Books | Page 2 of 3 | Daddy Mojo

Washington, D.C. from A-Z perfectly presents history to 6 and up

Do you know an elementary school reader (or older) that’s looking for a way to learn more about Washington, D.C.? Granted, that is a massive age range. We’re certainly older than elementary school, yet are utterly fascinated by Washington, D.C. from A-Z. This book has dozens upon dozens of facts about Washington, D.C. that are presented in short paragraphs or a couple sentences. They’re complimented with realistically drawn pencil illustrations in a beautiful or in an over the top manner that really drives home what the text is teaching. The book says that it’s intended for ages 6-10, and while that’s true, it also serves as a jumping off point for more research for those older readers.

Washington, D.C. from A-Z is bite size nuggets of trivia, great art and makes anyone 6 and up curious about the topic.

A great example is that we’re planning a trip to Washington, D.C. and have been re-reading this to our 7 year-old. I found out that members of our extended family wanted to visit the statue of Albert Einstein. A. I didn’t know that there was a huge, five times life statue of him, but that. B. If you rub his nose you’re supposed to get smarter. Granted, part of that increased intelligence could be trying to successfully navigate the bronze statue up to his nose. Three points of contact does the trick nine out of ten times.

Most of the letters have a couple of facts associated with it. One of the notable exceptions is S and S is for Smithsonian. In 1829, James Smithsonian, an Englishman left half a million dollars to the city of Washington. His will, specifically stated that the money be used to increase the knowledge of men. 190 years later and the Smithsonian is one of the largest and most well known museums in the world.

It’s impossible to read Washington, D.C from A-Z without walking away with some tidbit of information. Some of those kibbles will root out and motivate people to read more about them. If you’re like our 7 year-old, then it’ll inspire a base amount of immediate curiosity-with some cool illustrations about this place that your family is going.

This is also one of those great books to read when you visit an elementary school. Just bring the book and ask the class to provide you with a letter and then you read facts about that letter as it pertains to Washington, D.C. That’s one of our favorite activities to do when we’re the mystery reader and if you time this as to when they’re learning about our nation’s capital it’s win/win.

My Fourth of July encapsulates what the day is like to a child

I teach ESL online and some of the lessons I teach are about holidays. My Fourth of July is an illustrated book by Newbery Medal Winner, Jerry Spinelli with illustrations by Larry Day. Trying to explain to an overseas student via an online class just what The Fourth of July is all about can be challenging. Yeah, it’s about parties, food, fireworks and family, but in the eyes of a seven year-old it’s so much more. The magic of My Fourth of July is that it captures the manic energy, expectations and variety that exemplify the Fourth of July as it’s experienced through the eyes of an elementary school aged child.

My Fourth of July steps into the soul of a 7 year-old and owns it on this American holiday. What’s the Fourth of July like to a child? Just read this.

The pacing of the book and the layout of the drawings is a huge reason why the book makes such a great read for this age. When the book starts the illustrations are corner to corner color, with the town having their parade and getting ready for the day. After that, things calm down and the colors focus on our main character, a 7 year-old boy who is getting ready for the day with his family. The pictures have him as the focal point of each page, with lots of white space on the pages. This effect helps establish the low key morning that any family experiences during the morning.

As late afternoon rolls around the pages are swallowed up by more colors and action. The masses gather at the baseball field for cookouts and shows until the child eventually starts to get sleepy. Hang in there, because the fireworks are bound to start any second. The art will remind parents of Norman Rockwell, yet this display of the Fourth of July happens in modern times. When in doubt, look for the adults on their cell phones, they can be seen in the book on a page or two.

My Fourth of July has a classic feel about it because the happenings and activities that small communities do on this day are still relatively the same. There’s a parade in the morning, activities at various places and fireworks someplace at night. As a book, elementary school readers will enjoy it because they’ll be able to relate to something on every page. If they like the face painter then they’ll have a fond memory of that on one page. The local bands is shown, the classic wagon that kids will be pulled in also has several pages devoted to it.

The text in My Fourth of July is such that third graders and up will be able to fluently read it. Those readers who are younger will know all of the sight words, learn a couple new phrases and remember last year’s Fourth when they did something similar to what happened in the book. My Fourth of July retails for $18.99 and is Neal Porter Books and Holiday House Publishing, Inc.

