This cheery picture book was in the works when author Bret Shuford, a Broadway performer, social media sensation, and dad, died from cancer in January 2026. Shuford’s husband, former New York City Ballet principal dancer Stephen Hanna, with whom he created the hugely popular Broadway Husbands social media account, is now championing the book as a way to honor Shuford’s legacy.
The story, inspired by the family’s real life, is told from the first-person perspective of a boy whose Papa and Dada may seem normal and boring—until they help the child get ready for bed, then leave the house to perform on stage for others. The boy understands that these careers aren’t common, and they sometimes mean his fathers must say goodnight by phone, but he knows that his dads are creating magic nightly for thousands of people.
At home, we see that the dads are active and engaged parents. The boy knows that they will always support him. “They’ve taught me that to live my dreams doesn’t require sacrifice,” he reflects. That may be overstating things a bit, since saying goodnight by phone seems like a sacrifice, albeit a small one, compared to doing so in person—but the important point is that there are ways to balance career and parenthood without sacrificing the big things that matter: a happy, cared-for child who is inspired to live out his dreams because he sees his parents living out theirs. The story ends with the boy remembering his dads’ words of love.
Elena Hager’s vibrant illustrations capture both the dazzle of Broadway and the warmth of the home scenes. While the meter sometimes jolts a bit, this rhyming story is a sweet tale of work-life balance and a poignant tribute to a father who helped bring joy to many, starting with his husband and son. Families with one or more parents in the performing arts may particularly appreciate it, but its message should appeal to many families with working parents.
