Children's book reviews, all age comic books, Kidlit, mglit, movies, entertainment and parenting
If The Nightmare Before Christmas and Minions had a baby with a Yeti bent the result would be along the lines of Henry And The Yeti. Henry And The Yeti is a children’s illustrated book by Russell Ayto. This is the first book that he’d taken the reins on for art and story and based on the happy, goofy, relatable and slightly spooky monster story he’s created it won’t be his last.
Continue reading Henry And the Yeti, an icy quest that kids will love
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Happy new comic book day! This week has a massive variety of graphic novels, books and all age comic books that are coming to your local stores. You’re the parent to a two year-old who wants to read about Aquaman? Maybe that same child wants to read about The Incredibles? You’re a middle school student who loves Star Vs. The Forces of Evil and want to dig deep into her world? Maybe you love the classics and want to read some Big Nate; this is your week, so read on or check out the podcast for an in-depth look at some of them.
Hilda and the Hidden People
Up until this month Hilda has only been in Luke Pearson’s beautiful books. This month has Hilda coming to Netflix and in her first middle school book, Hilda and the Hidden People. This is a book that upper elementary school will love. Each chapter is approximately seven pages, with some pages having the classic, distinctive art that Pearson has been doing for years with this character. His illustrated books are works of art that children can enjoy. This series of books takes that world and spells it out deeper for those kids that want to read about it more. The second book in this series, Hilda and the Great Parade comes out in January 2019. Get used to seeing this series in elementary and middle school libraries if you’re not in the know about Hilda yet.
Earth’s Mightiest Heroes Adventures, Captain Marvel First Day of School
Captain Marvel meets Spider-Man in an all age comic book about the first day of school? Two of Marvel Comics go-to heroes team up for a one-shot issue about team work, exploring new things and growing up. At $3.99 this is one of those comic books that age 5 and up can read, enjoy the action and learn a thing or two, just don’t tell them that.
Big Nate Goes Bananas!
Big Nate has graduated from college. Not really, but the character, Big Nate has been sharing stories of middle school chaos for over 25 years now. This is classic stuff and Big Nate Goes Bananas! provides full color page after page of laughs, grins and some deep belly laughs that will make your children look at you funny. Moreover, Big Nate is a great example of 4-panel brilliance and simplicity. Sometimes it’s sublime, occasionally it’s bittersweet, quite often hilarious and always entertaining, this is Big Nate Goes Bananas!
Humor
Superhero
Action/science-fiction
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
Everyone loves a curmudgeon; especially the curmudgeon lite, a la Hugh Grant, to me they’re impossible to resist. Sure they appear grumpy, but you know that deep down they love not bad, they simply want to evoke a crusty exterior, most likely to put off unwarranted salespeople. Somewhere between Hugh Grant and Archie Bunker (but much closer to Hugh Grant) is Bruce, the bear who inhabits the books by New York Times Best-Selling Author Ryan T. Higgins. Bruce is back in Santa Bruce, a seasonal Christmas tale about a grumpy bear, three irrepressible mice and the rest of the animals in the forest who have a big surprise coming their way.
Continue reading Santa Bruce, warms the heart of all who read it, even grumpy bears
The line that separates entertainment from being branded as ‘children’s’ or ‘family’ can be described as ‘art’; in that, you can’t define it the same every time, but you know it when you see it. Some books are great for children, but will never cross over to where those out of middle school can enjoy it. It’s those rare books that firmly hit the kidlit audience; but can also be enjoyed as much those who don’t know who Captain Poopypants is that are a marvel to read. Dinosaur is one of those books.
Dinosaur: A Photicular Book created by Dan Kainen and written by Kathy Wollard is the New York Times bestselling series that is as much a natural fit to your children’s library as it is to a Paleontologist. At first glance Dinosaur doesn’t look like it has that wide of a range of readers. There are lots of big words and that’s not including the names of the dinosaurs.
Continue reading Dinosaur A Photicular Book spans generations who will love it
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Happy new comic book day! Every Wednesday lots of new comic books hit you local stores and in that lot are dozen of great all age comic books. These all age comic books will be OK for readers as young as five. They also span any interest that you can think of-one of them will certainly register with readers in elementary, middle or high school. In the podcast we’ll go in depth and take a look at Plants vs. Zombies, Henri’s Hats, Mech Cadet Yu, an all age Venom comic book and more. For now let’s look at three all age comic books that will interest readers as young as five.
