I love puns, especially when I can find a way to work them into my poems. In this week's poetry blog post, we talk about how these time-honored staples of dad humor can be used to enhance your poetry. #poetry #poetrycommunity #kidlit shaunmjex.wordpress.com/2026/07/05/h...

After our youngest went to bed, Kara & I, along with our oldest, watched The Black Phone (based off the story by Joe Hill). A phenomenal movie with incredible performances. I'm such a huge fan of Ethan Hawke, but it's bizarre to see him be so profoundly disturbing.

Our fam watched M3GAN tonight. It was our first time seeing it and it was an absolute blast. Fantastic story and performances .

Some educational reading this afternoon

This doodle is part of a complete breakfast.

Thanks to Alasdair Beckett King, I discovered Lair of the Clockwork God by @danthat.bsky.social & @timegentleman.bsky.social , a game in the best tradition of games like Monkey Island, I just completed Ben There, Dan That. I'm now starting the sequel Time, Gentleman Please! These games are brilliant

Having a throwback musical sort of day, dipping back into the 90s around Denton and Dallas: Caulk, doosu, Slow Roosevelt, Clutch Cargo, Ugly Mus-tard, Dollybraid, Valve, Buck Jones, SouthFM, etc. etc. etc. Names that don't mean much to most of the world, but a whole lot to a small group.

Outside of the song "Epic" (which everyone of a certain age knows), I've never really listened to Faith No More. I'm listening to the album Angel Dust this afternoon, which I've heard recommended as their best.

The current non-fiction read is "Killing the Business: From Backyards to the Big Leagues" by Matt and Nick Jackson (AKA Young Bucks). I'm about halfway through the book, and it's been great. One of the better wrestling memoirs I've read. So far, I'd say it's a must-read for pro wrestling fans.

Last night's doodle of Franken Berry (based off a lesson from DargoArt). Drew this while watching The Munsters last night.

Here it is: your moment of Zen...

Here are two really excellent children's poetry books I read recently: A Stick is an Excellent Thing by Marilyn Singer, and Where I Live, edited by Paul Janeczko. Both incredibly charming and full of celebrations for life's little wonders.

Life got a little crazy this week, so I won't have a new poetry lesson plan up today. But there will be a new blog post this weekend, and next Wednesday we'll be back to our regular schedule of downloadable lesson plans.

Late night, watching The Munsters and drawing Franken Berry.

I fell in love with the work of Lon Chaney after reading Brian Selznick's "The Boy of a Thousand Faces" (though I'd known his work from Phantom of the Opera before). I sat down tonight and watched the riveting and deeply unsettling The Unknown. It packs a punch in its brief 50 minute runtime.

I love the rain. This was such a fun #wordoftheweek from @thetoypress.bsky.social . Hope you enjoy. #kidlit #poetry #poetrycommunity #writingforchildren

I'm a sucker for cartoon mascots like Lucky the Leprechaun or Quisp. Japan has some of my favorites. Last night I made this little doodle of Garigari-kun from the ice cream pop oce the same name.

There's a new blog post up at Make Mine Music. This week, we're taking a look at Lewis Trondheim (@ @lewistrondheim.bsky.social )and Nicholas Kermidas's brilliant comic Mickey's Craziest Adventures. makeminemusiccom.wordpress.com/2026/06/29/t...

I was looking for a book on Vampira, the classic horror hostess. Instead, my library recommended a book called Nazi Lesbian Vampires. Based on the book description, it's exactly what it sounds like...

The storytelling in Universal's original, non-IP houses at Horror Nights is always next level. @superenthused.bsky.social is an awesome guide to get you caught up on the backstories behind this year's haunts: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQGT...

There's a new blog post up at Make Mine Music. This week, we're taking a look at Lewis Trondheim (@ @lewistrondheim.bsky.social )and Nicholas Kermidas's brilliant comic Mickey's Craziest Adventures. makeminemusiccom.wordpress.com/2026/06/29/t...

#Poem #Poetry

Daily poetry prompt: What can you find inside a poem? In the fourth line I was summoned by darkness with only a candle to light my way. The fifth line was a road map to places of the heart I’d avoided visiting before... More here: brian-moses.blogspot.com/2026/05/insi...

Introducing... Bozo! The worlds most friendly clown! Yo, yo, yo! It's your old pal Bozo! Ha, Ha, Ha! How ya' doin? We're gonna have a good old time So get off the ground And lets jump around! What do you say?! Bozo, Bozo The worlds funniest clown Bozo, Bozo Bozo the clown

How cool is this? I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

Sunday morning mean's there a new poem and writing prompt up on my blog. Looking forward to seeing any poems that might get created from the prompt image. #poetry #poetrycommunity #kidlit #writingforchildren shaunmjex.wordpress.com/2026/06/28/p...

