Rise Up, Ordinary Kids with Extraordinary Stories review

Some parents will have their guard up given the title to this book, Rise Up, Ordinary Kids With Extraordinary Stories. The title might lead some parents to think that it’s just a book about Generation Z kids who are better at grabbing headlines than solving things or actually doing something worth mentioning. However, readers of any age will be pleased to know that this is a book that spans the globe and covers many generations of special things or accomplishments that those under 23 have achieved.

Short storytelling and sharp graphics make this book pop

A Voice Named Aretha, an early elementary aged Queen of Soul primer

What’s great about A Voice Named Aretha is that most people will discover something new about the Queen of Soul from reading this book. Aretha is Aretha Franklin and A Voice Named Aretha is an illustrated book that’s about the talent that she was. One thing that this children’s illustrated book taught me was that her home often had luminaries in music and civil rights popping by to visit. Her father was a preacher in Detroit and it wasn’t uncommon for Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to stop in, as you do.

RESPECT indeed, this gives ages 4-9 a grand overview into the Queen of Soul

Owly, The Way Home-now in a graphic novel for new audiences

We often chat about all age comic books. Since 2012 we’ve done a weekly podcast where we talk about some of the week’s new comic books. That podcast is accompanied by a post where all of the week’s comic books and graphic novels that are good for kids are listed. Owly is an OG all age graphic novel and the first book in Eisner Award-winning series is being reprinted, this time with color illustrations done by creator/artist Andy Runton.

Our 8YO just found a graphic novel that he Wants (!!!) to read

Slamdown Town is middle grade reading gold

Take everything that a 10 year-old kid wants and put it into a middle-grade novel. It must have humor, heart, lots of jokes, parallels to school, the cliques that operate therein and have a side dash of science fiction. That’s a tall order but Slamdown Town encompasses all of those categories and another big one that will bring in some fans and that’s wrestling. Almost more impressively, the book weaves the wrestling into the book without alienating those that don’t like, or don’t know about the joys of a slightly pre-arranged body slam and victory.

Slamdown Town is a GREAT, go-to book for upper elementary through middle school readers

All age comic books for January 29

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This week in the all age comic book podcast we’ll talk about Invader Zim, Star Wars Adventures, DC Super Hero Girls and more. Do you need a great mini-series for upper elementary readers and older? This week has the first issue of Power Rangers Teen Age Mutant Ninja Turtles. We’ve really enjoyed the various team-ups that have happened with The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and look forward to this comic book. The action will be immersive enough to keep those middle school kids and it presents two franchises that kids know, but might not know too much about either one.

Read on for one of the most highly anticipated team-ups of the year

Astro Cat goes board book in Cosmic Machines and Into The Unknown

The Astro Cat series is brilliant. They present high concept STEM ideas into graphically pleasing books that make you want to learn. Dr. Dominic Walliman provides the science and Ben Newman presents the illustrations that make the content effortless to look at. Walliman’s text breaks down the complex ideas that could potentially spin our heads and presents it in a manner that’s appropriate for children. Astro Kittens is the board book series from this duo. Cosmic Machines and Into The Unknown take the same concept in Astro Cats and package it  in a way that crawlers can consume.

Astro Kittens is the board book series featuring the go-to art and education by Dominic Walliman and Ben Newman, this time for even younger kids.
If you’re looking for smart board books for young babies, this is where to start

How Languages Saved Me: A Polish Story of Survival review

I find languages fascinating. The fact that there are 7.5 billion people on Earth and the only two languages that are truly universal are math and music is mind boggling. I dabble in Japanese, French and Spanish, but it’s only at the tourist level. The languages that Tad Haska frequented in were the near fluent, able to save your life level of languages. He was a true polyglot whose abilities allowed him to escape, run and life past the horrors of WW II.

This book doubles as a biography and first-hand account of escaping the atrocities of WW II

Americana, a graphic novel for older readers on hiking and life

Americana (And The Art of Getting Over It) is a graphic novel by cartoonist Luke Healy. He’s Irish and had numerous periods living in the United States, all of which ended with him reluctantly having to leave the country. Americana is his story about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, a path that stretches from the southernmost tip of California all the way through Canada’s much colder climate in the mountains. It’s a 2,600 mile trek that took Healy 147 days.

Americana is a graphic novel for older readers who enjoy dry humor and can relate to travelling and figuring out your place in life.
For older readers, this is a travelogue that hikers and wanderers will understand

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