Wednesday, January 14, 2009

A Day With My Dad & A Day With My Dad At the Beach by Lance Waite

AUTHOR BIO

Lance Waite is the author of both A Day with My Dad and A Day with My Dad at the Beach . From the day his first daughter was born, Lance knew his life would change. The first six months he was amazed and in awe of this tiny new person—her little foot fit perfectly in his hand. The greatest pleasure of his life has been caring for his two daughters, teaching them, and being a friend to them as they’ve grown older. Watching them become young adults, marry, and create families of their own will be difficult—but oh so rewarding!

He hopes these stories will remind them of how much they are loved, as they grow older and find the happiness that all parents dream of. Lance’s family has inspired him to create fun and interesting stories that can be enjoyed by parents and kids alike, and encourage families to seek out their own adventures together.

Lance and his family live in San Diego, California.

ILLUSTRATOR BIO

Manuela Pentangelo lives in Busnago, Italy, near Milan, with her flowers, family and friends. She was born in Holland, but has lived all of her life in Italy. A student of architectural design, Manuela discovered that her dreams and goals lay elsewhere. She likes to say that she was born with a pencil in her hand, and she has happily realized that her path is to illustrate for children. Manuela often visits London, where she likes to sketch at the British Museum, and likes travelling to different places to find inspiration.

She is a member of the SCBWI.


A Note From the Author-

What Sets "A Day With My Dad" and "A Day With My Dad at the Beach" Apart?

1.The key to builiding great father daughter relationships is spending time togther and taking the time to listen. These books offers a unique approach to setting up the time and space for your kids to talk to you about anything.

2. So few books focus on the extraordinary relationship of fathers and daughters, especially at this young age. These books are a testament to the love of one such father and daughter.

3. Forget watching TV all day, these books encourages dads to get up and get their kids into the great outdoors!


A Day With My Dad by Lance Waite
Illustrated By: Manuela Pentangelo
Geared Towards: Ages 2-6
Published By: Parents Publishing Group
Publication Date: January 2008
ISBN-13: 978-1-60131-015-6

If you're a dad looking for a book to read to your little girl, or maybe a little girl looking for a book to read with your dad then look no further. A Day With My Dad is a wonderful choice. Join the author, Lance Waite, as he shares none other than a reminscient memory of a perfect dad and daughter day.

Take a trip down memory lane with Waite as he tells the story of spending a day away in the mountains with his daughter. Hiking, flying a kite, picnicing, and even taking a nap in the shade of a tree. These, and more, are things that take place on this duo's special day long nature adventure. There's nothing abnormally exciting about anything the pair does, but the excitement and joy of it all falls in the fact that they do it together.

Readers (grown ups too) will smile as they too will undoubtedly recall similar memories shared with their own fathers and/or daughters (even sons). And should no memories be there to draw on, then what better time than now to let this book serve as inspiration to get up and do something together. Our children are only young once, and they grow up so fast. Don't let too much time pass without making a point to share special moments like the ones that Lance and his daughter enjoyed.

OUR RATING: 5 hearts



A Day With My Dad At the Beach by Lance Waite
Illustrated By: Manuela Pentangelo
Geared Towards: Ages 2-6
Published By: Parents Publishing Group
Publication Date: June 2008
ISBN-13: 978-1-60131-016-3

Commemorizing one of his favorite afternoon adventures with his youngest daughter, Lance Waite, has released yet another fabulous book. Meeting her at the bus stop after school, dad and daughter go on a tandem bike ride to, you guessed it, the beach. There they enjoy racing in the surf, searching for sea shells, building sand castles, and simply spending quality time together.

Tiring of the sand and water, the pair decides to walk down the beach to the pier. Their day is far from being over. On the pier they discover loads of fun to be had in the way of tasty burgers, ferris wheels, and spinning tea cups. But like all good things, their day frolicking at the water's edge must come to an end.

Later that night, this devoted dad reads his daughter a bedtime story as she, bathed and snuggled up warm in her bed, falls peacefully to sleep.

If you have heartstrings I guarantee you this sweet story will pull at them. Even more so than his first book, I totally adored this second release by Waite. As the daughter of a truly devoted dad myself, I found tears in my eyes reading this to my very own youngest daughter. My dad was killed when I was 14. I'm going to be 28 in a couple of months, yet never a day passes when I don't think of the man who meant so much to me growing up. The memories we formed together will last me a lifetime. So, even though it breaks my heart to know I'll never experience those joys with him again, it's books like this that make me realize how special those years I had him in my life really were. My husband is an incredible father to both of our little girls, and I hope that one day when they're grown they'll be able to share their own special memories with their dad like Lance has done here with his daughters. And even more so, I hope that others will continue to find inspiration in Waite's books. Don't wait (no pun intended) any longer to make those special memories with the ones you love. You never know how much time you'll have to make them.

OUR RATING: 5 hearts (and a few tears)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

So sweet - a great gift for Father's Day!