Extraordinary Birds sneaks into the minds of middle school readers

Twice a year, each year I get insomnia for a couple of nights. It’s due to the spring or fall allergies and I just can’t sleep. This year the spring incarnation of this sleepless paradise snuck up on me and my usual cadre of new science-fiction books were nowhere to be seen. Close to the nightstand was Extraordinary Birds by Sandy Stark McGinnis. From the cover it didn’t seem like the kind of book I would seek out, but you know how the saying goes. True to form, Extraordinary Birds completely defied my expectations and left me concerned, hopeful and wondering if December really is able to fly.

Extraordinary Birds starts out with December, a teen aged girl talking to herself. She’s also high up in a tree.

First thought: she’s suicidal, this book isn’t for me.

However, just as I think that we learn that her foster mother is talking to her and trying to convince her that she is not able to fly.

Second thought: she’s a superhero-this book is like Glass and she’s the Samuel L. Jackson character.

No, it turns out that December has done this before. She’s bounced from foster home to foster home and believes that she has the physical ability to fly like a bird. It’s just that her bird parts haven’t developed or her mental processes haven’t broken through the plane that allows her to transcend what most believe is a reality.

However, her penchant for frustrating foster homes has broken another potential forever home and she’s dispatched to live with Eleanor. She seems like a nice lady, but December has been through this rodeo before so she’s just biding her time until she’s 18 or her bird lady parts develop, whichever comes first.

Eleanor is a different type of foster parent. She gives December her space, allows her to develop her own personality and lives on farm. Eleanor also volunteers at an animal rescue organization.

Third thought: Eleanor brings out December’s inner superpowers.

No, just stop I told myself. Extraordinary Birds lives up to the first name in its title because it plays things very close to the vest and does not go for the cheap story line. This is a well paced and beautifully told story about growing up, being slightly different and trying to figure out the world.

Fourth thought: this is an aviary version of The Breakfast Club.

No, just stop and reread the third thought I had to remind myself. This is a great book that made me not want to go to sleep, despite my insomnia. Alas, true to form, I read for about two hours and then fell asleep with a book on my chest. However, this session of insomnia was different; I didn’t mind not sleeping as I was in good company.

The lessons and morals in Extraordinary Birds will be appropriate for upper elementary school readers. Most likely its sweet spot are those middle school readers who want to get lost in a great book about growing up and learning about how to navigate those mental images and feelings that you think nobody else will understand.

Marvel Alpha Block is letter learning fun for the MCU set

It’s quite shocking that this is the first book featuring characters from Marvel Comics to help teach the A, B, C’s. Granted there might be others, but the Abrams Block Books are our favorite. From the first time we saw Alpha Block when our now 9 year-old was learning the alphabet; to when his brother read Dino Block two years later, this series has never disappointed us. Moreover, the quality of this series stands out so much that we still have all of the books and they’ve held up nicely.

Marvel Alpha Block from the Abrams Block Books continues the best A, B, C book series around with this entry starring dozens of MCU characters.

The difference in construction is what makes these block books so sturdy. They’re square books that fit nicely in small hands and the spine is about three times as thick as an individual page. This is a strong series of books that have been through two children and countless visits to elementary schools when I was the guest reader.

Marvel AlphaBlock has select heroes from the MCU taking center stage as they present letters of the alphabet. A is for Ant-Man.V is for Valkyrie. S is for Spider-Man and so on. Of course, there are many heroes that share letters in the alphabet, what about them?

The final two pages of the book are gatefold and open up to show approximately 50 more characters from the MCU that are shown in Marvel Alpha Block. Essentially, it’s a Where’s Marvel Waldo that invites younger readers to go back again and find each character. I say ‘younger readers’ with air quotes because even those who have mastered the alphabet will be sucked into the book quicker than a Peter Quill dance off irritates Gamora.

This is a great, entertaining book that ages 18 months and older will love. The colors bring everything over the rainbow and the characters are those that will make up their entertainment for decades to come.

The Ghost Network establishes a fun A.I science-fiction 3-book series

Middle school kids who like computers more than books can be a tough crowd to convert. They like the puzzle and immediateness of computers or coding and books just don’t offer that thrill. That crowd will really enjoy The Ghost Network. It’s a new series of YA books by I. I. Davidson. Even by her pen name, Gillian Philip has created something that sounds like a password for a deep state organization intent on something sinister and most definitely illegal.

