Children | Daddy Mojo

The Hugely-Wugely Spider, an alternative nursery rhyme done right

There is a subversive charm to The Hugely-Wugely Spider that is obvious from its title. After reading the book you’ll discover even more charm, subversive mojo and a surprising amount of heartfelt warmth from its surly, curmudgeon title character. All small children know The Isty Bitsy Spider, but they demo out of it by the time they’re in Kindergarten or first grade.

Set in the world of The Itsy Bitsy Spider, The Hugely-Wugely Spider has always been playing second fiddle to certain spiders who can’t tell what the weather’s going to do and suffering the consequences for it. However, as Mitsy-Bitsy, Litsy-Bitsy, Witsy-Ditsy and other start to climb the waterspout it looks like Hugely Wugely has had enough.

Continue reading The Hugely-Wugely Spider, an alternative nursery rhyme done right

Grandma Gatewood Hikes the Appalachian Trail, well worth the hike

The story of Grandma Gatewood is a minimalist, unassuming story that’s so sweet and inspiring it’s all but impossible to believe that it happened in 1955. However, it really did happen, anyone who reads it will come away with some degree of increased motivation and might just feel like a cream puff compared to the 67 year old grandmother. At the age when some folks intentionally drop anchor and become sedentary, she started walking and didn’t stop until she finished The Appalachian Trail.

Continue reading Grandma Gatewood Hikes the Appalachian Trail, well worth the hike

Princesses Save The World, but muddle up this book

In theory there is nothing that anyone should have against this book. Girl power-check girls can do anything, we got that memo. Nature is good-check, everyone totally agrees with that one too. We love the bees, can’t imagine our toast without their byproduct and want to see them on our butterfly bushes for millennia to come. Princesses Save The World has noble intentions, but ends up landing on the low end of a narrow “For Princesses Only” book category.

Continue reading Princesses Save The World, but muddle up this book

Ginny Goblin Is Not Allowed To Open This Box, the book review

A title like Ginny Goblin Is Not Allowed To Open This Box baits you. Granted the odds on a living person actually being named Ginny Goblin are slim (plus there’s probably that disclaimer about it being a work of fiction yada yada..), but it taunts you. Why can’t she open the box? Is it like Brad Pitt asking what’s in the box? And Ginny Goblin looks very cute, with her Shrek colored skin and half grown monster ears. I want her to open the box, can I? You, can open the box, but, Ginny Goblin Is Not Allowed To Open This Box and it’ll put a soft smile on readers aged three and up.

Continue reading Ginny Goblin Is Not Allowed To Open This Box, the book review

Monster Boogie moves to a book beat for ages 2-6

Laurie Berkner is a rock star in the world of children. She’s the most well known kindie artist ever and to millions of parents all over the world that’s saying something. Her songs have helped countless kids get their sillies out, learn about feelings and allowed sing-alongs in the car to continue for much longer than they otherwise would have. Monster Boogie is her third foray into books and it’s certain to be a welcome, home run of a book for some in the audience.

<br />

Continue reading Monster Boogie moves to a book beat for ages 2-6

The Night Knights is a great good-nite book

There are some children’s books that extend beyond the ages that they’ve meant for. In theory they have a younger skewing interest level, but there is just something about them makes them work for a couple years older, or longer than you think they will. The Night Knights by Gideon Sterer with illustrations by Cory Godbey is that kind of book.

Continue reading The Night Knights is a great good-nite book

This Story Is For You is far away comfort food for kids 3-7

Greg Pizzoli has a way with the characters and colors that he uses in his books that really speak to small children. The colors he uses in his books are crisp, but also on the softer hued side of things. His characters, either people or animals, are pleasant, amenable and immediately put children at ease. This Story Is For You is a book that celebrates the uniqueness of childhood friendships and the physical distance that sometimes happens between them. Continue reading This Story Is For You is far away comfort food for kids 3-7

All That Trash is a solid, fun, educational children’s book

Waste. Rubbish. An entertaining book about trash, much less a children’s illustrated book about the subject; without being preachy is an almost impossible task. All That Trash by Meghan McCarthy is about a trash barge and a business plan that started with earnest intentions; but wound up drifting for months while politicians, the media and the public debated the fate of 3,186 tons of garbage from New York.

The year is 1987 and why didn’t garbage from New York simply stay in that area is due to a businessman in Alabama who had a novel and forward thinking idea. Lowell Harrelson owned National Waste Contractors in Alabama and heard about a landfill in New York that was about to run out of space. His idea was to purchase the garbage, put it on a barge (called the Mabro 4000) and then ship it to North Carolina. There the garbage would be buried in a landfill and then have the methane gas that the decomposing garbage collected. The gas would then be converted through a generator into electricity that could be used anywhere along the power grid. Continue reading All That Trash is a solid, fun, educational children’s book