2015-11-29T20:00:00-04:00

Norm Of The North, Atlanta preview tickets and prize giveaway

It’s mid January and you need a good family for the kids to go see. Those cold, winter days sometimes just yell for the comfort of a warm movie theater to quell the busy of kids, we get it. Norm Of The North is it. Our hopes are high for the film because it has Bill Nighy, Rob Schneider, James Corden and Ken Jeong, among others. The cast for Norm is deep and includes many other people, but those four actors have a good track record for being in things that we consistently enjoy.

Continue reading Norm Of The North, Atlanta preview tickets and prize giveaway

New all age comics for December 30, 2015

The last new comic book day of 2015 and publishers are taking it easy on the all age comic crowd. There are less than half of the normal amount of new releases, but still one or two to tempt parents to drive the kids out. Transformers Robots in Disguise Animated, Spidey, Jughead and Figment among others hit shelves.

If there’s nothing that strikes your fancy new this week then check out our list of the top 10 all age graphic novels in 2015. There are classics, new titles that blew us away, great art, action, deep thoughts and literally something for every age and interest. Bonus: we’re also giving away a copy of Mickey Mouse The Mysterious Crystal Ball and Princeless Volume 4: Be Yourself.

Continue reading New all age comics for December 30, 2015

The Best All Age Graphic Novels in 2015

2015 was a very good year for some of the all age comics. As a result there were some great graphic novels that collected those comic books. This is our list of the ten all age comics that we liked the best. It’s a good mix of classic books, new characters, art and publishers. Of course this list can’t include all of them, but we wanted to include some of the ones that you know about, as well as, a couple that probably flew under your radar.

If we were to include two more to our list it would certainly be Princeless Volume 4: Be Yourself and Mickey Mouse: The Mysterious Crystal Ball. Princeless is an action driven comic with a girl lead about vampires, royalty, monsters and fighting while Mickey has some of his classic stories that are printed on their new comic home of IDW. Big thanks to Previews World for offering up these two graphic novels to be given away.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Age of Reptiles, Ancient Egyptians

Similar to Mouse Guard, except wordless with gorgeous art that makes you want to slowly turn each page as you follow these massive beasts around. Some of the art is bloody and might be too much for younger readers, but kids 10 and up who are down with dinosauria will absolutely love this.

Ghostbusters Get Real

Ghostbusters is a great comic for any age. It’s got good memories for older readers, good vocabulary for younger readers and art that anyone will enjoy.

Lumberjanes

This is the comic for kids who are looking for something fresh, original and something that you (especially girls) can relate to. With great art, clever stories and dialogue that will make anyone laugh this series is as good as comics for any audience get.

Jin Henson’s Storyteller Witches

Storyteller Witches had some of the best story and art of any book this past year. It’s not graphic or for adults, but it’s story is sometimes dark and might not interest younger readers. However, for kids 9 and up who like great art and clever stories this collection of four stand alone stories is fabulous.

Mouse Guard, Legends of the Guard, Volume 3

The story of mice gathering in a local bar to tell stories doesn’t sound like much on the surface. It’s the art and the story that made Mouse Guard one of the most enjoyable books of the past year for us.

Peanuts

Pick a Peanuts any Peanuts. Almost every printed story from them has been re-published in the past year. However, pay attention to the graphic novels that collect the new comic books. They have new stories, the same classic art and characters that feel fresh and still tell great stories.

Planet Gigantic

Similar to the above title, the plight of a brother and sister who are stranded on a planet isn’t engaging on the surface. However, mix in a bit of pulp/noir feel, action, just a shade of unpredictability and family and you’ve got a great graphic novel for any age.

Regular Show

Take the wit from the Regular Show on television, write new episodes and put them straight to comics and this is what you’ve got.

Simpsons Comic Explosion

In theory any Simpson’s graphic novel could make this list. If you’re only familiar with the television show then do yourself a favor and dig into any of their graphic novels.