That’s exactly where The Ghost Network picks up. Akane, a gifted hacker is about to something in real life that could be both of those things. Unfortunately, she starts hearing John Laine, a friend of hers who is spilling the beans that her plans have been hacked. This is a quick start to the book that’s in an equally short chapter that offers promise and hope as to what young readers will encounter in the book.

To John’s surprise he’s been accepted into an incredibly exclusive top-secret school for coders. Once he’s there he meets up with Slack, Salame and a couple others who are attending this school that’s in the middle of the Alaskan tundra. As the things escalate, and our students get to know the instructors at the school-they start to think that this might not be the sought after educational experience that they’d hoped. It might actually be closer to the point to say that the school is closer to an incubation tank for something evil on a world-conquering level. Toss is back story of artificial intelligence, a long-lost missing father that might be involved in all of this to some degree and all of the elements exist for a book that will hook upper elementary through middle school.

Our 9 year-old enjoyed the book. I was quite frankly surprised that he could read and follow the story. The target range for The Ghost Network is those readers who are 10-12 years old and it does a very good job and knowing its audience. Those who are older than 13 will see some of the twists coming and want more from their science-fiction books. I was like that when I read The Ghost Network. It was entertaining and very engaging at times, but it’s clearly aimed at those in that age range. The other great thing about the book is that it’s established itself as a nice, neat 3-book series. It’s not going to go on too long and at the pace that The Ghost Network established it’ll hook in readers with ease and have them looking forward to the middle and then finale in the series.

The Mutts Summer Diaries is perfect summertime reading for 8 and up

Mutts is an institution. It’s how a cat and dog, plus the occasional crab, mussel, dolphin or farm animal see the world. Mooch and Earl, the main guardians of Mutts are eternally optimistic. They do see some things that aren’t all, pardon the pun, puppies and kittens. These are things like the environment or animals that are up for adoption; yet even when our animal friends encounter these things they do it with a sense of optimism and hope, rather than despair or guilt. Mutts is back with a new collection of comic strips, The Mutts Summer Diaries, just in time for road trips, easy summer reading and good books under a shade tree.

McDonnell, Patrick McDonnell, mutts, the mutts summer diaries, comic strip, classic, peanuts, mooch, earl, animals

The Mutts Summer Diaries is the final season in the ‘diary series’. I guarantee you that if you pick up any of the other three seasons you’ll find them just as entertaining. Personally, I can think of very few jobs that are as challenging as a daily comic strip creator. Create characters that people want to see every day, then have the main medium that it’s delivered in shift to an online presence and continue making a quality product. That is the great thing about having quality comic strips collected in a graphic novel format.

These strips are previously printed online and in newspapers. However, for those that don’t subscribe to a newspaper or have the strips emailed to them this is brand new stuff. It’s also classic comedy that you’ll be reading 20 years from now. As I write this I’m looking over my Peanuts and Calvin and Hobbes book from the 70s, 80s and 90s. From time to time I still look at them and laugh. My children also look at them and while they don’t have the same memories of them as me, they laugh. They sneak the books out of my office, read them, laugh and then try to put them back in the book shelf at just the same angle so I won’t be able to tell if they’ve been in here.

The Mutts Summer Diaries is printed on recycled paper, as are all of Patrick McDonnell’s books. Some of the strips make you laugh out loud. Some make you grin because they resemble a person or pet that you once had. Other strips make you think about the animals that you’ve seen for adoption. Our 9 year-old has finally started to enjoy Mutts. He’s had cats and dogs for most of his life and I hope that he thinks of some of our pets who have crossed the rainbow bridge when he laughs along. Even if he had never had any pets, Mutts is a comic strip that he’d enjoy because of its uncanny ability to make anthropomorphic animals even more animal-or even more human, depending on the strip.

Nelly Takes New York, for starters-then she’ll charm your house

As a reader I’m somewhat wary of books that take place in a stereotypical large, destination type city. The cynical side of me says that they present a slice of life that the majority of people can’t relate to. They won’t have access to the eating choices, places to visit or, for better or worse, the people that they’ll encounter. How can I relate to that?, some might think. You might be thinking that while you look at the cover of Nelly Takes New York, but those thoughts will quickly be mollified. In their place, you’ll have visions of childhood adventures, as well as, a time when imagination and curiosity are your best friend.

