My Dad

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He’s all right, my dad. He’s as strong as a gorilla and as happy as a hippopotamus. He’s a great dancer, a brilliant singer, he’s fantastic at football, and he makes me laugh. A lot. But that’s not all that’s great about my dad…

Teaching Ideas and Resources:

English

• Look at the pages referencing the Big Bad Wolf and the Cow that jumped over the Moon. Use these as a model to think of other things that Dad can do. For example, “He can march right up to the top of the hill.”
• Make a list of similes in the book. Can you describe a member of your own family using similes?
• Dad is shown as a few different animals in the book. Why do you think Anthony Browne chose those animals? Which animal would you choose to show an aspect of your character?
• Why do you think the author wrote this book?
• In many ways, the book is like a poem in structure. Write your own poem about a member of your family using the structure of the book.
• Anthony Browne’s dad was inspired to write the book when he found his dad’s dressing gown. If you were writing a book about a member of your family, which of their possessions would inspire you?
• Compare to some other books about fathers, for example; Some Dogs Do by Jez Alborough, Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl.
• Look at the way sunshine is used throughout the book. Why do you think that is?
• Write the book from Dad’s point of view. How would he describe his child?
• Compare this book with Gorilla by Anthony Browne, which has a similar theme. What are the similarities and differences?
• Watch this video of the book being read, then make your own video retelling.

• The book uses some opposing ideas. For example, dad is both as big as a house and as soft as my teddy. Make up your own pairs of opposing images to describe the same person, animal or object.
• Compare this book with My Mum by Anthony Browne. How has the author changed the structure? Why do you think he has done that?

Maths

• Look for the repeating patterns in the book. There are lots of them!
• How many small squares are there in each large square of dad’s dressing gown?

Design Technology

• Find out how a toaster works. Discuss how they have been designed to toast the bread and keep the user safe from harm.

Art

• Make your own repeating patterns.
• Look carefully in each picture for the small details. What do they tell you about dad? Draw a picture of someone in your family, including little details that tell us more about them.

Physical education

• Practice balancing on the floor, on an upturned bench, on a beam etc.
• Run some races.

Languages

• Find out the word for ‘dad’ in different languages.

PSHE

• Discuss Father’s day. Why do we celebrate it? What do you do on Father’s Day?