Elementary school | Daddy Mojo

The Second Life of Snap is an elementary school reader’s dystopian best friend

Say this about The Second Life of Snap: it knows its target. Older readers might look at its cover and draw parallels to The Iron Giant. They could alter their opinion after looking at the back cover and see that our heroine is accompanied by three other kids. The three of them are seated on some nondescript rubble of a not-too-distant society, while Zuzu is on Snap’s shoulders. The subtitle to the book is, A girl, A robot, A race for the future, so readers will know that it’s dystopian to an extent.

The Second Life of Snap is a contained story with enough mystery, adventure, science-fiction and heart to equally hook in boy or girl elementary school readers.

Ages 8-12 come hither and read

The Boy Who Drew Cats, a more than century old story, still resonates today

Folk tales are different than fairy tales. The latter have to include magical or supernatural aspects, like beans that grow to the sky or a witch. Folk tales are passed down from generation to generation and are cultural in nature. They don’t have to have magic, but do focus on common people and could have a more graphic ending. The Boy Who Drew Cats: A Japanese Folktale got the memo on that. Originally translated in 1898, this is a new edition has illustrations on a grander scale.

The Boy Who Drew Cats: A Japanese Folktale uses gorgeous illustrations of cats, temples and an epic quest to make a 100 year old story feel alive.

Have cat art folktale, will travel

Get the Wiggles Out: Playful Ways to Embrace Every Feeling for toddlers

There’s something unintentionally funny about a book called Get the Wiggles Out. Your silly adult brain envisions a toddler showdown with dancing and singing that involves non-Australian-based intellectual property, fending off other colored characters. Once you see it with your mind’s eye, you can’t unsee it. Thankfully, Get the Wiggles Out: Playful Ways to Embrace Every Feeling (Everyday Feelings with Sesame Street) stars the team who live where the air is sweet.

Get the Wiggles Out is a Sesame Street book that uses very short stories and movement to help toddlers through early elementary overcome frustrations.

Toddlers! (and your parents..) listen up.

Awe!, a picture book that shows young audiences there’s wonder everywhere

I like big books and I cannot lie. The size of a picture book doesn’t matter. I know, you know, it’s about the quality or interest level of what’s inside. However, kids might be swayed when they see a picture book that’s larger than others. It puts a stamp on the bookshelf. It’s a physical declaration that dares young audiences not to open it. Books of that ilk have an awe about them. To wit, Awe! is a picture book that celebrates the wonders that live around everyone everywhere.

Awe! is a picture book that reminds older readers of the magic around us, while showing young audiences the wonder and awe that’s all around us.

Awe!, it’s not a wrestling acronym, it’s a great picture book

Mushrooms and Company sets the reference STEM mold to fun for ages 8 and up

My pseudo-critical thinking lessons to high school students sometimes challenge them. I do provide answers, but I prefer to have students find the path or the solution, themselves. Jokes, stories and raw enthusiasm can lead people to learn in a manner where they want to, as opposed to they have to. Mushrooms and Company takes the former road. Educators, parents and some students will recognize the look of Mushrooms and Company.

Mushrooms and Company doesn’t cap the fun. It’s reference smart, clever text, witty illustrations and photographic icks for ages 8 and up.

Smart, without using the fungi homophone

Around the Spider-Verse, a graphic novel collection spins great yarns

Oh Multiverse, you vex us so. The premise of the Multiverse is awesome. Its execution has been sketchy and inconsistent, with some characters and worlds being much more enjoyable than others. By far, the best job at establishing multiple protagonists in the same or different timelines is Spider-Man. It’s so effective at it that you can simply call it the Spider-Verse. Around the Spider-Verse: An Original Graphic Novel Collection is a new collection stories within that world that grabs your attention regardless of where your knowledge is about Spider lore.

Around the Spider-Verse: An Original Graphic Novel Collection is three new stories that contain what makes Spider-Man so awesome and relatable.

Doing whatever a spider can, and very well yo

Trial and Error, educational/funny, animal borne attorney fun

Every book aimed at elementary school-aged youth has its core audience. There is also the unknown crowd whom parents and educators hope find the book. Trial and Error is a graphic novel whose Venn Diagram bleeds into many fields. As an educator, you hope the longest leg option takes root but know that this avenue usually has the smallest entrance. However, you’re thankful for clever, unique books that speak to niche audiences, even though you want them to be more successful than they are.

Trial and Error, lives in the gray area of funny and educational, and does so with the unexpected subject of law.

Gird your loins for fun and education……about the law

Melodies of the Weary Blues, illustrated Hughes poetry for elementary ages

“Why are you reading a book of poems?”, asked the high school senior. Well, that’s a fair question, brother. I had taught this student in various classes over the years. In my typical way of teaching, I turned our conversation into a critical thinking exercise. This left our teenage dude mentally slipping into the hedges of his mind. He probably also wanted to get away from me and towards someone talking about something in his area of expertise. However, much to my surprise, he kept asking me questions about Langston Hughes Melodies of the Weary Blues: Classic Poems Illustrated for Young People.

Melodies of the Weary Blues is 23 illustrated poems by Langston Hughes that bring his words to life for elementary ages.

A bridge, illustrated book to poetry for young ages