Dadurday does sound like a cool way to describe Father’s Day, or well, any other day to celebrate dads actually!

Note: this post is from the archives (June 17, 2013 actually) and I am rehashing it a bit to post it here once again!!.

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Celebrating Family

It is almost Father’s Day. Growing up in India, I was not aware of any of these modern traditions of Mother’s Day or Father’s Day (even Valentine’s Day became popular in India only when I was in my late teens with the increased number of greeting cards and teddy bears being pushed in the market by the card companies!). Today, both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are also part of this market in India.

As for me, family is something to celebrate everyday – and the greatest gift born out of and to family is love. And this is how I am sure people around the world celebrate their family each and every day. According to the wikipedia articles for Father’s Day, many countries do have their own versions to honor fathers and many others adopted and adapted this US holiday in recent years.

I am sure the people who came up with the concept of these holidays will not be too thrilled about the commercialization of these traditions they started. But I for one, choose to celebrate these days like I would a birthday at home – making an extra special effort to make dad feel special and cherished – home-made cards, best behavior (possible) from the little ones for this day (and a promise of more good behavior for every day), dad’s choice rules for the day for outings/food choices, et al. 

The Weekend is Full of Dadurdays (Read On to Understand Why)

Today, dad and daughter enjoyed reading a very sweet book together – Saturday is Dadurday by Robin Pulver. This was the ‘today’ of 11 years ago, in 2013!

Today is different, in 2024. Both dad and daughter have been going to practices and rehearsals this week for my daughter’s last show at her dance school (for she is off to college soon so will no longer be able to attend this dance school next door to us). And this year, dad is also taking part (for the first time since it will be the only time he will be able to do it here with her) in a dad’s dance!! So I am looking forward to it with lots of joy. This coming Father’s Day is Dadurday indeed in a cool new way.

Now back to the book..

The Book: Saturday is Dadurday

A sweet read for everyday that shows how life and work balances impact parents everyday and does tend to take us (as parents) away from that time spent with our precious children. In this book, Mimi and her dad have established their own tradition of Dadurday – where they do things together – silly things, sane things, anythings! But when things change and Dadurday suddenly is a solo show for Mimi, what happens? 

How Mimi brings a charming solution to what she thinks is a ‘badurday’ is heartwarming – reading this book definitely made me feel both sad (for the times I have obligations that take me away like the dad in this book) and happy (that kids are resourceful and resilient and figure out a way to make everyday special). This is a book to celebrate family – EVERYDAY.

The illustrations by R.W.Alley compliment the book wonderfully – bright and colorful and portray Mimi and her family perfectly. 

Adorable all over.  

Reading Level: 4 years and above
Rating:A
Reread Level: 4.5/5

A Dadurday Poetic Swirl

For Sunday Whirl, Sunday Scribblings, OSI, and Magpie Tales

(note: all these are from the June 2013 post and only the Sunday Whirl is a still active weekly poetic meme at this time – as of June 2024)

• Whirl: Cave chattering wake splits cut giggle moonshine scoop crazy sense anything load
• Scribblings: meal
• OSI: wrinkle
• Magpie Tales: the painting – The Promenade, 1918, by Marc Chagall

Dadurday
Dadurday is here today!
Wake up dad!
Today is your day –
Let us know what you want,
Anything you say.
Crazy or with sense                           
Everything goes
 
Spelunking?
Watch out, caves – here we come!
With bushels of giggles and loads of fun
A dash of chattering thrown in too.
 
Scoops of ice cream
Loaded to the brim
Over banana splits
For every meal!
 
A giant big balloon
Life-sized one for you?
Sure, daddy, here is the moon
Or will this mom-shaped balloon do?
 
Today is your day
A day for you to reign
All wrapped up in moonshine
A wrinkle free day – all smoothed out and fine
A day that is a cut above the rest
For daddy, you are the very best!           
~. Vidya Tiru @ LadyInReadWrites

Related etcs and More for Dadurday

Get this Dadurday t-shirt at Kohl’s for dad. You can get it shipped to you (even if not in time for father’s day, then make any other day dadurday by gifting him this shirt!)

Make it an experience gift for dad by starting off the day with a home-cooked breakfast including his favorite breakfast-y dishes, and then going on a hike with him on his favorite local trail to burn it all off. Treat him to a cool drink after the hike to wrap up the morning!

More Adorable Dadurday Reads For You

• Because I’m Your Dad by Ahmet Zappa and illustrated by Dan Santat (1 – 3 years)
• The Berenstain Bears: We Love Our Dad! by Jan and Mike Berenstain (2 – 5 years)
• Dad By My Side by Soosh (1 – 6 years)
• Daddy Is My Hero by Dawn Richards with art by Jane Massey (2 – 5 years)
• How to Catch a Daddysaurus by Alice Walstead and illustrated by Andy Elkerton (3 – 6 years)
• Just Like Dad by Mercer Mayer (2 – 5 years)
• Made for Me by Zack Bush and illustrated by Gregorio De Lauretis (Baby – 2 years)
• Me and My Dad! by Alison Ritchie with illustrations by Alison Edgson (Baby – 3 years)
• My Dad Is Amazing!  by Sabrina Moyle and  Eunice Moyle (Baby – 3 years)

Even More Dadurday-ish Posts (Reads, Gifts, and the Rest)

• Five Fantastic Finds for Father’s Day and More
• Great Bookish Gifts For Dad on Father’s Day
• 15 Books to Gift Dad for Father’s Day
• 19 Books (and My Life) Featuring Wonderful Dads
• Super Saturday – Super Dad

And Now, the End of This Post

Dear reader, would you pick this book for your dad/little ones to share with their dad? Any similar recommendations? What are your last minute go-tos for dad?