Disney Frozen: Breaking Boundaries #2
If there’s someone in the house that likes Disney Frozen they’ll love this comic book. Disney Frozen: Breaking Boundaries is a mini-series on Dark Horse Comics that comes from the same heart and soul as the animated film and its sister comic book, Frozen, that’s published monthly. In this issue Anna and a new friend try their hand at different jobs while Elsa investigates a mystery that is happening deep in the wood. The vocabulary is a bit much for kids who are 5 to read by themselves, but they’ll enjoy the art and lessons within the comic book. Ages 7 and up will be able to read Disney Frozen: Breaking Boundaries without any assistance and can get their WDW groove on that way.
Venom Adventures Digest
What if Peter Parker was wearing the alien symbiote suit? Now what if he did that and the tales were captured in a format for all age comic books? Venom Adventures Digest does just that by collecting previously published stories from Marvel Adventures Spider-Man and Marvel Universe Ultimate Spider-Man. This is an all age story about Venom. You read that right. It seems as likely as an all age story with Deadpool, but this comic book makes it work and it makes sense. Even the Marvel team-up with Phineas & Ferb had Venom in the mix. It’s just that most of his stories are not for kids, this one is great fun that ages 6 and up will enjoy.
Voltron Legendary Defender, Vol. 3, #3
I wish I had time to watch Voltron on Netflix. The episodes that I’ve seen are action-packed, have great stories, enough humor to bridge the gaps and are perfect for kids 7 and up that dig science-fiction. The comic book from Lion Forge doesn’t mess with the success from the show at all. Voltron is all age comic book fun for those kids who want a smart comic book that’s perfect for kids, but doesn’t dumb down the story or packaging for them.
Humor
Superhero
Action/science-fiction
Everything I know about Dia de los Muertos I learned from Coco. I need a shirt that says that, because it’s 100% true. Now I know a little bit about it, like the key terms of abuelos, ofrendas and muertos. It wasn’t too long ago that I thought Dia de Los Muertos has more sinister leanings at worst or at best the backdrop for a sub-par James Bond film. Dia de los Muertos is also in a board book. It’s a bright slice of family memories that simply spells out what makes this Mexican tradition a happy spot in an undead arena.
That’s what I thought the tradition was all about. Skeletons, ghosts and specters, it’s like Halloween but they have parades instead of candy, I thought.
Continue reading Dia de los Muertos, board book is read-along fun for 3 and up
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Variety! This week in all age comic books is jammed with variety. From the STEM minded tween, the sight word pony fans and middle school superheroes, there’s something for any kid aged 5 and up. In the podcast we’ll talk in detail about the new Dog Man, Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero’s Journey , Kitten Construction Company, Daredevil, Dinosaur-a Photicular book and more. For now let’s look at the
Kitten Construction Company
A construction company that’s helmed by kittens and written by the author of Hippopatmister? Kitten Construction Company is great silly fun by John Patrick Green and appropriate for ages 5 and up. Those younger ages will need help reading it, while 7 and up should be able to read it by themselves. Marmalade is a kitten who is never given a chance because she’s too cute. But, she’s also a trained architect, so she teams up with some other kittens to form Kitten Construction Company. This graphic novel has more going for it than cute drawings of kittens and feline puns. There are some lessons kids can learn as they laugh along the way. Kitten Construction Company is from :01 First Second books.
James Bond Origin
We want to love this and look forward to reading it. James Bond Origin is a mini-series from Dynamite Entertainment about a young James Bond who wants to make a difference in the early days of WWII. There’s a new British government service that’s being formed and he might be just the man to take part in it. Take my money. As a child I read most of the James Bond books, granted they were screenplays, but they were still books. James Bond Origin has aspects of Ian Fleming’s real-life experience as a naval intelligence officer, but is firmly rooted in 007. This is a comic book that’ll be great for middle school students who like to read, can handle a layered plot and want to dig into another layer of an iconic character. If I were 12 years old this would be my jam.
Walt Disney’s Comics & Stories, #743
If you’re looking for oversized Disney fun, then Walt Disney’s Comics & Stories #743 is for you. This comic book is great for any age to look at and enjoy, but the reading in this series makes it good for ages 8 and up to read by themselves. This is thick, retails for $5.99 and has at least two stories that’ll entertain the Disney kids as you plan your next trip to Orlando.
Humor
Superhero
Action/Science-fiction
Night
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