constructs of a language - is a resourceful and practical skill that can unlock countless possibilities. Readers will notice underlying themes of love and respect in My Very Punny Dad . I wanted it to be a reflection of the type of parent I strive to be: one who listens, understands, and fosters an environment where my children feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and concerns.   Most of all, however, the book is meant to be a fun, silly reading experience. I've had parents tell me that after storytime, their children started trying to come up with puns of their own. And that makes me smile. So enjoy - I hope it's good for some laughs (or groans)!   - Ryan