Sourcebooks eXplore | Daddy Mojo

Why Space Will Freak You Out knows what young (STEM) readers want

There’s a template that the irresistible non-fiction, reference books have. They cater to elementary school audiences. However, they’re enjoyable enough for older audiences to read them without being ashamed, as if they were caught reading Peppa Pig. They’re also smart enough to teach them facts they legitimately didn’t know. These are the cool facts they can share with family and friends like, “Did you know that the red spot on Jupiter is a massive storm that’s been happening for hundreds of years-at least?” Why Space Will Freak You Out got a copy of that template. It’s the planetary version of ‘things that go bump in the night’. This book baits the hook for science kids, as well as, reluctant STEM kids who avoid non-fiction, but love unusual or disgusting things.

Why Space Will Freak You Out takes the scary and odd path to entertaining, and educating kids aged eight and up.

In space, they can’t hear you scream because of this

The Six Queens of Henry VIII, non-fiction content that sticks in your head

Herman’s Hermits did more for Henry VIII than most North American schools. I just asked a group of 25 high school juniors if they knew who Henry VII was, and two students raised their hands. They knew that he had many wives, but incorrectly said that he killed all of them. To be fair, when I was a child, if a teacher had said Henry VIII we would’ve echoed it with, Herery the eighth I am, I am. Set against this backdrop is what makes The Six Queens of Henry VIII all the more remarkable. It’s an illustrated book with graphic novel element that manages to entertain audiences in equal measure to its education.

The Six Queens of Henry VIII uses varied art and succinct text to make a non-fiction book on British royalty that’s effortless to enjoy.

hIS WIVES AND hENRY vii MEET STORYTELLING TARGETED AT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UP

A Kid’s Guide to the Night Sky is (somewhat) easy astronomy

Even before this generation became addicted to Youtube Shorts they were becoming a less intelligent demographic than the one that preceded them. If our students or children were watching possibly anything other than the lowest common denominator nonsense I see them on I’d think otherwise. Don’t get me wrong my generation rotted their brains with I Love New York, Rock of Love and Cheaters, but at least that was long-form stupid entertainment. It’s possible that the de-evolution of mankind started when the average person could no longer navigate by the stars or point out the constellations. I never truly understood the constellations. I can see the great shapes that they purport to be (once they’re pointed out..), but they also look like a Rorschach Test of random dots. A Kid’s Guide to the Night Sky is by John A. Read, who lives in the smart side of YouTube. His channel, Learn to Stargaze, is smart, presented from a common sense perspective and gives off the vibe that anyone is able to stargaze regardless of their age or equipment level.

A Kid’s Guide to the Night Sky: Simple Ways to Explore the Universe makes the cosmos approachable for elementary school ages.

Don’t be intimidated, it’s just a bunch of space rocks

Why Kids Love Dinosaurs in Space: A Book Review

There is room in science for abject, over-the-top silliness. Young audiences, the kinds that embrace illustrated books like a cat to a laser pointer need the silly, but sometimes yearn for the science. Dinosaurs In Space hammers into that void with the subtlety of your neighbor’s use of the leaf blower at 7:30 on Saturday morning. This is an illustrated book that asks a question without directly posing it, allows kids to imagine the impossible, but tells them that it just might be probable. It breaks the fourth wall, weaves in non-fiction STEM, makes readers laugh and achieves the very difficult task of making a page-turner book for the illustrated audience.

Dinosaurs In Space asks the question you never pondered, but can’t get out your head once it enters. It’s funny, smart, makes kids laugh and want to read.

Pigs, Dinosaurs, they’ve both wicked funny in space

Teaching Resilience: Life Lessons from ‘The Girl Who Figured It Out’

When I teach middle school or high school I sometimes use the phrase “I don’t care” to reply to some students who are making excuses for them or someone else. They don’t speak. I/They never do their work. I/they am not/aren’t smart. After the student is done watering down my expectations I’ll tell them that “I don’t care…about that unrelated issue they were trying to distract me with and that they are capable of doing the simple, age-appropriate task that I’ve asked them to do. There are some students who get momentarily put-off by what they deem as a rude comment, but then they’ll think about it and hopefully internalize that they need to raise the bar of what they can do. The Girl Who Figured It Out got that message, albeit in a kinder, elementary-age package with colorful illustrations and a can-do message about overcoming obstacles that life throws your way.

The Girl Who Figured It Out is inspiring non-fiction that relates to any audience ages six and up.

More youth would benefit from adopting her manta

Butt or Face? How Humorous Books Attract Kids

How to engage young readers? You can mention something slightly inappropriate like a butt. You can make age-appropriate jokes that are a little bit rude. You can involve pictures of animals, early elementary-age readers love animals. You can ask questions. Who doesn’t like to answer a question? It’s a reflexive action like catching a ball when one is thrown to you. Butt or Face? Revenge of the Butts, the target demographic might also call it Butt or Face #2 and are also lining up to see Butt or Face #3, as long as they get to say the name of the book aloud in class.

Butt or Face? Revenge of the Butts combines the curious and the gross in an age-appropriate nature book that makes them laugh and learn.

Butt or Face? Volume 2, pun to the patootie