Author: Daddy Mojo

Daddy Mojo is a blog written by Trey Burley, a stay at home dad, fanboy, husband and father. At Daddy Mojo we'll chat about home improvement, giveaways, family, children and poop culture. You can find out more about us at http://about.me/TreyBurley

Episode 27: All age comic books for August 17

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This week in all-age comic books has Sonic, Usagi, Peach and Plum, Simpsons Treehouse of Horror, The Art of Mamoru Hosoda and more. There’s also a new Scooby Doo Where are You?, Ultraman mini-series and other books to hook in readers. 

The Bad Guys, not actually that bad of a movie

Our oldest son loved The Bad Guys book series by Aaron Blabley all throughout his elementary school years. When The Big Bad Wolf came out in 2019 he went out of his comfort zone and chased down a Target worker to see if a copy of the book was in the back when the end cap was empty. When you spend any time at an elementary school you’ll see dozens, upon dozens of copies of any of The Bad Guys books in the library. It’s a graphic novel series that’s welcoming to read and doesn’t intimidate those younger readers who are transitioning to early chapter books. As a film, The Bad Guys is actually pretty good. Now, I realize that sentence could be perceived as if I’m slighting the film, and if that’s the case, then I blame Billie Eilish.

The Bad Guys, as a film, isn’t as bad as you think it is, or might be. It’s actually go-to fun for middle elementary audiences.
It’s actually good

Road Trip Earth, a science graphic novel for the non-science sect

There are different literary vehicles for upper elementary through middle school students to get their Earth science on. A commonality between most of the interesting ones is that there is not a narrative device. Sure there are dozens to hundreds of engaging photos and text that do the trick but organizing this non-fiction stuff in a way that keeps them reading is challenging. They might jump in for one nugget, but it’s a different story when trying to lock down their attention for an entire book. Road Trip Earth is a book from Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez, and Sanden Totten, the folks who created the Brains On! podcast and seems intent on shifting expectations, or at least reading duration.

Road Trip Earth is a science graphic novel that juggles laughs, education, reference material, entertainment and more without dropping a ball.
Science, meet graphic novel, graphic novel, meet science

Let’s Power Up!, early elementary real-world look at currents

The time for rubbing our hands to our body before we touch the door knob or open the freezer section at the grocery store is nigh. As an adult, I know that it’s the build-up of something and when I touch the metal thing it gives me a shock. Also, as an adult, I just learned why this only happens in cooler weather. Enter Chris Ferrie, an author who has a sweet spot for writing science-themed books geared at younger readers. He’s written about Quantum Physics for Babies, My First 100 Space Words, plus many more, as well as, Let’s Power Up!. Let’s Power Up!, Charging into the Science of Electric Currents with Electrical Engineering is a very smart illustrated book, but will kids want to read it?

Let’s Power Up! is an engaging illustrated book that early elementary students can understand about electricity and currents.
STEM-minded illustrated book for early elementary

Roto and Roy, Helicopter Heroes is just the ticket for your emerging reader

Kids of a certain age love rhyming books. These kids are mastering the art of walking, phrasing things like a big kid, and working on not having accidents. The books are those clever, heavily illustrated ones that have the goal of making pre-k through third graders as happy as clams. Author Sherri Duskey Rinker has been accomplishing that since 2011 with her illustrated book classic, Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site. It was then turned into a juggernaut of a book series incorporating any massive vehicle that could move dirt or pick up things. Her newest series of books is Roto and Roy, the first book is Helicopter Heroes and has a can-do, positive, attitude that ages four through eight will gleefully embrace with a smile.

Roto and Roy, Helicopter Heroes, is the start of a beautiful illustrated book friendship for pre-k through early elementary action readers.
Good, action-oriented rhyming fun for ages 4-8

Wally the World’s Greatest Piano-Playing Wombat, a read along with wit

Once when I was teaching fifth grade I mentioned to some of the students that they weren’t the best and that there would always be somebody better. This elicited a wave of sincere shock and disbelief from them. What about this, what about that were all questions that quickly followed their gape-mouthed expression. These kids needed to read a book akin to Wally the World’s Greatest Piano-Playing Wombat. It holds the title of being the longest-titled book that we’ve read in recent memory. It’s a title so long we couldn’t add any words to our review title, lest it not be accepted by search engines. , as well as being one that elementary kids will love to hear, but also one that readers, won’t mind reading.

Wally the World’s Greatest Piano-Playing Wombat is an illustrated book that says lots about children’s confidence and teamwork, without saying a lot.
Wombat resistance is futile
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