Desperate to Make His Baby Smile, Dad Shares Unconventional Approach to Story Time (Exclusive)
- - Desperate to Make His Baby Smile, Dad Shares Unconventional Approach to Story Time (Exclusive)
Jordan GreeneDecember 26, 2025 at 11:20 PM
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Austin Wade
Austin Wade rapping to his son, Carter -
In October, Austin Wade rapped Llama Llama Red Pajama to his 5-month-old son, Carter
The TikTok video quickly went viral, gaining millions of views
Now, Wade continues creating fun rap readings with his wife
Austin Wade was just trying to make his baby smile.
During story time with his 5-month-old son, Carter, Wade grabbed a discounted copy of Llama Llama Red Pajama. His wife had picked up the book by chance, and remembering a video of Ludacris rapping the story, Wade thought, “Why not try it myself?”
Though he had no formal musical training, performing has always been part of Wade’s life.
“I've loved singing and rapping since I was a child, and music has always been a passion,” the Charlotte, N.C., dad tells PEOPLE. “I once sang the national anthem at a minor league baseball game. I was a theatre kid in middle school. I even led a band in college. You could say I was known to shut down a karaoke bar before becoming a parent.”
As Wade began rhyming, his wife captured the moment on camera. The couple records almost every milestone with their son, so thankfully, she had the phone rolling.
At first, Carter needed a little time to adjust. “He was confused at first, but as he got older, he started to love it. He locks in on me when I start rapping, and usually by the end he has a big smile on his face.”
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Austin Wade
Austin Wade with his son
What started as a playful experiment quickly took on a life of its own when Wade later posted the clip on TikTok just for fun. With only about 20 followers at the time, he didn’t expect much, but the video went viral, eventually reaching more than 7.6 million views.
"TEN OUTTA TEN," one account wrote.
"Not me boppin my head to this bangerrrr 😭," someone else commented.
Another person chimed in, "Sorry but this slaps."
Austin Wade
Austin Wade rapping a book
Since then, Wade has continued rapping books to his son and posting them on TikTok at @austintherappingdad, where he’s now amassed a following of nearly 100,000.
“The response has been incredible,” Wade says. “I post silly videos of everyday moments, and it’s amazing to see how much joy they bring."
"Some parents whose kids are grown tell me my videos remind them of reading these books to their own children," he adds. "Others have shared them with their kids in the hospital to bring a smile during a tough time. Even fellow dads have reached out to say I inspire them to be more playful parents. It’s all so humbling.”
For Wade, finding the right rhythm for each book is part of the fun and the challenge.
“Most of the books I’ve rapped already rhyme, which gives me a natural flow. I read it a few times a cappella, then search for a beat. After that, it’s mostly trial and error until the rhythm feels right,” he explains.
Some stories come together easily; others, not so much.
“My favorite has been I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home. I rapped it to the beat of ‘No Hands’ by Waka Flocka Flame feat. Roscoe Dash and Wale. It flowed so well, it felt like an actual rap song,” he says. The Wonky Donkey, however, posed a bigger challenge. “It doesn’t rhyme, so I had to take a lot of creative liberties. But people seemed to appreciate the effort, so it was worth it.”
Even with millions watching, Wade has stayed grounded. “It all started on a random Wednesday morning during paternity leave. We were just having fun as a family. We never set out to go viral or build an audience,” he says.
“At home, the goal has always been simpler: fun and family. We just want our son to grow up in a household centered around love and joy — and to know it’s okay to be goofy from time to time,” Wade adds.
Austin Wade
Austin Wade with his wife and son
Looking ahead, Wade already has his next challenge in mind: The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
“It’s a timeless classic, but it doesn’t rhyme. It will be fun to reimagine it as a rap,” he laughs.
Through it all, he credits his wife, who films and supports him every step of the way. “She’s the reason this journey started. None of it would be possible without her support,” he says.
“It’s been so rewarding to see how something so simple has connected with so many people,” Wade adds. “I’m excited to see how this evolves as my son grows, and I hope families across the internet continue to join us for our story time.”
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
