From Publishers Weekly
But dads needn't despair. In Rookie Dad: Fun and Easy Exercises and Games for Dads and Babies in Their First Year, Susan Fox, a pediatric therapist, coaches newcomers on the joys and trails of fatherhood. Deploying sports jargon throughout (chapters include "The Pregame Show" and "The Handoff: When Mom Leaves You Alone With the Baby"), Fox encourages enthusiastic and reluctant dads alike to participate actively in their baby's fast-paced development. Games like "Stunt Pilot," "Tug-of-War," "Peekaboo-Playoffs" and "Air Races" are just the beginning, and moms will be reassured by Fox's emphasis on safety (always support that head!). Old-fashioned advice on feeding, changing, burping and sleep will also be welcome. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Fox, director of Seattle's Pediatric Therapy Clinic, offers this gentle, sports-themed book filled with 72 activities. Her easy, stimulating games encourage father-child intimacy from birth (e.g., the aptly titled "Daddy Huddle" in which the new team snuggle together) to about 18 months (e.g., "Halftime Band" involves music). Chapters are grouped by the age of the child and feature short advisory sections. Writing in an authoritative voice that will reassure new, and most likely nervous, fathers, Fox resorts to familiar sports metaphors, as when she compares learning diapering to rookie basketball: "Did your coach stick you in the middle of a game with a bunch of experienced guys and expect you to play like a pro? No [and yet] eventually you put all the pieces together and learned to play basketball." Accompanying photographs vividly demonstrate the joy of bonding. Appropriate for gifts and public libraries. Douglas C. Lord, Hartford P.L., CT Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Book Description
Get in the game of fatherhood! All new dads want to bond with their babies -- but how? With seventy-two safe, simple exercises, each illustrated with a fun photograph, Rookie Dad helps busy fathers make a real connection with their little ones -- and have a ball doing it! "Shake Hands with Dad" promotes motor coordination "Eyes on the Ball" boosts eye-tracking skills "Flashlight Tag" is fun at lights-out time "Crunch Time" helps baby learn balance while tightening Daddy's abs "Box Score" is a fantastic tool for bedtime,helping babies enjoy snug spaces These and other age-appropriate activities, designed for the newborn to the twelve-month-old, help develop fundamental skills needed for sitting, crawling, walking, and more. They also plant the seeds for a lifelong love of sports and physical fitness. But all Baby knows is Dad is really fun to be with! Be a champion to the MVP in your life -- by sharing the joyful and unique approach to quality time illustrated in Rookie Dad.


About the Author
Susan Fox has been a licensed pediatric neurodevelopmental therapist for twenty-five years, and is currently director of the Pediatric Therapy Clinic in Seattle. The author of Baby Steps, Fox teaches workshops on child development, lectures at the University of Washington, and trains early childhood educators, therapists, nurses, and physicians.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Get in the game of fatherhood!

All new dads want to bond with their babies -- but how? With seventy-two safe, simple exercises, each illustrated with a fun photograph, Rookie Dad helps busy fathers make a real connection with their little ones -- and have a ball doing it!

"Shake Hands with Dad" promotes motor coordination "Eyes on the Ball" boosts eye-tracking skills "Flashlight Tag" is fun at lights-out time "Crunch Time" helps baby learn balance while tightening Daddy's abs "Box Score" is a fantastic tool for bedtime,helping babies enjoy snug spaces

These and other age-appropriate activities, designed for the newborn to the twelve-month-old, help develop fundamental skills needed for sitting, crawling, walking, and more. They also plant the seeds for a lifelong love of sports and physical fitness. But all Baby knows is Dad is really fun to be with! Be a champion to the MVP in your life -- by sharing the joyful and unique approach to quality time illustrated in Rookie Dad.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal