Daddy Mojo

Mooncop, is smart, wry, droll humor from Tom Gauld

Glib and droll are fraternal adjectives in the same family that are worlds apart. Glib is not funny. Droll is a curious joke that usually takes its time and is as dry as the surface of the moon. Mooncop is droll. It’s a great example of how to describe ‘dry’ in reference to a joke or sense of humor. This is the latest from Tom Gauld, a fabulously witty cartoonist whose foot print is similar to Matt Groening’s Life In Hell, mixed with Gary Larson’s The Far Side and The Oatmeal.

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Helping at Hope House with Ford Volunteer

With both kids in school I’ve got a little more time to volunteer. We’re doing some work with their school in the library and help the teacher out when they have specific requests. This week we’re also joining some folks from Ford Volunteer to do some light construction at Hope House in Atlanta. Hope House is a place in Atlanta that offers temporary housing for people that are having substance or mental health issues.

‘Light construction’ is key toward my volunteer time. I’ll be putting up some shelves, tightening doors or other things and some tree trimming. A tree with its dead branches removed is a happy tree indeed.

Ford Volunteer is taking part in lots of projects as part of their Global Caring Month this September. I look forward to meeting some new handy people as we help out at Hope House in Atlanta. If their cause is one that you want to assist you can read more about them or donate online. You can also follow our twitter stream on Friday, September 16 to check out some of the photos from our construction.

Big Nate: Revenge of the Cream Puffs, classic comic gets better

Growing up, the comic strips in our daily newspaper were our go-to source for laughter. Big Nate has been in that mix since 1991. Comic strips, especially ones that are legitimately funny are a rare breed and to have one that’s celebrating its 25 anniversary is a true unicorn. What makes Big Nate special is that the character is immediately seen as a peer to kids as young at elementary school, yet makes adults laugh with as much, if not more. Big Nate Revenge of the Cream Puffs is the 23^rd book that collects strips from this classic and continuing to improve comics.

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Kids want science to make sense-what do you do to help that?

This is a sponsored post, all thoughts are our own. As an ex-educator I know that teaching our kids about STEM is incredibly important. All you have to do is look at what jobs companies are hiring for and you’ll see its backbone of science, technology, engineering or math somewhere in that job description. Bayer recently conducted a study, which revealed exactly what parents are thinking and doing when it comes to educating their kids in science outside the classroom. From helping your child’s teacher to tips for the homeschooling parent it’s got at least one insight that proves parents need to embrace science learning and keep kids interested in science.

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All Age Comic Books for September 14

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Happy new comic book day. Each Wednesday dozens upon dozens of new comics hit your local store, dozens of those are great all age comic books. This week has many graphic novels, a couple books you want to check out and some classics too.

If you have an elementary school reader your kid (most likely a boy…) is seriously into Captain Underpants. Dav Pilkey is the author behind that series and his latest book, Dog Man came out last week. Dog Man is a departure from Captain Underpants in that it’s an original graphic novel that was fictionally created by Harold Hutchins and George Beard. They are the main characters in Captain Underpants and serve as the ‘creators’ of Dog Man. Kids 6 and up will love this graphic novel and bug you incessantly about when the second one will be released.

Also in new graphic novels is Big Nate, Revenge of the Cream Puffs by Lincoln Peirce. This cartoon celebrates its 25 year in 2016 and is consistently funny. This graphic novel collects previously released strips and is all color. It’s great for ages 6 and up.

We missed Monty The Dinosaur when it came out two weeks ago. Look for issue #1 because it’s one of the best new all age comic books that you’ll read this year. It’s got a timeless soul and feels like a classic comic strip that you’ll find in your newspaper.

Do you have a reader who is 9 years old and likes monsters? Kaijumax Season 2, #4 is out and is a great monster comic for that age. The action is too much for all ages, but that age can handle big city destruction, massive monsters and the family lessons that go with this book.

Mighty Jack is another graphic novel that age group will love. Its twist is that Jack helps out with his younger sisters during the summer, one of whom is non-verbal Autistic. One day Maddy speaks and tells him to do something that opens up a world of adventure, all in his backyard.

Powerpuff Girls, two World of Reading books, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and lots more hit shelves this week too. Where is my closest comic book store? Just check out the comic book store locator. The music in the podcast is from Dlay, over at Free Music Archives.

Humor

Action/Science fiction

Superhero

Jungle, A Photicular Book, as close to it as you’ll get from home

Photicular photography is also known as Lenticular photography. Growing up I had some baseball cards that were produced in that manner. They provided a crude 3D effect that made it look like the players were swinging the bats if you moved the card. Currently our son has a lunchbox that use photicular photography on it. Jungle, A Photicular Book is the third in a series of books by Dan Kainen that has its subject matter running, scratching, flying and slithering off of the page.

In theory, a book on nature images based on the technology that I see on my child’s lunchbox is not entertaining. It’s the quality of the technological difference that really makes Jungle stand out as a book that must be seen to be believed.

Check out these images from Jungle from @WorkmanPub – moving pictures to educate and fascinate. #kidlit pic.twitter.com/Mc850Pb2y8

— Trey Burley (@Daddymojo) September 12, 2016

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Monty The Dinosaur, a happy, must-see all ages comic book

Sometimes things get missed. Monty The Dinosaur from Action Lab Entertainment is a comic book that was on our radar, but somehow we missed its release date. Well, it came out the other week and it is utterly fabulous. Monty The Dinosaur has the soul of a comic strip in the packaging of a comic book. It delivers laughs for younger kids and has the timeless appeal that older readers will immediately recall from their favorite newspaper comic strips.

Monty The Dinosaur is just that, a dinosaur living in modern times trying to fit in. He tries silly disguises like fake moustaches in his effort to blend into society so that he can make friends. Unfortunately for him he’s huge, sneezes and proceeds to scare people off when they realize he’s a dinosaur.

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The Great Shelby Holmes, middle grade caper stuck in a rut

The Great Shelby Holmes by Elizabeth Eulberg is a middle school book with its tongue slightly in cheek. Shelby Holmes is a 9-year-old local who knows everybody in her New York City neighborhood. She had a new neighbor move in downstairs, 11-year-old John Watson, who is used to moving from place to place. They quickly meet and become friends due to his boredom and her needing someone to assist her.

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