Daddy Mojo

Best Shot in the West, a stunning graphic novel for high school and up

The cover to Best Shot in the West looks like a promotional poster for a rodeo or a cowboy recruitment drive. Come join us, see the west, rope horses, and let the only boundaries for what you can become only be limited by your abilities, getting trampled by steer or disease. That was the modus operandi in the late 1800s for those who wanted independence, adventure, or financial freedom back and the superstars who opted for the first two had great nicknames. Nat Love had a great name from the get-go, but his cowboy nomenclature was equally as great, Deadwood Dick.

Best Shot in the West is one of the most beautiful graphic novels that you’ll see, with a (mostly) non-fiction action story that can’t be beat.

The legend of Nat Love in graphic novel art form

King Kong’s Cousin, allegorical fun with silly, contrasting apes

Kids can smell a bad allegory like expired meat that’s been left in the trashcan for three days. King Kong’s Cousin is an illustrated book that’s ripe with allegory but doesn’t have the stench of week-old room-temperature meat. The book will indirectly resonate with those kids that have older siblings, but in reality, any pre-k through middle elementary school reader will grin at the silliness that lies within the book’s big monkey spine.

King Kong’s Cousin is an illustrated book-with great art, at comparing yourself to others and how we’re all great, even if we don’t see it that way.

Get your stinking paws on this book you elementary readers

Retro, wily YA lit that jumps between genres and expectations with glee

Retro, by Sofia Lapuente and New York Times-bestselling author Jarrod Shusterman is an unlikely candidate for the cat video and potato chip challenge. That’s our internal and highly unscientific procedure for reviewing things. Essentially, if you’re able to partake in said thing and are able to read, or do it only one time, then it would fail the potato chip challenge. This is a case where Retro passes the challenge that’s normally reserved for illustrated books and collections of comic strips, in addition to potato chips and cat videos. Just try to watch only one cat video, and you’ll fail quickly, much like trying to read only one chapter from Retro.

Retro is YA lit that’s written for the reluctant reader. It dabbles enough in thriller, relationships and mystery to reel in those who simply want a breezy read.

Retro, read all about it, retro

How the Stars Came to Be: Deluxe Edition, a lush, statement folk story

Folk stories shouldn’t have an age ceiling. Most of the folk tales that I’ve encountered have enough details in them to merit a feature-length movie. The really great ones can also be distilled into simple stories that are short enough, in that package, to be enjoyed by young audiences. How the Stars Came to Be Deluxe Edition, is an illustrated fable book that feels like it belongs in your hand. It’s a beautifully illustrated book whose regal impression is felt from the moment that you lay eyes on it. The front and back of the book have gold inlays where some of the stars in the sky are, in addition to the main character’s jewels and hair.

How the Stars Came to Be: Deluxe Edition is a folk story about the stars with detailed art that speaks to everyone in a museum quality manner.

Its a fine line between art and book with this one

Great Battles for Boys, fabulous non-fiction for ages 8 and up

But what about girls?, I can hear that being asked now. I’m casting a wide net that’ll describe a majority of boys, but not all boys. I’ll cast the same wide net and say that a series of emerging reader books on unicorns or kittens will be a big hit with girl readers in second grade. Whenever I teach ELA and I have to attribute one trait to a group there are always a couple who will say, “But, I….”, and yes, you might be the exception to that. Great Battles for Boys is a series of books that hits the reluctant reader boy on the head in an enjoyable and historical way.

Great Battles For Boys is a series of non-fiction books that are concisely written in a way that elementary school readers will immediately be attracted to.

Boys, girls, non-fiction or kidlit fans unite

Inside Out Human Body, soft learning on a potentially hard subject

As a teacher, I love questions and curiosity. I’m also convinced that had I been exposed to more medical or STEM activities as a kid I would’ve ended up in one of those ancillary fields. As an adult, I’m also curious about the different systems that make up my body so that I can live longer. Inside Out Human Body, is a STEM book that feeds the upper elementary and middle school minds that are curious, while making those who might be disgusted aware of the processes that keep up moving.

Inside Out Human Body is a reference book, but don’t tell eight-year-olds that. It’s in the Nat Geo Kids vein but is laser-focused on the body with a see-through guide on its cover.

Nature is an Artist is a toddler’s first canvas or a relaxing read

Storytime! It’s that time when pre-k or kindergarten kids need a story read to them. It’s the book that they look at or listen to as they’re winding down for the day, or just for a little bit. The text in great storytime books usually rhymes and has illustrations that are colorful and loaded corner to corner with various hues. Nature is an Artist is one of those storytime books. Its premise is as direct as the title and will have toddlers through kindergarten hopefully looking at the things around their outside world in a different way.

Nature is an Artist is a soft, dreamy look at how kids can see the beauty in nature in ways that are obvious, but often overlooked.

Now this is an ‘art in nature’ book that we can dig

No! Said Custard the Squirrel, super silly fun for crawlers-pre k

Pre-k and very early elementary school students need silly time. No! Said Custard the Squirrel is geared and targeted right at the silly spot that ages three through six crave. On the book’s cover we see a duck who is properly dressed as if they’re an artist politely, but firmly telling a curious possum, no. The possum is dubious of the duck’s claim, thus the story behind, No! Said Custard the Squirrel.

No! Said Custard the Squirrel is a beautifully silly, simply tale about being yourself, with charming and subtle illustrations.

Gird your loins for read-aloud fun