Review of "Best Dad Ever- No Take Backs!" by Mike Wang

Score: 91/100 (9.1 out of 10)

Dads deserve their flowers too!

There are countless children’s books celebrating mothers, and rightly so, but it is always refreshing to find one that puts a loving father-daughter relationship front and center. Best Dad Ever—No Take Backs! is a colorful, affectionate picture book about the everyday moments that make a dad feel larger than life in the eyes of his child.

Dad does not need superpowers here. He runs beside Ga as she learns to ride a bike, jumps into the pool as she becomes a mermaid, listens to her stories, survives a paint-covered art session, comforts her at bedtime, tells silly tales, and makes time for her even when the day winds down. The book understands that being a great dad is often about simply being present: participating, encouraging, laughing, cleaning up the messes, and making a child feel safe and loved. That warmth is the book’s greatest strength.

The story clearly comes from a personal place. The author explains that it was inspired by his daughter, Kiara, nicknamed Ga, and the book feels like a loving tribute to her personality, imagination, and the adventures they share. Rather than reading like a generic Father’s Day message, it feels personal. The final sentiment, that she may grow up but will always remain deeply loved, gives the book a sincere emotional landing.

Ga is especially adorable throughout.

She is colorful, expressive, playful, and easy to root for. Whether she is in her bright dress and tiara, proudly riding her purple bicycle, pretending to be a mermaid, enjoying made-up stories, or getting covered in paint, she brings energy and joy to nearly every page. She feels like the heart of the book, and it is clear why her father sees her as such a special little girl.

The rhyming text is simple, upbeat, and well suited for reading aloud. The repeated reminders that Dad is always there, catching bikes, “taming pool sharks,” telling strange stories, and scratching bedtime stars, give the book a comforting rhythm. Young children will likely enjoy the playful exaggeration and the sense that ordinary days can become magical when spent with someone who loves them.

While they might not be our cup of tea, the illustrations are bright, cheerful, and full of color. The outdoor scenes, flowers, parks, pool, bedroom, bus stop, and nighttime pages create a friendly, childlike world. The book is never visually gloomy, and its bright palette matches its encouraging message.

There are a few visual quirks, but they do not take away from the book’s overall charm. Dad is frequently shown smiling toward the reader rather than looking naturally at Ga or the action around him. Even when he is swimming beside her, cheering her on during a painting activity, or helping with her bike, his gaze sometimes seems directed outward toward the audience. This can make certain scenes feel unintentionally funny, almost as though he is keeping one eye on a family-camera pose no matter what is happening.

His facial expression also stays fairly consistent throughout, usually cheerful and smiling. More variation in his expressions and eye lines could have made the father-daughter interactions feel even more emotionally alive. In the bike-riding scene, his running pose is also a little unusual, reading more like an accidental split than a natural sprint beside his daughter.

A few of the decorative animals and creatures feel slightly disconnected from the story. The birds, butterflies, bugs, and other whimsical figures add color, but they sometimes appear more like background additions than meaningful parts of Ga’s imagination or the scene itself. The large grasshopper in the bedroom, for instance, is as big as the dog. By the way, the dog appears to be flying on the cover. Come to think of it, why is there a bicycle flying on the cover?

The Rapunzel and “Bald Rapunzel” section is similarly a little random. We were super confused by this. It may be a family in-joke or intentionally absurd storytelling between Dad and Ga, but the Abu, barber, Rapunzel, and baldness connection does not entirely click on the page. Still, Ga’s reaction is cute, and the scene fits the book’s larger spirit of a dad making up silly stories just to make his daughter laugh.
Ultimately, those are small issues in a book with a very big heart.

Best Dad Ever- No Take Backs! celebrates the fathers who show up for the bike rides, swimming lessons, messy art projects, bedtime routines, strange stories, and quiet moments under the stars. It recognizes that a child’s happiest memories are often built from those ordinary hours when a parent chooses to be fully present.

This is a sweet, colorful, loving tribute to fatherhood and to one very special little girl. It will likely make dads feel appreciated, daughters feel cherished, and families remember that the best adventures do not always require anything more than time together.

Check it out on Amazon!