The Dad with 10 Children

Who says dads can’t have it all? Not Guettier (The Chicken Who Had a Toothache), who spins a peculiar story about a single father’s efforts to keep up with his 10 children. In bold, chunky illustrations, Guettier paints the kids as Kewpie doll–like bundles of energy, with goggling eyes and single hairs curling up from their heads; they’re distinguishable only by their brightly colored rompers. Her straightforward text recounts Dad’s busy day as he gets the kids fed, dressed, and off to school before heading to work himself. At dinnertime, she shows him busy at the oven, the children crowding around, hanging from light fixtures, and reaching for knobs on the stove. As they sleep, Dad keeps going, building a small sailboat. Time for a family trip? Not exactly: “Dad was planning to sail off on his own for at least 10 months, so he left them with their Grandma.” It’s a jarring moment (and Grandma looks less than thrilled about this development), though Guettier—and Dad—eventually reverse course to conclude with a nautical family reunion. Ages 2–5. (May)