Close Modal

My Papa Has a Red Mustache

Look inside
Hardcover
$18.99 US
9.25"W x 10.88"H x 0.43"D   | 17 oz | 24 per carton
On sale Jun 02, 2026 | 40 Pages | 9780593811603
Age 4-8 years | Preschool - 3
Reading Level: Lexile 530L | Fountas & Pinnell J

additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
A heartfelt and humorous story about a young girl who adores everything about her papa – except for his embarrassing mustache – from a New York Times bestselling illustrator and Pura Belpré Honor recipient.

Papa is a fearless pillow fighter, a pancake ninja, and a pigtail artist – that’s what his daughter thinks. There’s just one problem. Papa has a red mustache. While every other man has a black mustache, Papa is the only man with a red one. It’s embarrassing!

But when Papa takes his daughter to watch her first soccer game, she is too excited to realize that the two have become separated. Where is her papa with the red mustache? In a victorious and goal-worthy finale that will have readers laughing and cheering, she realizes that her papa’s red mustache makes him shine the brightest.

Pura Belpré Honor recipient and New York Times bestselling illustrator of Junot Díaz's Islandborn, Leo Espinosa makes his authorial debut in this clever and heartwarming picture book that celebrates a child’s boundless love for a parent, and the unique traits that make parents extraordinary to their kids– even the silly ones!
★ "Young readers will absorb the positive lessons on love and differences without any interference in the narrative....Espinosa offers up a warm ode to papas of all stripes in this sweetly silly story, which is also available in Spanish (Mi papá tiene un bigote rojo)." —Booklist, starred review

"With its cool rhythm, the playful text makes for a fun read-aloud, bolstered by chuckle-worthy moments and vibrant, delightful artwork....Stache-tacularly cheerful." —Kirkus Reviews

"As eye-catching and cheerfully idiosyncratic as Papa’s mustache, this telling bristles with comedy while turning affection with an asterisk into full-stop appreciation." —Publishers Weekly
Leo Espinosa is a New York Times bestselling illustrator and designer. His picture books include No More Naps by Chris Grabenstein; Islandborn by Junot Diaz, for which he was awarded a Pura Belpre illustrator award; and Goldfish on Vacation by Sally Lloyd-Jones. In addition, he has given multiple lectures and workshops at schools, such as Parsons School of Design and Pratt Institute, and has served on the faculty of the Rhode Island School of Design. He is from Bogotá, Colombia. View titles by Leo Espinosa

Classroom Activities for My Papa Has a Red Mustache

Classroom activities supplement discussion and traditional lessons with group projects and creative tasks. Can be used in pre-existing units and lessons, or as stand-alone.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Photos

additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo

About

A heartfelt and humorous story about a young girl who adores everything about her papa – except for his embarrassing mustache – from a New York Times bestselling illustrator and Pura Belpré Honor recipient.

Papa is a fearless pillow fighter, a pancake ninja, and a pigtail artist – that’s what his daughter thinks. There’s just one problem. Papa has a red mustache. While every other man has a black mustache, Papa is the only man with a red one. It’s embarrassing!

But when Papa takes his daughter to watch her first soccer game, she is too excited to realize that the two have become separated. Where is her papa with the red mustache? In a victorious and goal-worthy finale that will have readers laughing and cheering, she realizes that her papa’s red mustache makes him shine the brightest.

Pura Belpré Honor recipient and New York Times bestselling illustrator of Junot Díaz's Islandborn, Leo Espinosa makes his authorial debut in this clever and heartwarming picture book that celebrates a child’s boundless love for a parent, and the unique traits that make parents extraordinary to their kids– even the silly ones!

Praise

★ "Young readers will absorb the positive lessons on love and differences without any interference in the narrative....Espinosa offers up a warm ode to papas of all stripes in this sweetly silly story, which is also available in Spanish (Mi papá tiene un bigote rojo)." —Booklist, starred review

"With its cool rhythm, the playful text makes for a fun read-aloud, bolstered by chuckle-worthy moments and vibrant, delightful artwork....Stache-tacularly cheerful." —Kirkus Reviews

"As eye-catching and cheerfully idiosyncratic as Papa’s mustache, this telling bristles with comedy while turning affection with an asterisk into full-stop appreciation." —Publishers Weekly

Author

Leo Espinosa is a New York Times bestselling illustrator and designer. His picture books include No More Naps by Chris Grabenstein; Islandborn by Junot Diaz, for which he was awarded a Pura Belpre illustrator award; and Goldfish on Vacation by Sally Lloyd-Jones. In addition, he has given multiple lectures and workshops at schools, such as Parsons School of Design and Pratt Institute, and has served on the faculty of the Rhode Island School of Design. He is from Bogotá, Colombia. View titles by Leo Espinosa

Additional Materials

Classroom Activities for My Papa Has a Red Mustache

Classroom activities supplement discussion and traditional lessons with group projects and creative tasks. Can be used in pre-existing units and lessons, or as stand-alone.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Live Inspired with Compendium: Now Available from PRH!

Exciting news! Compendium has joined the Penguin Random House family, bringing a proven line of bestselling, sentiment-driven gifts to our extensive and ever-growing catalog. Since 1985, Compendium has been creating meaningful moments with beautiful, thoughtfully made gifts that center connection and celebrate occasions both big and small. From greeting cards to inspirational books to impulse-friendly add-ons, Compendium

Read more