Terrible Lizard

The premise of a teen girl with a pet dinosaur is cliché, but this book rocks. All of the characters have wit and the art is real, comic and fun. Fun-you and kids will have a kick reading this book.

Win a 6-pack of Tonka Metal Diecast Bodies #Giveaway

In our garage I have a section where my old toys live. Granted, it’s a small section but all of my old Tonka trucks live there. There’s a Jeep, dozer and crane. The crane is not working too well, but the dozer and the Jeep purr right along in our child’s sandbox with his modern toys. That distinctive yellow and black, plus the construction that gave it the mojo to last 40+ years. The new line of Tonka Metal Diecast Bodies is like that. They’ve got the same quality, have amazing detail and are built for play.

Tonka still makes the trademark yellow and black construction vehicles. They’ve just branched out into smaller vehicles that cover any work situation imaginable. An Ice Resurfacer, Excavator, Dump Truck, Tow Truck, Cement Mixer and more. If you can think of a truck that moves and does work Tonka probably has one for it at 1:55 scale.

Continue reading Win a 6-pack of Tonka Metal Diecast Bodies #Giveaway

The Not Very Merry Pout Pout Fish swims a familiar tail, but that’s OK

We’re fans of the Pout Pout Fish in this house. Their adventures of the blue fish that could use a little encouragement or confidence are stories that kids through age 6 will really enjoy. The premise in these books by Deborah Diesen is basic, the Pout Pout Fish goes about having a pity party or being scared of something. After a couple attempts and failing they succeed. It’s a simple premise, but one that kids will readily catch on to, enjoy and want to read over and over.

Case in point is The Not Very Merry Pout Pout Fish. Our kids have been chomping at the bit to finally have this book in their room. I needed to take photos of it, put it in the queue, but they were having none of that and simply wanted to look at the pictures by Dan Hanna and read it on their own time.

Continue reading The Not Very Merry Pout Pout Fish swims a familiar tail, but that’s OK

New all age comics for Wednesday December 23, 2015

Happy new comic book day! It’s every Wednesday and this week is skinnier than usual, which has its pros and cons. One of the bigger pros is that school is out and you can take the kids to the store with you. The con would be that there are fewer new single issues to look for, so it’s a great time to look at some back issues or graphic novels if nothing this week tickles your fancy for all age comics.

Mega Man #55, Peanuts # 29 and Wilds End Enemy Within #4 is great for kids 10 and up who are down with something out of the box, intelligent and deeper than the average comic.

If you’re getting caught up on older graphic novels, perhaps for stocking stuffers, may we suggest any of the Regular Show, Lumberjanes or Ghostbusters Get Real. They’re all fabulous for any age, especially those 7 and up. It’s also worth mentioning Terrible Lizard and Planet Gigantic, both are really entertaining, have great art, strong female characters, big action and are worth checking out.

The Boy Who Spoke to the Earth speaks to kids and more #Giveaway

Surfing in the Arctic Circle is not some people’s idea of fun. I would love to go there, do some camping and hiking, but that cold water is good for salmon or whatever other fish live up there. To nature photographer Chris Burkard that as well as other adventurous places are his office. The Boy Who Spoke to the Earth is a children’s book that he wrote. If you’ve seen his photos then you might expect him to be responsible for the images in the book. However, once you read it you understand why it makes sense that he did the words and David McClellan did the art in this very accessible children’s book.

Continue reading The Boy Who Spoke to the Earth speaks to kids and more #Giveaway

Daddy Mojo’s Last Minute Gift Guide

Aye caramba, it’s almost Christmas and you need something to complete that magical list for good boys, girls or yourself. Yeah, it’s quite obvious we push things to the last minute and this gift guide is for you. All of these items rock, are super durable and will absolutely do what they’re intended to do. It’s worth nothing that nobody paid to be here, but we were provided with samples for some of the items.

Continue reading Daddy Mojo’s Last Minute Gift Guide