In My Dad’s Job, a devoted father shows his son what it truly means to grow into a kind, responsible, and thoughtful person—not through lectures, but through everyday moments, quiet lessons, and the power of example.
Grade Range: Preschool-12
Publication Date: June 7, 2020
Page Count: 20 pages
My Dad’s Job
Paperback
$14.95
Description
Being a father may be one of the hardest jobs in the world—but it’s also one of the most important.
Told through the eyes of a young boy who deeply admires his dad, this heartfelt story captures the small, meaningful interactions that shape a child’s understanding of love, character, and what it means to show up for others. As the boy watches, listens, and learns, readers are reminded of a simple but powerful truth: Children are always paying attention.
Inspired by the real-life bond between the author’s husband, Anthony, and their son, Little Anthony, My Dad’s Job is a touching tribute to fathers everywhere, and the lasting impact they make when they lead with presence, purpose, patience, and love.
This story is both a celebration and a gentle reminder: the way we show up today is shaping who our children become tomorrow.
Author Deedee Cummings
Deedee Cummings is a professional dreamer. She is also an author, therapist, attorney, and mom from Louisville, Kentucky. Cummings founded Make A Way Media in 2014 after struggling to find books with characters who looked like her own children and an extreme lack of stories that reflected their life experiences. Books published by Make A Way focus on hope, diversity, social justice, and therapeutic skills for children and adults. Her work has been featured in HuffPost, Forbes, NPR, USA Today, Essence Magazine, Psych Central, well+Good, and The EveryGirl, among other media outlets. In 2021, she was appointed to the Kentucky Early Childhood Advisory Council by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and reappointed to a second term in 2025, acknowledging her decades-long service to the children and families of Kentucky. Cummings is also the founder of The Louisville Book Festival. She was inspired to work to highlight and celebrate a culture of reading in her community after working as an in-home therapist and visiting homes of children who had no books. Cummings believes literacy is a fundamental human right. Her work highlights inspiring messages that remind us all it is never too late to begin again.
Reviews:
Heartfelt story of what it means to be a parent
This book made me smile inside and out. Being a parent is the hardest job on earth. This book shows how a dad teaches his son how to be a responsible, intelligent, and loving person which should be the goal of every parent. The dad is a man of few words, but what he says he means and his son knows this from example. This sweet story of a young boy growing up with his beloved father will remind the adult readers that their children are watching and listening to them as examples of adulthood. Parents are the first teachers and are responsible for making sure their children learn the most important life lessons and this book does a fabulous job of presenting this idea.
–Danielle
A great visualization of the subtleties of parenting
“My Dad’s Job” is a heartfelt story regarding a son wanting to learn a valuable life lesson from his father; only to find out he already had. The illustrations by Erika Busse perfectly enhance the text, invoking a beautiful pictorial for the reader. The text and pictures also create opportunities for parents to ask questions throughout to assist in engaging their child into interpreting exactly what the author is trying to convey. I believe it would especially assist in helping a child understand that there are many times parents need to do something for their child’s best interest; even though the child may not think so at the time. A hard concept for children to understand is made easier by sharing this book.
–Myra Jean
This is a great book about the relationship of a father and son
This is a great book about the relationship of a father and son. It illustrates the importance a father has in being a role model for his children, and how children learn from us in our day to day life.
– Stacey Carter
