Great Job, Dad!

In these paired volumes, Great Job, Dad! and Great Job, Mom!, an unnamed child narrator chronicles the unsung duties of parenthood. Dad works for pay as a manager, but, when he’s home with his son and daughter, he often acts as waiter (serving meals), chauffeur (escorting the kids on a walk), inspector (checking for dirty diapers), judge (settling disputes), librarian (reading aloud), and more—jobs he does for love.

Mom’s jobs are equally varied. She works for pay as a carpenter (constructing furniture), but, at home, she acts as curator (displaying her kids’ artwork), archaeologist (searching for missing clothing), and doctor (tending sick kids), as well as many other chores. Like Dad, “Mom does one job for her career, the others out of love.” In both books, the careers noted are printed in bold-face type.

What distinguishes these slim picture book volumes from other parenting odes are Wang’s unique, needle-felted illustrations. Each composition includes felted characters (created with a 1:6 ratio), scale model sets that include miniature props, and crisp-edged photography, much of it shot outside using forced perspective to create the optical illusion of full size sets. Both books are appended with a four page “Behind the Scenes” tour with Wang who describes his style, techniques, and sets.

Ideal for family read alouds, Great Job, Dad! and Great Job, Mom! will also be welcomed by those hoping to spur young listeners to appreciate the many things their parents do for them.