The bench by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex. Illus. by Christian Robinson

A celebrity aspiring to write a picture book is sure to gain many people’s opprobrium, but this will not stop the book being bought. The usual critical evaluation taken over a book purchase for home and library will be suspended because the author is well known.

The theme of this book has merit: a father and son sit on the bench together, making up games, dressing up, riding a bicycle, watching for the bus, waiting for dad to return home. Each new page reveals a moment on a bench, and the story lauds the presence of a father in a child’s orbit promoting mental wellness as father and son connect.

The unfussy, simple verse structure reiterate the relationship between father and son, stressing the positive influences one has on the other.

You’ll love him.
You’ll listen.
You’ll be his supporter.

Are the lines on one page and over the page finish with:

When life feels in shambles
You’ll help him find order.

The illustrations by Caldecott winner Christian Robinson, are lovely. They show the early years in a boy’s life from birth to primary age. The baby is held by dad, marvelling at the child in his arms. We see the child growing - learning to ride a bike, dad tying his son’s shoelaces, dressing up, having a picnic in the park. When the boy goes off to school dad comforts him. All the while dad tells his son that he is loved and we spy mum on the last pages reflecting a strong family unit where each member supports the other, and no one is ever alone.

Readers will think about their own experiences. They will enjoy predicting the rhyming word in each couplet, perhaps providing ideas of their own, accepting the sometimes unusual word combinations. And overall will enjoy seeing the relationship between fathers and sons taking centre stage.

Themes: Fathers, Sons, Family, Growing up, Verse.

Fran Knight