It’s the Dads’ first annual “Hey, let’s do a Juneteenth book” book. Or, as Mike put it, “If the world has a day, then we should read a book about it” book. That’s a whole lot of books.

We talk about A Juneteenth Jamboree—a super fun “experience book” (we made that up) about celebrating Juneteenth. Spoiler alert: David’s favorite art form: watercolor and ink. Spoiler alert again: the art is beautiful and David talks about it. Splotches! Splashes! Spots! And precision.

A multi-sensory experience. You see the kitchen and smell the food. You see it, and you want to taste it. Nerm. Nerm. See and hear the music and sounds—so much good stuff.

Even though we know where it’s going—a Juneteenth jamboree, it’s still fun getting there. And we’re calling this a Gateway or Launch book: while you won’t learn a lot about Juneteenth, it’s a great starting point to read to or with your kids about a family celebrating Juneteenth that can lead to further exploration and learning about the history and the holiday. And since David is from Texas, and studied African-American history in college, he approooooves this message.

Like this episode? You’ll love this one. A touching episode about a Civil Rights hero: Ruby Bridges. And some of our favorite watercolor art and more history: George Washington’s Teeth. And a soon to be dropped episode: Book of Greek Myths. Stay tooned.

And now a word from our sponsors. Well, not really sponsors, just places we like to get books and hope that you'll go to if you need one:

Books in Stock in Wooster, OH

A House with Books in Keller, TX
Talking Animals Books in Grapevine, TX
River Forest Public Library in River Forest, IL
Grapevine Public Library in Grapevine, TX
Keller Public Library in Keller, TX

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It's time for another "We picked a book because Mike said so" episode. In Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema with pictures by Leo and Diane Dillon, the Dads banter on M&Ms, Mars and Snickers and Mars Bars and—boy do they need to sponsor us!! When they get to the book, David declares, "You can judge a book by its cover." "Sort of." You might think we'll find out why mosquitoes buzz in people's ears—'Cause they're annoying?—well, yes, but there is so, so, so much more as the David suspects.

In this standard itsy-bitsy spider/if you give a mouse a cookie/if this then that and then that story we learn a lot of sounds from animals in Africa like, "mek mek mek," "waswusu," and everyone's all time favorite, "taa."! Wanna find out what animal makes what sound? Listen and play, "Whaaaat's...thaaat...Souuuuuuund?!?". Or read the book. Ok. Both. There's some great animal personification like Old Man Iguana and the ending—the. Ending. Read. Then listen. Lather, rinse, repeat.

It's a quick, sun read ideal for reading to your very little ones. WARNING: you will be required to make lots of animal sounds!! Krik Krik Krik and Badamin Badamin, e.g. And Leo and Diane Dillons' illustrations (The description of the art for this book alone is worth reading: there were many, many words, some of which Mike and David knew!) are beautiful and filled with fun details to talk about and point out and laugh about and figure out.....check it out

We give this one 4 Thumbs Up!

If you liked this episode, you’ll like these:

Dan "I am a Story" Yaccarino parte uno and parte due

And now a word from our sponsors. Well, not really sponsors, just places we like to get books and hope that you'll go to if you need one:

Books in Stock in Wooster, OH

A House with Books in Keller, TX
Talking Animals Books in Grapevine, TX
River Forest Public Library in River Forest, IL
Grapevine Public Library in Grapevine, TX
Keller Public Library in Keller, TX

Questions? Comments? Concerns?

Please, please tell us about your favorite library or independent book store.

Email us at dadsonbooks@gmail.com

And if you have a favorite local bookstore or library, let us know and we can mention it too. PM

Mike and David read Matilda by Rao—Raold—Roaold—Mr. Dahl. And illustrated illustriously by Quentin Blake. Mike suggested Dahl, and David saw the musical, and the rest is history. Or literature.

And despite the book’s youth, it’s a classic. A fantastic story that has spawned two movies and countless productions of the musical. In fact, it inspired the Dads to come up with a new DoB feature: B v. M or Book versus Movie (or Musical). Who won the first one? Both.

But one thing the Dads couldn’t figure out? How to say Rauold, Raoold, Ruaoulde—Mr. Dahl’s name. Never could figure it out. Auoalt? Aoooout? You get the picture. In any event, the Dads have three words for you: Check it out!

And now a word from our sponsors. (Well, not really sponsors, just places we get books and hope that you'll go to if you need one).

Books in Stock in Wooster, OH

A House with Books in Keller, TX
Talking Animals Books in Grapevine, TX
River Forest Public Library in River Forest, IL
Grapevine Public Library
Keller Public Library

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Have a great library or independent book store you love?

Email us at dadsonbooks@gmail.com