The Father's Almanac

The author is a father of two sons and a child-center volunteer, but this book is not just one random guy's ruminations on how to be a better father. The author is also an experienced book editor, and he uses those skills to blend the experiences of nearly 50 other fathers of various backgrounds as he compiles this almanac of observations and seasoned advice. The style is matter-of-fact yet sympathetic; pragmatic, down-to-earth, and engaging. The content is fair and balanced, offering varying points of view on many details of child-rearing, and does not preach. And while fairly nuanced in this way, on the other hand, it's not wishy-washy and "anything goes" about things -- it's also crisply authoritative in areas where there is just one no-nonsense way to go. E.g., the dangers of older cribs and the maximum recommended gaps between slats, or other safety issues not really open to much experimentation. Overall though, the book is refreshingly descriptive rather than prescriptive. It's a nice mix of specific, often creative suggestions along with a general philosophy of caring, healthy, and personally appropriate/satisfying fatherhood. The Almanac will make an excellent gift for fathers of newborns or young children -- up to approximately kindergarten, I'd say, although some of the material is appropriate for even slightly older children too. Note: although even the more recent edition feels slightly dated simply because the pictures are old, the material itself is all still relevant as far as I could tell.

I raised my daughter by this book, and then gave it away to a young father who has raised his son on it. I am an Infant/Toddler teacher and am familiar with very very many many books for parents ... and as far as I am concerned this is only the best book of its kind on the market for fathers.

This book is great! It covers the kids, the wives, the boys, and the girls. It has great ideas, and answers all those Dad questions that you never want to ask your wife.

I had a copy of The Mother's Almanac when my kids were little (twenty years ago!) and used it frequently. I purchased several copies of The Father's Almanac during the 1980s as gifts. I recently bought a copy as a gift for a young man I work with. The ideas are still great! My only suggestion would be that the next time they revise the book - they revise the photos!

This book is a wonderful collection of things Dads need to know. Humorous and easy to read and also a great reference filled with practical everyday projects and activities to share with your child from infancy to pre-teen. I highly recommend Family Hugs!