Mac Kids | Daddy Mojo

Nana Loves You More, sub-par illustrated pre-k with great sales numbers

Was it not for the author’s name of Nana Loves You More, very few people outside of those who already have the first three books in the series, would be talking about it? Having said that, it merits the question, if Jimmy Fallon hadn’t written Your Baby’s First Word Will Be Dada, would the others in the series have ever been written? It’s a case of which came first the chicken or the egg? In this case one could also factor in if Nana Loves You More gets more children to read because of its prominent placement in stores across the country, does it really matter?

Nana Loves You More is the fourth in the Jimmy Fallon series that could easily be driven more out of obligation and sales than a yearning to tell a story.

This might not the nana book you’re looking for

Tales of Ancient Worlds, fun history in an archeology wrapper

People of a certain age will credit or blame Indiana Jones for their interest in archeology. For me, I am somewhere in-between the two. Archeology is a subject that I toyed with in college, played with after graduation, and have it littered about in my house. It’s based on that background that I was incredibly surprised by how immersive and varied Tales of Ancient Worlds, Adventures in Archeology was. It’s an illustrated book that’s meant for mid-elementary students but has the breadth on some level to add content to papers or conversations for those much older.

Tales of Ancient Worlds is short, non-fiction blurbs that elementary kids need, in a package that they can handle and want to read.

History wonks unite, gateway for elementary-aged archeologists!

Ida B. Wells Voice of Truth, an effortlessly enjoyable illustrated book

Ida B. Wells Voice of Truth is a fabulous example of an illustrated book that is greater than the sum of its parts. Non-fiction illustrated books can sometimes be a tough read for those younger audiences. Sometimes they’re too long for the attention spans of those young readers, while other times there’s just something that doesn’t connect. Voice of Truth connects with young readers and does so in a simple, less-is-more manner that deftly balances the text by Michelle Duster, to the art by Laura Freeman, with the difficult to quantify X factor.

Ida B. Wells, Voice of Truth is an illustrated book that tells a compelling non-fiction story that will inspire people for any number of reasons.

Succinct and to the point, it’s an illustrated book that young readers will enjoy

When Pencil Met The Markers runs with energy and fun for ages 4 and up

Celebrate the weird, embrace the relentlessly happy and color outside of the lines. That sounds like an alternate catchphrase from The Magic School Bus. In reality, it’s a phrase that perfectly embodies When Pencil Met The Markers. When Pencil Met The Markers manages to hit all of these hallmarks in an illustrated book that could’ve been as effective as a peach marker trying to write on a polyurethaned table. Instead, the book delivers a joyous story that any kid will enjoy.

When Pencil Met The Markers is a familiar tale that’s offered in a superior way. This is a simple illustrated story that can demo older and is a great good-night book

A great, good-night book is a thing to celebrate, this is one of them.

Do Not Go In There!, a glass half-full/full glass illustrated book

Do Not Go In There! is an illustrated book that looks at the two types of people. Some see the glass half full and those who see it as half empty. It’s a world made up of people who see possibilities and others who see reasons why something shouldn’t be done. Morton and Bogart are the two creatures that toss about the pros and cons in the book. They’re best friends, but like most best friends they don’t see eye to eye on everything.

Great premise, but the execution has been done better

All Welcome Here, a back to school primer that works in any year

2020 is a year that will be remembered for many different things. Absolutely every aspect of life has been disrupted to some degree. Have you been to the store and seen all of the candy that’s being marketed with Minions: The Rise of Gru on them? While that film will see daylight in the summer of 2021, there’s a fat chance that all of that candy will be around then. Books are something else that’s been put off or feel displaced during these COVID times. In theory, All Welcome Here by James Preller with illustrations by Mary GranPre could be like that, but let’s re-examine our classrooms for this back to school tale.

During any other school year this would be a normal go-to-school book

Alice Across America is a non-fiction story on women, driving and history

It’s fascinating to imagine the picture books that could come out in 100 years. They’ll imagine a time when cars didn’t fly and there weren’t teleportation devices to get us around the globe. Those books will innocently look back at the people who invented them, as well as, the first barriers that were broken by those who used them. Alice Across America, The Story of the First Women’s Cross-Country Road Trip is a very fun and informative illustrated book that tells about a very different time in the United States.

This is fun non-fiction that kids won’t believe