I'm working on a new blog post for Make Mine Music, my Disney page. The new article will go live on Monday, but in the meantime, check out the most recent piece: makeminemusiccom.wordpress.com/2026/06/15/l...

Busy writing morning so far: I added another 1000 words to my fiction WIP, and wrote about 1200 words on a non-fiction piece for an upcoming issue of Celebrations Magazine. I'll be putting the finishing touches on this week's poetry blog later this evening.

Watching old school cartoons this afternoon. I love that someone sat down and thought: "You know what kids need exposure to? Troma's "The Toxic Avenger." And yet, "Toxic Crusaders" was a really real show.

For no good reason, here's a doodle of H.R. Pufnstuf. Together, we're going to stop the nefarious plans of Witchiepoo.

Another evening doodle in crayon and Sharpie. Is there anything better than a fresh box of crayons? That's a rhetorical question. The answer is no.

It's Friday night, which means (OBVIOUSLY) I'm googling "How to Draw H.R. Pufnstuf. He's my friend when things get tough.

I've got a new poem that I'll be sharing with everyone in Sunday's blog post. I'm pretty excited by this one (as well as the writing prompt that will come with it). Hopefully, there will be some great responses to the prompt for me to read!

Awesome to have new music from The Pretty Reckless. Here's a great review of their brand new album "Dear God" from Kerrang! www.kerrang.com/album-review...

Do you love cartoons? Animated television and movies? Disney? Make your next read Main Street Gossip: The Inside Scoop On All Your Favorite Disney Characters. Available through Amazon and Kindle Unlimited a.co/d/04aE9ROd

Writing fiction is fun. I now have "how long can someone breathe locked in the trunk of a car?" in my Google search history. I can't wait to explain to Keith Morrison why I was searching out that information.

Kara and I have been listening to a book together the last few nights. Here's a little sharpie and crayon doodle I made as we sat listening.

If you are a fan of old school comics, particularly old school Disney comics (1960s era) you NEED to read Mickey's Craziest Adventures by @lewistrondheim.bsky.social and Nicholas Karamidas. It's hilarious. The art is superb, and the premise (a rediscovered vintage Disney comic) is a lot of fun.

Obviously a little behind, but our family is watching through The Culling Game arc of Jujutsu Kaisen. This is a bonkers season. I get the feeling that the lighthearted episodes we'd get from time to time prior to The Shibuya Incident are well and truly gone for good.

Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday! Head over to my page to read "The Moon-Eyed People" from A Catalog of Curious Creatures and to check out a free lesson plan to go along with the poem! #poetry #kidlit #edusky #writingforchildren #poetrycommunity shaunmjex.wordpress.com/2026/06/24/t...

Kara and I finished our listen of @seananmcguire.bsky.social 's "Every Heart a Doorway" last night. We were so taken with it that we immediately started listening to the sequel (prequel, I suppose) "Down Among the Sticks and Bones." We both adore the character of Jack Walcott. She's amazing.

I've been familiar with Windsor McKay's "Little Nemo" comic strip for some time, though I've never had the chance to read any of the original strips. I'll have to now, because I'm reading Eric Shanower and Gabriel Rodriguez's STUNNING "Little Nemo: Return to Wonderland," and it's enchanting.

I'm staying spooky with my poem for the new #wordoftheweek from @thetoypress.bsky.social Enjoy! #poetry #poetrycommunity #kidlit #writingforchildren #spooky #halloweeniseveryday

After finishing up The Amazing Digital Circus, I knew I had to make a little origami finger puppet of Kinger!

I love indie games so much. I just played through Duck Detective and the Secret Salami from @happybroccoligames.bsky.social . Great animation style, a funny script, and a clever mystery.

It's World Refugee Day today, which has me thinking about Paddington Bear and the meaning and importance of home. That's what we're talking about in this week's poetry blog post. #poetrycommunity #kidlit #poetry shaunmjex.wordpress.com/2026/06/20/p...

We just finished the finale of The Amazing Digital Circus this entire series was a pure 10 out of 10. Up there with Over the Garden Wall as one of the best animated series I've ever watched. An incredible work of art.

Wishing all a happy Juneteenth.

Only one episode of The Amazing Digital Circus left. If you haven't seen it, behind the episode-to-episode craziness, there are questions about existence, gender, identity, trauma, friendship, and meaning. Crazy what you can discover at the circus.