Daddy Mojo

They Threw Us Away blazes a must-read trail of action and friendship

The title and image on the cover of They Threw Us Away immediately activates the dark places that your imagination can wander. It inspires curiosity, thoughts of friendship, and an unknown hint of what could be malevolence or something more apocalyptic. We see four teddy bears, each with a distinct personality. One is protective, a pink one is dancing, one looks quite aloof, and one who’s a bit of a wildcard. On the back we see a quote from the first chapter of the book that ominously states, “Is anyone there? I think….I’m lost”. Forget any preconceptions you have about They Threw Us Away. This book could easily be more inspired by any number of characters, depending on what you identify with the most. However,in reality, it’s an original story that crackles like very few books you’ll read this year.

This is one of the best books of the year for mglit

All age comic books for November 4

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New comic book day is nigh and there are a couple great all age comic books in that mix. Literally, it’s just a couple of new comic books. There are some great elementary school readers in these releases though. Do you have an elementary school student who likes superheroes and needs to read? If that’s the case then they need to check out Stone Arch Books, an imprint of Capstone Publishing. This week has three DC stories that’ll entertain ages seven and up. Batman & Missing Punchline, Cyborg-An Origin Story or Wonder Woman and the Cheetah Challenge all have great art that’s combined with a written story that will make those ages want to read.

For those upper elementary ages you need to read Goosebumps Secrets of the Swamp. This series from IDW Publishing is perfect for those fans who enjoy the Marvel Action comic book series from the same publisher. This presents age-appropriate scares and monsters for those eight-year-old readers who love great art with their written story. This is fun stuff that will hit those ages, plus demo up through middle school.

There are also a couple cool Spider-Man books, a series that’s always great for ages nine and up. Middle school readers who like monsters and robots need to check out The Rise of Ultraman. Issue 3 of this 5 issue mini-series is out this week. This is a fun series that does rely on reading to follow the fine points of the plot. Don’t let that put you off because it’s very well crafted and has some larger than life monsters.

All age comic books follow the jump, it’s the red pill

The Monster Who Wasn’t, detail-rich and a bit complex

Our 11-year-old son read The Monster Who Wasn’t first. I started to read it, found it too confusing, and put it by our bed when he walked in the room. “So, you’re reading that?” he asked. I told him that I started to read it, but got lost a chapter or two into the book. He stated that it was a great book, full of monsters and action and that I’d really enjoy it. Our oldest son reads books like I’d eat bacon if there were an endless supply of it in the kitchen. When I finished The Monster Who Wasn’t I agreed with him for the part.

It’s a great book, just follow along closely or you’ll get lost

Mary, The Adventures of Mary Shelly’s Great-Granddaughter review

Never judge a book by its cover, we all know that adage. Because I judged this cover I was hesitant to read Mary, The Adventures of Mary Shelley’s Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter. It looks too girly, has a ‘Twilight’ vibe that sends the wrong kind of shivers up my spine and the great to the fifth power subtitle seems all too gimmicky. Hello crow, you taste rather good right now. In reality, Mary, The Adventures of Mary Shelley’s Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter is a delicious surprise of a graphic novel that acknowledges its tenuous lineage into a real page-turner that will satisfy middle school readers of any ilk.

Mary, The Adventures of Mary Shelley’s great-Granddaughter age appropriate monster scares for 13 up

All age comic books for October 28

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This Wednesday is new comic book day and that means that some cool all age comic books will be popping up in your local store. If you’re not sure where your local comic book store is, just visit comic book store locator and type in your zip code.

Normally, Halloween week is one of the busiest of the year for new releases. This year it’s a bit slower than most, but there are still some great all-age comic books for readers in upper elementary school and up. Those elementary school readers, who also like some great art to move the story along are most likely fans of Geronimo Stilton. For those people, Geronimo Stilton Reporter-Paws Off Cheddarface! from Papercutz will be just their jam.

If your reader is just a bit older then check out Mega Man Fully Charged. It’s got more action than Sonic and all of the humor too, it’s a great series for ages 9 and up. For those Iron Giant fans, you need to see X-Ray Robot. Issue #3 of this series is out and has the classic vibe of that movie, plus a very smart plot that will hook middle school readers. To check out all of this week’s all-age comic books just jump over the image and click away.

Geronimo…..stilton, and other great comic books

Spooky Pants, gets kids laughing while they’re reading

TPR. I remember being taught that when I first started teaching ESL. Essentially, TPR is engaging tactile senses, like touching or physically moving something to reinforce a new concept. Spooky Pants, A Turn the Wheel Book is a board book that takes that principle, gives it laughs and a fun Halloween board book vibe to educate and entertain crawlers through pre-k.

Crawlers, toddlers and pre-k, come get yer spooky sillies

Hello Numbers! What Can You Do?, is rhyming, math fun

Young children are smart. At their core they want to learn, it’s just up to the older people who are taking care of them to get fun, educational materials in their way. For the sake of this review, young children is referring to those kids who are between two and six. These are the crawlers and first-grade kids who have nothing better to do than learn, so hop to it parents. That is where Hello Numbers! What Can You Do? An Adventure Beyond Counting can hardwire these kids for math brilliance, with a little assistance.

A smart counting book for crawlers-first grade that makes math a rhyming adventure

Fart Quest is a middle school modern classic that’s smarter than you think

Readers have to hand it Fart Quest. It clearly states what the book is about in its title. Granted, you have no idea what the quest entails, but are fairly certain that someone is on a journey and they’re probably gassy. Author Aaron Reynolds takes a simple premise and makes it so much more. Not content to simply make an upper elementary through middle school book; he’s written an adventure book about a mage in training that, at times, has more in common with Lord of the Rings than Captain Underpants.

Funny and more than the sum of its puns is Fart Quest