Daddy Mojo, Author at Daddy Mojo

Dig the Scholastic Summer Reading Road Trip RV in Atlanta on July 21

The Scholastic Summer Reading Road Trip RV is ending its nationwide trip in Atlanta on July 21. The summer slide is real and all summer long the Scholastic Reading Road Trip RV has been cruising across the USA helping kids, parents and communities keep kids reading during those school-free months. An RV full of free reading activities, authors signing books and giveaways is just the sort of thing to help out parents and energize young readers.

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Bobs and Tweets #2 Perfecto Pet Show, early elementary a go-go

Bob and Tweets are birds of a different color. Specifically they’re two families who are quite different, the Tweets are neat and the Bobs couldn’t bother. This is the second book in the series by Pepper Springfield with illustrations by Kristy Caldwell. This is a silly book, that’s fun to read-and if early elementary kids saw the first one, then Bobs and Tweets #2, Perfecto Pet Show is one you’ll be able to tell.

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New all age comic books for July 12, 2017

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Headed to the comic book store this weekend to check out the new all age comic books? You’ll find lots of classic names in new packaging, a cool craft book, classic video game name finally comes to stores and others. What all age comic books are you reading? If it’s anything that’s under our radar or one that you particularly want folks to know about please leave any suggestions in the comments here on the post or over at the podcast.

Mighty Mouse

We were skeptical about Mighty Mouse coming back to comic books. Granted he’s a classic character and the premise sounds great, but it was on Dynamite Comics. Dynamite does some fine comic books for older readers, but the all age market place didn’t seem like their scene. Mainly it was their advertisements for their other comic books that I was concerned about. The last borderline all age comic book we saw from Dynamite was a couple of years ago and featured advertisement for other Dynamite books that were not for all ages.

Mighty Mouse plays it just right. The comic book has ads for other Dynamite comics, but they’re all OK for any audience. That’s a bonus because the plot and art for Mighty Mouse is a hoot. It references the classic appeal, while treating readers like they have a brain and are based in today’s culture.

Star Wars Legends The Original Marvel Years, Vol. 2

Back in the late 70’s Marvel Comics was the only source for Star Wars in comic books. Star Wars went back to Marvel in 2014 and they’re re-printing some of the original comics. Star Wars Legends The Original Marvel Years Vol 2 has Star Wars 24-38, Annual #1, Star Wars Weekly (from the U.K.) 94-99 and 104-115. This retails for just under $40, but classic Star Wars fans will love going back in time to look at these issues.

Art of Coloring: Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas

Halloween is just over three months away and that means the onslaught of Nightmare Before Christmas merch is nigh. Truth be told, this merchandise never really gets old for us and this film still holds up as well as it did in 1993. Art of Coloring: Tim Burtons’ Nightmare Before Christmas is for age that can color well enough to stay in the lines and enjoy Oogie Boogie

Marvel Universe Ultimate Spider-Man

Spider-Man is for the kids and Marvel Universe Spider-Man Vs. Sinister Six Digest issues 9-11 of this great monthly series. It also includes Marvel Universe Ultimate Spider-Man #1

Centipede

How is it that the classic Atari games have not been made into comic books or movies? Centipede is a new title from Dynamite that’s a great example of a teen comic and up. This is vengeance, with a Centipede twist, monster bugs and world killing messiness. It’s not for all ages, but those looking for strong science fiction action will dig this one.

Humor

Superhero

Action/sci-fiction

Catch the Summer of Mars with NASA through September 4

Mars is more than a red planet that inspired bad movies in the early 2000’s. Mars is the red planet that NASA will visit within this generation and the astronauts that will be part of that mission are already born. To our 7 and 5 year old that doesn’t mean too much, but to adults who can fathom how large a feat this really is it’s mind boggling. This is the Summer of Mars and NASA is rolling out the red carpet for its Mars Rover Concept Vehicle.

The Mars Rover Concept Vehicle is touring the east coast and is appearing at Suntrust Park in Atlanta July 14-16, National Air & Space Museum in Washington D.C. July 21-22, Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ July 29-30, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York August 3-6 and at North Point Mall in Alpharetta, GA on August 12.

It’s important to point out that the Mars Rover Concept Vehicle is a concept. This is not the actually vehicle that’ll be rolling on big red looking for Marvin or manhunters. However, the vehicle is the real deal in that it’s big, life size and has some of the working conditions that astronauts will encounter up there. It also looks a lot like the Batmobile and somewhere Christopher Nolan’s Mars parents are smiling at their most famous progeny.

It’s also beautiful. The tires look like something a child would play with. They’re airless, metal creations that can fold inward, but are also strong enough to climb over rocks with enough traction to power through Mars sand fields.

The interior is part tank, hybrid car and DeLorean. Its seats are surprisingly comfortable and are compromised of a series of rolls. The interior dash is sleek and makes great use of space. There really is a gear shift too and it steers like a normal vehicle. However, its top speed is six miles an hour, so don’t any mental images of doing doughnuts. This vehicle is all science, packaged in just enough pop culture to make children dream about going to Mars.

