My Dad Makes the World Go Around and Around (Maddy Mara, illus Andrew Joyner, HarperCollins)

My Dad Makes the World Go Around and Around by Maddy Mara – the pen name for Hilary Rogers and Meredith Badger – is an uplifting story celebrating all the marvellous things a dad does for their child. In a story told from the perspective of an unnamed ginger cat, the protagonist declares there’s nothing on earth their dad cannot do. From the child’s perspective, their dad makes the sun rise each day, stops cars so they can cross the road, saves lives while they are at school, shares cool knowledge about the world, subdues scary monsters and gives the best snuggly hugs.

This delightful book blends imagination and everyday life, casting Dad as a hero through the eyes of their child. The creative and catchy wording will bring readers joy and moments of laughter, while Andrew Joyner’s illustrations captivate with their rich detail on every page, using bold, contrasting colours and varying page layouts, including a comic-book spread. The story focuses on themes of sharing, storytelling, spending time together and feeling secure.

My Dad Makes the World Go Around and Around will appeal to readers aged 1 to 5 who love adventure stories and read-aloud funny books.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Abbey Taylor is a freelance reviewer and librarian. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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