Should there be a dad?

[Nanig83006]

I think it's important to show different kinds of families when writing children's books. There are many families with both parents, and single parent, and no parents. Representation matters because all of these situations are normal. We don't know why Toni's dad isn't in the picture. He could be away at work, was never a part of their lives, divorced from mom, or has passed on. But, it is common for kids to grow up with a single parent. I think R.D. Base's story is appropriate by not having dad in the book and will help expand more children's book writers to include other family dynamics like single/widower dads, or adoptive parents, or being raised by a different family member. It's a step in the right direction.

[dgallois]

I think the assumption by most children would be that one of the women is the mom and one is the sister. I don't think it's a big deal that Toni wasn't shown with a character that would easily be assumed to be the dad. Base didn't particularly emphasize time with family. So it would be nice, but I don't think it's any major point right now after this first book. if we keep seeing Toni's "mom" in future installments and no father-figure, that may not be good or it may be Base's way of introducing modern families that don't have the typical mom-dad-kids structure.

I agree that not having a dad character show yet is an issue. My family had both a mom and dad but we kids often were seen with only one parent for one reason or another.

[Anthony Martial Tata]

Yes, dads play an integral part in the development of a child. Toni's dad was often away.

[Penbreath09]

No Dad!!! This is an illustration of feminism. And its scary...

[Ashiyya Tariq]

Yes. A dad would be a great addition to the book. It would also be good to note exactly who each character pictured is (mom, sister, uncle or otherwise.) There are plenty of children's stories that depict single parents (nearly all Disney films and many fairy tales for instance). And there are also many books that depict dads as either absent (temporarily or permanently) or uninvolved with the child's life. I like to believe that most modern dads don't just go to work, earn money, and leave the moms to do the work of taking care of the kids. So any books that could show both moms and dads being involved with their children would be refreshing.

Dad would be a good addition in the book and will Toni's family more perfect and interesting.

[Ashiyya Tariq]

No Dad!!! This is an illustration of feminism. And its scary...

The author is a female, so feminism will prevail . Anyways, we would like to see dad in next books because children want to know more and more about Toni's family.

[Mallory Porshnev]

Toni is shown enjoying many activities with Mom and his friends. I appreciate that family and friendship are subtly depicted as joyful experiences. But hey, we don't see Dad!

Do you agree with me that a dad would be a wonderful addition to the story? Dads should be shown as interested in their children's everyday lives. Maybe Dad could join as the dishwasher. What a resounding message that would send!

Miriam, I think its a superb idea to have a dad that way Dad's might be more inclined to read this story to or with their toddlers.

Yes, dads should definitely be encouraged to get involved more. Perhaps the author here just had a different story in mind though and doesn't want to take away from the Toni character himself.

[Dampare Jones]

yes, because dads are important in our life when it comes to difficult matters. so we must support our dads to creat good things for us.

[khusnick]

Hopefully we'll see his dad in future additions to the story.

[Ashiyya Tariq]

I think it's important to show different kinds of families when writing children's books. There are many families with both parents, and single parent, and no parents. Representation matters because all of these situations are normal. We don't know why Toni's dad isn't in the picture. He could be away at work, was never a part of their lives, divorced from mom, or has passed on. But, it is common for kids to grow up with a single parent. I think R.D. Base's story is appropriate by not having dad in the book and will help expand more children's book writers to include other family dynamics like single/widower dads, or adoptive parents, or being raised by a different family member. It's a step in the right direction.

I think, here the author has chosen a realistic approach. It is true that many children grow up with a single parent. So it's not something unusual.

[Christina Rose]

I have to admit, it did not hit me that there was no dad in the book and it took me reading this to realize that. That said, he would be a wonderful inclusion. Maybe he appears in the next book in the series, as part of a superhero family...

I didn’t realize it until this thread, either.

[Shrabastee Chakraborty]

I do not know if Toni's dad is out for work or maybe has been to a tour, but I certainly hoped to see him in at least one of the pictures. I do not know if Base tried to show a single-parent family, but still I would say introducing Toni's father would have somewhat made the picture whole. He could have helped Toni in some novel situations.

[Book Bear]

I didn't think about a father figure being missing from the book until it was pointed out. I suppose a variety of different books depicting a variety of different family situations would be ideal. Perhaps the next book could be a father as the leading figure.

[bluesky5_]

In the 1960's and 1970's when I grew up the family was a "solid unit", Mom, Dad, sister's and brother's. As I grew up I realized I was a lucky one who had a family like that. Then I realized what the world was like for children who grew up with divorced parents. Now as we venture more into the future there are many variables: deaths from suicide or shootings. Car accidents. Bi-sexuality. Now, the latest: being taken away from your parents OR parent do to a "border patrol order" by our great president!. I really believe way, way, into the future that there will be no adults, only children.

[Catherine Hsu]

I personally don't think it's that huge of a deal either way! There are families of all kinds, and the absence of a dad in the story might make the book more relatable to children who feel like their family isn't the typical household. It would make the book interesting were a dad to read it to his child, but I don't think the lack of a dad in the book should stop that!