Reading with Dad [Hardcover]

Dick Jorgensen (Author), Richard Jorgensen (Author), Warren Hanson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Reading together is a constant through the years in the relationship between this loving father and daughter.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 1-In rhyming text, a young woman looks back over the years to the special reading times she shared with her father. As a youngster, she eagerly awaited the time of day when she was able to cuddle in his lap and hear a bedtime story. Over time, their selections moved from The Cat in the Hat to Wind in the Willows and stories of "wizards and rings." The two continue sharing and discussing their reading into her adulthood; it's clearly a bond that unites them. Late in the man's life, his daughter reads to her children and also to him, finishing one night with Psalm 23. Although the story is touching, the sentiment will appeal primarily to adults. A full-page, pen-and-ink illustration with touches of color faces each page of text. Unfortunately, the artwork fails to convey the emotional tone of the book.-Karen Scott, Valley Intermediate School, Pelham, AL

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Author and illustrator, public speaker and musician, Warren Hanson has his name on several currently available books, including two he wrote and illustrated: The Next Place (1997; over 250,000 sold); Older Love (1999; nearly 20,000 sold); and six that he illustrated: A Cup of Christmas Tea (1982; 1.5 million sold); A Memory of Christmas Tea (1999; over 110,000 sold); Mark of the Maker (1991; over 50,000 sold); PEEF The Christmas Bear (1995; 240,000 sold); A Silent Night for PEEF (1998; 65,000 sold); Reading With Dad (2000; 12,000 sold).

On his business card, right under Warren Hanson’s name, it says “illustrator, author, amateur.” As an amateur, he goes back to the word’s Latin root, which means “someone who does something purely for the love of doing it. “ Warren Hanson love what he does. And it shows.

Richard Jorgensen grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota, and now lives in Faribault, Minnesota, with his wife Caryl. Their daughters Beret and Anna, have grown up knowing the joy of reading with their dad.

Richard is a Lutheran pastor, and has enjoyed a lifelong love of literature, especially poetry. Reading With Dad is his first book.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Waldman House Press; First Edition first Printing edition (June 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0931674417
• ISBN-13: 978-0931674419
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,191,436 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Gift for a Grown Daughter to Give Her Father!, May 26, 2001

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 109,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Reading with Dad (Hardcover)

With Father's Day coming up, what can a grown daughter with a family of her own give as a present to a father who always read to her? This book makes an ideal choice. Any father would be thrilled to receive it, along with a photograph of father and daughter reading together. If you don't have such a photograph now, why not pose for one?

"We're there in the photo that hangs on the wall,/

the first childhood memory I can recall . . ."

The poetry develops around a mutual love of reading, and the closeness that it has brought.

The illustrations by Warren Hanson add a timeless, but time-tinged, romantic feeling to these moments of closeness that will tug at your heart.

And what do you think they are reading in the first photograph? Why, The Cat in the Hat! Think of that!

"That photograph shows the best times that I've had:/

all those times I spent reading with Dad."

As the story develops and time passes, the roles change. At eight, her father listens to her reading to her dolly, hamster and stuffed bear. In college, they would discuss authors over the telephone that she was reading. After she is a mother, she owns the old reading chair, and he watches her read The Cat in the Hat to her two little girls. As he ages, she reads to him while he is in bed.

As she thinks about all of these experiences, she remembers that "there was always a book before saying good-night."

"The best of the times that I've ever had/

are all of those times I've spend reading with Dad."

The illustrations are filled with closeness, Dad and daugher hugging or sitting close to one another. They make you feel a warmth in your chest that makes you yearn to have such moments with a father or a daughter.

But if you are like me, you will find that the best part is the idea of how to use reading as a connection throughout life.

What a wonderful way to reinforce a heritage of reading! I suggest that you think about how you can build on all of those wonderful stories you read together years ago. One way that I did it was to ask my daughter which books we had read together she liked best. Then I wrote a review of each one, and posted it on-line giving her full credit for the selection. In many cases, I also described her reactions to the stories. In this way, she can read a journal of our experiences together with those books. And the journal can be shared with her children someday. You can do the same . . . or even better, pick something that will mean even more in your family!

Connect with all you love and care about through books and reading!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, February 26, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Reading with Dad (Hardcover)

"Reading with Dad" is a wonderful story that "really speaks to you" according to one child. The concept is brilliant - revolving around the act of reading throughout life - while not being overwhelming. This one-of-a-kind storybook is beautifully worded and delightfully illustrated. And it is a great way to inspire children to read while encouraging adults to read with children. Recommended for all children but especially as a gift for a child, a babyshower present, or an addition to a preschool or elementary classroom.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lyrical text that is superbly and appropriately enhanced, January 11, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reading with Dad (Hardcover)

Richard Jorgensen has written a remarkable book showcasing the profound familial pleasures of a parent reading a book to a child. Reading With Dad focuses on the joys and love of reading, on the strengthening of child/parent bonding and does so with a lyrical text that is superbly and appropriately enhanced with the memorable artwork of Warren Hanson. Reading With Dad can be read with deepest enjoyment by young and old alike, and will be inspirational to all parents seeking to create life-time memories of shared enjoyments with the children, instill within their children a love of reading and of books, as well as children needing that "quality together time" with a parent that no among of mutual television watching can ever hope to equal.