I was slightly more excited about seeing it than our children. But once they actually saw it, they got it and you could see their eyes spin with wonder and curiosity. Do you have a great name for the Mars Rover Concept Vehicle? They’re having a contest on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to #NameTheRover. The contest runs through August 6 so use the hashtag, keep it family friendly and get creative.

After the vehicle’s tour it’ll go back to Kennedy Space Center where visitors can experience all sorts of outer space adventures. In speaking with the representative from there our kids seemed most curious about the Rocket Garden. It’s two words that normally wouldn’t create a compound word in definition, but in this case they do and that’s part of the wonder of space travel.

Hey Boy is a kidlit, children’s book for the pet lover’s soul

Children’s books, as a parenting rule, shouldn’t make you cry. Children are unable to discern why mom or dad are crying, even laughing so hard that you’re crying sends mixed signals to young children. Hey Boy is a children’s book from Benjamin Strouse with illustrations by Jennifer Phelan. At first it seems out of place when compared to bright colored children’s books with large font and silly/sappy endings. Technically this book and those books aim for the same reader. However, Hey Boy has a more timeless, retrained presence that will draw young readers in through its measured tone, grander scope and hopeless optimism.

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Fruits In Suits, a worthy sequel to one of our favorite children’s books

Fruits In Suits by Jared Chapman is the sequel to one of the greatest books that our children have read. That book is Vegetables in Underwear and is one that I credit in helping potty train our then 3-year old to stop wearing diapers and to use the potty. His latest book is all about suits and fruits, that being sometimes fruits in suits and packed with puns galore.

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Cinderella Della Circus adds quirky twists and puppets to shake up story

The story of Cinderella is timeless and offers lots of avenues for twists. That is important especially when your audience might have short attention spans. Cinderella Della Circus has roots in the classic tale, but also offers up some strange twists and bigger laughs than some in the audience are expecting. It’s appearing at Center For Puppetry Arts in Atlanta through July 23.

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New all age comic books for July 5, 2017

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Happy July and lets jump into the new all age comic books that kids as young as 5 can enjoy. If you live in the northern hemisphere here’s a great reason to visit a local comic book store-it’s air conditioned. And if it’s like our local comic book store they sell sodas for .75, so go hot and hydrate when before you leave. To find your local comic book store simply dig into Comic Book Store Locator and type in your zip code. The all age comic books this week are super, lot more superheroes than in previous weeks, plus some cool Doctor Who books, Hero Cats, Star Wars, Riverdale, DC Super Heroes and more.

Gumby

Fans of a certain age will say something spicy when they utter Gumby’s name. In this instance, Gumby is a new all age comic book, with classic appeal-but don’t tell the kids because those as young as 5 will love it. These are new stories from everyone’s favorite green character (don’t tell Kermit) that bring the old school character to today’s new school readers in a format that will make parents enjoy it as much as the kids they might be reading to.

DC Super Hero Girls: Katana At Super Hero High

Is this the summer of DC girl super power or have audiences finally caught up with it? DC Super Hero Girls is the latest in a series of graphic novels that feature the DCU girls in high school. These are original stories and art by Lisa Yee and they just keep getting better. Katana at Super Hero High features everyone’s favorite noble warrior as she’s assigned with guarding hundreds of sacred ninja swords. Her friends help out to teach everyone a lesson, have fun, kick butt and get kids interested in reading. This series is great for ages 7 and up to read on their own, but can be read to ages as young as 6.

True Believers: Spider Man

There was a popular tweet this week that said that Spider-Man is for kids period. To an extent that is true, let’s not quibble about the exact age and say that kids 7 and up will love True Believers: Spider-Man Brand New Day. This is a reprinting of Amazing Spider-Man 546 from 1999 and is great for that age and older. Everyone will love the True Believers price point of $1, so jump in and get the kids hooked on some old school Spidey.

Pokémon Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire

Our 7 year old is all Pokémon-all the time. He’s been going to the comic book store since birth, but he’s only recently discovered the Pokémon books. In our local comic book store they’re with the all age graphic novels, but your local store could keep them with anime or manga. Either way, they’re one of the best bangs for the buck that you’ll purchase. They’re thick, cost $4.99 and kids 6 and up will devour them.

Star Wars Dot To Dot Book

Dot to Dot books are another thing that our 7 year old is really into now. Thomas Pavitte does some fabulous 1000 puzzle challenges for Marvel, like GOTG, The Avengers and Spider-Man that he’s been doing and loving for the past year. Now Disney is getting into the advanced game with Star Wars Dot To Dot Book that has over 1,000 dots on every puzzle. Technically these books are geared towards the YA audience or adults, but if you have a puzzle kid then ages as low as 7 will love these challenges. If you’ve never done one of these you should be prepared to use a magnifying glass. Our child doesn’t need them when he doing one, but I need it whenever I do them.

Humor

Superhero

Action/science-fiction