Nelly takes new York, Allison Pataki, marya myers, Kristi valiant, big apple, new York, new York city,

The story follows Nelly, a playful 7 year old who lives in the West Village. She’s visiting the bagel truck where she’s greeted by name from Mr. Patel. Nelly tells Mr. Patel that she’s going to visit Union Square today, to which he says in a friendly manner, “the Big Apple is tons of fun”.

She just bought a bagel, yet the bagel salesman just mentioned a Big Apple. This throws young Nelly for a loop so she goes about visiting various New York City attractions asking about ‘the Big Apple’. Of course she visits an apple stand at the farmer’s market, who then says that if she wants to see the Big Apple then she must go to natural history museum.

One thing leads to another and our young heroine is seeing almost every angle of the big city. Her loving dog, Bagel, which leads her to discover even more places until the two meet up again in front of the 9/11 Memorial.

Adults may question how she can traverse huge areas of the city in the blink of an eye, how her dog can continue about the city even though he’s not on a leash, but that’s the cynical side of you. Just pat that side of you on the head, say good boy and remind them to come around when it’s time to pay the cell phone bill.

The art in Nelly Takes New York is one big reason why the book is so charming. The illustrations by Kristi Valiant are realistic, detailed and make you want to visit the Big Apple. The story by Allison Pataki and Marya Myers is great too. It’s approachable for ages 4 and up as they let the illustrations guide them through the urban jungle. There are some sight words for those younger readers. The average 7 year old will probably be able to read it by themselves.

Ultimately, what’s most remarkable about Nelly Takes New York is that it doesn’t make readers jealous that they aren’t there. It’s not a hey-look-as-us we’re better than you book about a certain city. The premise, with the same high quality artwork could easily have taken place in any city, country or locale that kids would be curious about. This book celebrates curiosity and the questions that kids have, while doing so in a large city with a nickname that some younger ones might not understand.

The Little Rabbit, a dreamy, optimistic bunny tail for spring (and kids 4 & up)

Nicola Killen warms the heart. At least that’s the case with her two most recent children’s illustrated books that we’ve received. The Little Reindeer was a book that we loved due to its old soul, rabbit-hole illustrations and desolate winter vibe. I know that ‘desolate’ isn’t exactly an adjective the springs to mind when one says a great children’s book. The Little Rabbit is the spiritual (and actual) sibling to that book. It shares many of its characteristics, the cut-away pages, two color schemes with the occasional third color to punctuate characters and illustrations that fill up each page.

The little rabbit, young reader, elementary school, young readers, Nicola Killen, the little reindeer

Ollie is the main human character in The Little Rabbit and she’s dressed up in a rabbit costume. She’s got her rain boots on and is waiting for the storm to end while Bunny, her rabbit doll is dressed in a yellow scarf beside her. When the rain ends Ollie carries Bunny out in her basket as the wind blows flower petals past them. As that happens Bunny starts to move her ears, or does she?

What follows is a magical, dream pop of a children’s illustrated book that effortlessly engages pre-K and early elementary school ages. Ollie follows Bunny as she joins in the rabbit hop that the forest bunnies are doing. Distinguished by her yellow scarf, the two are reunited, but still have a couple more adventures to get through in order to get back home.

As their journey in the forest continues we see distinct gold pops in the flower petals that float around some pages. Older readers will alternate between the dreamy illustrations, perfect colors and economy of words as to what they like best about The Little Rabbit. It’s a children’s illustrated book, yet between the well chosen words and the big scope illustrations it tells a big story. Large aspects of the story are filled in with our imagination. We think about what the rabbits are doing when they’re underground and what other animals we could meet during the trip.

Younger readers will also let their imaginations do most of the work with The Little Rabbit Ages 4-8 have a lovey, stuffed doll or action figure that comes to life and does stuff. Those young readers will immediately understand the energy and hidden story that The Little Rabbit is bring out. Every night when we put our 7 YO to bed he tells us about the adventures that his stuffed animals get up to while he’s asleep.

The Little Rabbit gets into that particular spirit that young readers have and put it in a gorgeously illustrated book. The text is such that a second grader will be able to read most of it. Ages much younger than that will love the pictures and marvel at how one page immediately blends into the next. This book is a keeper, it’s one that your kids will want to read and will remain in the children’s library for the next generation.