Daddy Mojo

Rot, The Bravest in the World! slays the second book curse

We love Rot. Rot, The Cutest in the World is a charming illustrated book about a mutant potato in a land of otherwise charming vegetables that are the cream of the vegetable. Rot is not. However, his attitude is positive; he’s helpful towards everyone and is more of a friend than those other edibles. Another thing that Rot was not, is a series, however, now with Rot, The Bravest in the World it’s got a shot. With two books out starring Rot, it’s a series and the second spud proves to be worth the wait.

Rot is back for another shot, and he brought his brother Snot

What Miss Mitchell Saw is addictive STEM (and anytime) reading

There is something visually jarring about What Miss Mitchell Saw that I just couldn’t put my finger on. When I saw the cover I loved it. In looking through the book there was something that I couldn’t identify that gave me a lukewarm feeling However, after looking at the book a second time I understood what caused that reaction and now see that as one of the bigger positives of the book. What educators, parents and somewhat patient readers will discover is the fascinating story of Maria Mitchell. She was a trailblazing astronomer whose upward gaze and talent awarded a crater on the moon named after her, the discovery of a comet and numerous other scientific accolades.

Fabulous art, great story and a stem background for ages 4 and up

All age comic books for July 22

This week in all age comic books is no joke. Literally, there are no new humor books that will interest or be appropriate for elementary aged readers or up. There are a couple superhero or action comic books, but for the most part this is the dog days of summer, albeit a couple weeks early.

If you’re headed to the comic book store this week for DC Comic Books they’ll be arriving on Tuesday. All of the other comic books are still coming out on new comic book day, which is Wednesday. Our local comic book store is pulling all of the DC Comics that we want so that multiple trips aren’t needed.

Another note regarding Free Comic Book Summer, formerly Free Comic Book Day. Some of those free comic books are coming to stores throughout the summer in different weeks. For example, many of the free ones we were looking for aren’t released until later. A complete list of those comic books can be found at Free Comic Book Day.

Superhero

The Amazing Spider-Man Sins Rising Prelude, UE, M, H Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Beyond Grid, TBP, UE, M, H Miles Morales: Spider-Man TBP, Vol 3, UE, M, H

Science-fiction/Action

Sonic the Hedgehog #29, E, M Usagi Yojimbo #10, UE, M, H

Southwest Sunrise gorgeously and softly teaches while entertaining

Southwest Sunrise is a sneaky illustrated book. At first impression, young readers (or those poetry adverse people like me…) might look at the text by Nikki Grimes and dismiss it as a poetry book with pictures. However, once it’s read to them (or when they read it….like me), they’ll realize that it’s a fabulous story about a young boy who is moving to New Mexico from New York. Is it a stealth poetry attack that you won’t mind because of the art by Wendell Minor? Or is it an illustrated story about a young kid adapting to an entirely new way of living-with poetic text to add some literary clues to add more insight?

This is a travelogue for ages 4 and up

Camp Warner Bros. Week 4 has classic Scooby Gang meeting the WWE

Our kids love Scooby Doo. The oldest has been collecting the comic books since 2014. The youngest has gravitated more towards the screen incarnation of those meddling kids. As a matter of fact, just the other day we were out doing errands and our oldest shouted “look, there’s the Mystery Mobile”. It wasn’t an officially licensed vehicle or anything, just an old van that was painted to resemble their vehicle. All of this coincides nicely with this week’s Camp Warner Bros has Scooby-Doo!: WrestleMania Mystery! is the movie. Nothing Scooby Doo is complete without a Scooby Snack and this snack is utterly fabulous. Our kids loved eating it, helped make and even passed the health litmus test of our family’s snack police.

A great snack, an awesome Scooby adventure and summer fun

Good Guys, Bad Guys, it’s classic or dated-depending on your view

This is the soul of an active, imagination based play kid who is four through seven years old. Our eight year-old is still firmly in this camp where imagination is his leading currency and he spends it all of the time. Good Guys, Bad Guys is an illustrated book that speaks this language. One day a kid can be on the good side, other days they’re on the bad side and teams of who is good or bad can switch all the time. If you’re a fan of ‘come home when the street lights come on’ style books then Good Guys, Bad Guys will be just your sort of all-skate, slightly old school, pretend play, good-night book.

An old soul book about pretend play and switching sides as the street lights come on

We Bare Bears: The Movie sticks the stack

Few television shows have resonated with the kids and I as much as We Bare Bears have. It’s one of those quirky shows that we stumbled on to while digging through Netflix. I knew that it was from Cartoon Network and their shows immediately have an inherent trust in their writing, wit and quality. Four short seasons later it’s one of the few shows that will stop us in our tracks and turn on the couch magnet so that we can’t escape. We Bare Bears: The Movie is an original film from Cartoon Network that serves and a series finale as great at Breaking Bad.

We Bare bears: the movie is a very satisfying end to a fabulous series

Prairie Days is picture perfect summer (or anytime) illustrated reading

Perfect is a relative thing for an illustrated book. It requires a balance of content, art, pacing, text and unquantifiable characteristics that are combined into a book that reaches audiences regardless of where they live or what they do. Prairie Days is that sort of book. Think of a hot, summer day on the prairie and this book scorches its way into your memory. It all but leaves wet footprints in your house from the pond, with just a couple traces of dirt and rogue straws of hay strewn about the area where kids have tracked them in.

You don’t need to love the prairie to love this illustrated book