admin, Author at Daddy Mojo

Frankenstein and the art of high school under-achievement

For the better part of a year I’ve been teaching high school literature. For non-teachers, people who teach literature have access to large closets of books from which to choose for their classes. Sometimes they can dig into engaging books of their choosing, and other times the departments might decide on The Crucible. It’s like the wardrobe from Narnia, but it leads to a kingdom of knowledge or pain, depending on your perspective. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is in those closets. Realistically, it’s almost certainly reserved for the AP classes. However, somewhere I like to think there’s a rogue literature class, probably helmed by Mr. Escalante from Stand and Deliver. They’re being rewarded by the patient, well-told dread and gothic stench that also has romantic sensibilities.

Today’s high school kids stand a better chance at levitating off of the ground, than reading Frankenstein and understanding it.

Teacher rant in 3, 2, 1…

A Home for Felix uses dreamy art and an open story to its benefit

A publisher does not a good book make. However, there are some book publishers who are so consistent in their ability that it primes the pump for your expectations. Tra Publishing is one like that. Their books have an odd, slightly unfamiliar feeling about them, but not too much that it’s incomprehensible to its young audiences. A Home for Felix is familiar, but strange, with big, dreamy illustrations that will make early readers happy and keep the older people reading it entertained.

A Home for Felix has dreamy art, concise words and a timeless story that crosses boarders to charm illustrated book audiences.

Order up, one awesome book, order up.

The Rise of Neptune, has action and imagination for young readers

It’s a great thing when you can jump into the second entry in a book series and be entertained. It’s also quite rare. The Rise of Neptune is the second book in The Dragonships Series. It does something equally rare in middle-grade fiction, it makes you want to find the first book and read it so that you can connect the dots.

The Rise of Neptune is the second book in The Dragonships Series and proves that its predecessor laid the ground for a go-to mglit series.

It’s as good as it is pretty

Dark Fairy Tales, an entertaining collection of the evil in our global myths

Let’s be clear, Dark Fairy Tales is not in any way appropriate for children. This is not reverse psychology or some trick by educators to make you read something. Dark Fairy Tales is a collection of fairy tales from around the world that are set in areas where things go bump in the night. Do not confuse any of these stories with something that a child would read and be entertained by. Instead, think of something by Lovecraft, Clive Barker or Stephen King, condense it into a short narrative like a fairy tale, and you’re close to what’s in this book.

Dark Fairy Tales lives in the dark spaces of a worldwide collection of jinns and demons, closer to Evil Dead, than Disney.

This book is not for children, for reals

It’s Almost Time for Halloween! is a seasonally silly book for kids

Here’s an ode to cute illustrated books of Halloween. These are the kid-friendly books that are heavy on illustrations. The book’s pages are glossy and the cover has embossed characters, letters, or both. These features help drive home the book’s movement and tactile enjoyment for young hands. It’s those ages who get more out of touching than they do sitting. It’s Almost Time for Halloween! is the silly sort of seasonal selection that exists to make kids fall in love with the idea of reading a book.

Pre-K through 3rd grade kids laughing? check.

Pocket Bear is go-to, early-chapter book magic for ages 7-12

Pocket Bear has a style and spirit that will easily tap into kids in early elementary school. Those kids who are already reading will feel accomplished because of its short chapters. The slightly older kids, say those in third through fifth grade will feel encouraged that they’re able to read a real book. By ‘real book’ they’ll mean a chapter book with very few, if any, illustrations. Everyone, even you adults who might read Pocket Bear aloud to young audiences, will quickly fall prey to its cuteness and the age-appropriate action.

Pocket Bear is by Katherine Applegate, a go-to author who again is able to tap into a story that will charm elementary ages in the best of ways.

Resistance is futile to Pocket Bear

Aggie and the Ghost, illustrated book gold for ages three and up

Children are not stupid. When they see illustrated books they’re able to tell the simpler ones from those that entertain at a more cerebral level. And just because something is not at a stupid level doesn’t mean that it’s relegated to the tucked-away lands of fancy pants books. There’s a place where clever, sublime illustrated books live. Those who have an old-soul, new-world sensibilities, intelligence and a timeless characteristic that allows the book to feel ‘new’, regardless of when it comes out. Matthew Forsythe lives there and turns out hauntingly charming illustrated books that are as endearing as they are creepy and weird. Aggie and the Ghost joins Pokko and the Drum, and Mina for a hat trick of illustrated book storytelling magic.

Aggie and the Ghost makes Matthew Forsythe 3-for-3 when it comes to illustrated books that are an instant classic.

This aint no New Coke, this is a new classic yo

The Dragon Con Family is a name we had heard, and it rings true for anyone

The Dragon Con family. It’s a strange thing referring to a major fan convention of 75,000+ as ‘family’, but it’s not an inaccurate title. This was the first year I consciously heard the phrase, but it’s highly likely that it was used around me over the past 15 years. Dragon Con, in and of itself, is a unique thing to experience and comprehend. It’s a massive celebration of pop culture that happens over Labor Day in Atlanta.

What to expect from Dragon Con? What’s not to expect from Dragon Con? After 15 years it better each time.

Fear not the Dragon Con-and don’t expect any dragons