As a parent of a soon official preschooler, I’ve been grasping at whatever I can get my hands on to help ease the transition.

For me, not for her.

But I’m not the only one parenting my daughter. But trying to find a book for my husband, let alone a book that he will read is nearly impossible. However, I feel strongly about his role in my daughter’s life, particularly as she reaches this new phase of her life.

That’s why I (along with ten parent bloggers who voluntarily agreed to check out this book) was curious to see what Mr. Dad had to say about this topic. Known for his work for expectant fathers (does sold millions mean anything to you?), Armin Brott’s new book for fathers of a school aged child was certainly of interest to many of our parents (moms and dads alike). And so far, here’s what they’ve said about this book.

The book is broken down year by year, not in age groups. The bloggers found this to be an excellent approach. “I really like the fact that it is broken down year by year.  So often, children are grouped together as 3-5 year olds and 6-8, but there is a lot of difference between a 3 year old and a 5 year old.” Additionally, parents could read about what was going on specifically with their kid, and not have to estimate due to an age range. “I have a five year-old so I was immediately drawn first to that chapter. I loved reading what to expect of my five year-old and proudly checking off that, “yup - she does that too.””

The bloggers (including two dad bloggers) noted that the book was clear and concise, but still packed with fantastic information, and a lot of it. “Most of you who read my blog know how serious I am about being a dad… well, Armin Brott is serious about it, too, and has given us dads a very clear and concise primer on some things for us to pay attention to when it comes to our young school-age children.” ”It’s chock-full of specific ideas for involvement in everything from education to physical activities to reading to video games and beyond.  He talks about how household issues can affect childrearing and vice versa, and brings in issues such as gender roles (for child and parent), step-parenting, single parenting, raising developmentally disabled children…  It’s a lot to pack into one book, or even a series of books, and I appreciate the effort.” ”This book has an incredible amount of information that will help a father know what is happening in the development of his child educationally as well as emotionally.”

This dad noted how easy it was to use.  “[This is a] comprehensive and well-researched handbook for any dad - first timers or even third-timers (like myself). As with most handbooks, one can read FYSAC flipping around forward and back to areas that interest you and or are relevant to current problems or concerns.” So did this blogger’s spouse. “He also liked the way the book was broken down into manageable parts. It was easy for him to find just the right information he was looking for.”

A couple of the dads noted that there was a lot of research used to back up Brott’s points. While they felt this was understandable, they actually felt it was unnecessary. It certainly didn’t deter from their enjoyment of the book, but they did note that it’s okay to let dads read about their kids without having to know that 99% of other dads agreed.

A few bloggers specifically noted the amazing resource list at the back of the book. “Probably my favorite section was the Resources, at the back of the book.  Many topics were covered - adoption, discipline, Fathering your Special Needs Child, Sex, Stepfamilies.  Every topic had books, websites and organziations to contact for more information.  There was also an AWESOME additional reading section, with books geared for both kids and parents.” ”The resources towards the end is an endless list of books, magazines, and websites where you can find information about almost any parenting subject you can think of. Talk about research!”

And finally, one dad appreciated how the book was current — particularly impressive since kids always seem to be one up on their parents when it comes to technology. “And it’s up to date! Those instant message acronyms that older kids use on their cell phones are translated by Mr. Brott on page 175. I knew a few of them already, but this kind of information is very useful to monitor development and potential problems.”

Overall, this book was recommended by moms and dads, summed up well by this dad:

This is an excellent resource for any man who is truly interested in doing a real man’s job: Being an involved father to his children

I’m looking forward to checking out the next set of reviews. And make sure to check out Brott’s website for information on all his publications.

8/17: Toddler Planet

8/20: Mommy Needs Coffee Buzz Review Blog

8/21: Mama Maven Says

8/22: The Domestic Diva

8/23: Lipstick to Crayons

8/27: Final Round Up - Launch of Mr. Dad Tool Box DVD!