Category: Entertainment

Moms and dads need entertainment and these posts, for one reason or another will do just that

Fox, A Circle of Life Story is timeless, illustrated book gold

Think of one of Salt N’ Pepa’s biggest hits, but replace the word ‘sex’ with the much less salacious word ‘death’. Now, let’s talk about death. Then, make the book as much, if not more about life, and you’ve got a great overview of one of the best-illustrated books of the year, Fox: A Circle of Life Story. Also, much like D.J. Spinderella song, its misdirection makes people think it’s mainly about one thing but instead gets them thinking, or talking about something that otherwise might be challenging or off-putting.

Timeless,-and an easy entry into your ‘forever’ library

Creepy and True: Bones Unearthed!, non-fiction that fires up readers

The Goldilocks paradigm is a floating rule that I use in elementary and middle school literature. It’s too young. It’s too old. There are too many pages. It’s too scary. It’s too princessy, etc. If a book skews too much one way or another it’ll alienate those ages or types that might be interested in it, but are scared off by something about the book. Bones Unearthed! gives our Goldilocks paradigm a cheeky grin, hugs it, and then welcomes readers of any porridge type as if saying, “all are welcome here”.

Bones Unearthed! is the #3 in the Creepy and True series, this time digging up things and telling history for ages 9 and up.

Non-fiction that draws in readers aged 9 and up

Where’s Brian’s Bottom? proves that board books can think out of the box

Where’s Brian’s Bottom? is a very intelligent and unique board book that uses every square inch of its pages to entertain crawlers through first grade. If it’s been a while since you read a board book or you’re new to them then that sentence might seem odd. It’s a cardboard book with thick pages whose audience might be crawling or somewhere in first grade. How could a book like that be smart and make kids curious about its content? As we’ve covered before, board books, the same ones geared towards that crowd can talk about complex things like quantum physics. Where’s Brian’s Bottom? is a board book that flexes its graphic design muscle and infuses it with a grinning sense of humor.

Where’s Brian’s Bottom? is an interactive, fold-out creation that will really engage those crawlers through first-grade.
A board book whose content is as big as its size

Pawcasso, a charming graphic novel that sucks you in like a rainy Sunday

Elementary-aged students love reading about dogs. If someone created a graphic novel about a dog that can solve algebra problems then the issue about some kids not liking math would be immediately solved. The dog could then master the Periodic Table, learn calculus, make kids realize that popularity is a worthless currency or any number of other fabulous lessons. Pawcasso is an all-age graphic novel with a simple premise that will hook those kids who need to, and want to read about a young girl named Jo and her dog.

Pawcasso is a sly, all age graphic novel that sneaks up on you, easily charming and entertaining readers 9 and up.
Don’t overthink it. Just let kids aged 9 and up love it.

Ganbatte!, breaks down the secret sauce to being happy

Come get some. For Bruce Campbell or Joe Rogan fans, that phrase is as empowering as they come. For only three words, that phrase, to those who are down with the character Ash from the series can mean almost anything. Ganbatte is a Japanese phrase that loosely translates to ‘do your best’, but that’s where things can get lost or watered down in translation. In reality ‘ganbatte’ is an encouraging way of thinking that can power a society, and more specifically you. That phrase may be a bit too ‘chicken soup for the empowering phrase soul’, but hear me out. Even if you know nothing about Japanese language or culture, Ganbatte! The Japanese Art of Always Moving Forward is a book that upper-middle readers through senior citizens will grasp something from.

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Ganbatte! is a unique book that occupies the space in the business thought/motivational/life improvement/cultural studies shelf at the store. Western audiences can somewhat equate its meaning to some sports analogies, but “ganbatte” is much stronger, personal, powerful, and impactful.

vague in definition, but, ganbatte can help anyone

The Suicide Squad is a relentlessly enjoyable, graphic ride

A caveat must be added to that title, The Suicide Squad is relentlessly enjoyable as a rated-R movie for audiences that know what to expect from such a film. That’s worth saying because I mentioned to my wife that this was a wildly enjoyable movie, but that she would have hated it. Our son started to pepper me with questions, asking if he could watch it and what aspects of the film he would like the most. Having an 11-year-old see a film that is a solid R-rated movie is a personal choice. For him, the violence in the film would’ve been far too much and he would not have understood most of the film’s context or its numerous, very funny sequences. Back in the day, the 11-year-old version of me would purchase a ticket to a generic family film and then sneak into The Suicide Squad. But this is a brave new world; what’s more likely to happen is that kids will watch it on HBO Max, brag to their friends that they saw it, but not really understand what makes The Suicide Squad such a great film.

The Suicide Squad is a brilliant mash-up of superhero tropes, graphic violence, horror and foul language for action movie fans.
Believe the hype, this is gonzo, I can’t believe that they made this-fun at the movies

Jungle Cruise control to a great first act and overall fun, but flawed film

There are many reasons why people could love or dislike Jungle Cruise. It stars Dwayne Johnson! It’s based on a theme park ride. It’s based on a theme park ride! Your negative reasons for liking it could easily be someone else’s reason for enjoying it. As a former WDW park employee, I can see many things to love about Jungle Cruise. The first act is jammed with subtle, meta winks to the audience as the film blurs between movie and self-realization that its premise is an audio-animatronic ride based on puns and adventure. That same period of the film is also wildly entertaining and will remind older movie fans of Raiders and Romancing the Stone.

As the film goes on, it will crib too much from those films, but more on that in a moment.

Jungle Cruise, we can’t really dislike you, but we wanted more
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