Daddy Mojo

Bringing Back The Wolves, the perfect nexus of art and eco education

Middle school students do not need to fear illustrated books and Bringing Back The Wolves is a great example of that. In 1926 Yellowstone National Park has so many wolves that the government offered a bounty for each one that was killed. Around that time thousands of people moving west and wolves were the apex predator to beat. They were attacking cattle with ease which drove a wedge of fear to those farmers who were trying to feed the massive amount of people. Bringing Back The Wolves takes a surprisingly detailed look at the unforeseen effects of these actions and how that environment rebounded.

Wolves, art, education and more in an illustrated book

Harlem Grown, a great good-night, non-fiction book that will inspire

You say Harlem to some people and they’ll either think of the neighborhood in New York City or the backdrop to the classic Eddie Murphy movie from 1989. Either way, they have the same setting. However, some people will associate it with Harlem Grown. I had heard about the garden in a news story a couple years ago and now it’s a fabulous illustrated book that’ll motivate some kids or simply be a great, good-night book to others.

A great, good-night non-fiction book is hard to find-but this is one of them

All age comic books for August 26

It’s new comic book day this Wednesday and there are a couple really bright spots in all age comic books. The publishing world is still adapting to the schedule that’s been shifting since March. Because of that, one of the funniest and most creative humor books we’ve seen in years is coming to comic book (and other) stores this week. We thought it was released back in the spring, but Attack of the Stuff is finally coming to stores. It’s from author/illustrator Jim Benton and is absolutely hilarious. It’s weird, might take a moment to get some of the jokes, but is one of the best graphic novels that you’ll pick up this year.

In all age comic books UnderDog will be just the sort of all age escapism for elementary aged readers. Those upper elementary (and up) kids will love Marvel Action Captain Marvel TPB Vol. 2 and The Amazing Spider-Man #47. If they’re a little more cerebral and want something more indie, check out Usagi Yojimbo #12. This series is all action, being made into a Netflix series and has a samurai rabbit. It’s also one of the best all age comic books that you’ll see on a regular basis.

All age comic book with issues ahead

Beetle & The Hollowbones, a fun mildly gothy, LGBTQ graphic novel

Beetle & The Hollowbones looks like the slightly spookier sister of Steven Universe or a more linear story than one that you’d find in Adventure Time. Granted, for those Cartoon Network or comic book fans those are big things to measure up to. However, they’re also very appropriate and give upper elementary through middle school readers an instant affiliation as to what kind of reader would dig Beetle & The Hollowbones by Aliza Layne.

Fans of BOOM! Comics and witch friendly tales will dig this graphic novel

Kenny & the Book of Beasts is a fable kids will want to read

Eight years is a long time between sequels, especially for middle elementary school through middle school books. However, you can’t keep a good rabbit down as author/illustrator/worldbuilder Tony DiTerlizzi and his fans can attest to. Kenny & the Book of Beasts is the sequel to Kenny & the Dragon and is an utterly charming book that young readers will quickly embrace. This is also the kind of book that readers can enjoy without reading the first one in the series.

This is a fable that brings in non-fable readers

Displacement, historical-fiction on Japanese internment camps

Displacement is a powerful graphic novel about the history of the United States when Japanese-Americans were forcibly place in internment camps. As a story, this period of time has many earnest and worthwhile stories that can be told. They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Elsinger, Steven Scott and illustrations by Harmony Becker tells the same story, but from a different perspective. The perspective in Displacement is unique in the fact that the main reason for the story to be is due to the lead character, Kiku and her ability to jump through time.

Displacement mixes time travel and internment camps

Our Favorite Day of the Year celebrates the differences in us all

If Our Favorite Day of the Year were an advertisement it was be from Benetton circa 1985. Their ads were culturally inclusive far ahead of today’s standard. I remember their ads from that time period as really breaking the barrier in that they reflected numerous skin tones in them. The clothes were standard and not really something that I wore, but the ads grabbed your attention from the get go. Our Favorite Day of the Year has that same vibe, but looks at a modern-day classroom and how this kid’s favorite day will be different than that kid’s.

This book spells out the differences between people so well that any age can learn from it

Time To Roar will speak to eco kids with activist parents

The base theme of Time To Roar has everything that parents could want in a message-oriented illustrated book. The book can be viewed at as a pre-K look at sticking up for yourself or a cause you believe in. Time To Roar could also be seen as a not so subtle allegory about deforestation and how it impacts the animals. Unfortunately for most young readers the book tries each story arc with equal enthusiasm, which in turn makes the book preachy and as predictable as an action movie from the 80’s staring Chuck Norris.

Self-confidence with a side of deforestation, or vice versa