Daddy Mojo

The Girl With All The Gifts, an atypical zombie film that thrives

We read a graphic novel like this recently. It was something that I only knew the bare bones about and it succeeded in being wildly entertaining beyond our expectations. It’s not that there were low expectations; we just didn’t know enough about it on purpose. The Girl With All The Gifts is a zombie film like no other. It plays to a few zombie movie tropes while gathering up most of them and (thankfully) throwing them out the window. The result is an utterly original film that simmers at a low boil for a majority of the film, expertly weaving together a taut, disparate vision of the near future.

Suffice it to say that The Girl With All The Gifts is not for children. As a parent, in no way shape or form would I allow a child of mine 16 or under to watch this. It’s rated R for good reason due to language, graphic violence, disturbing images and perilous situations.

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New all age comic books this week

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There are lots of things to love this week at your local comic book store. If you’re looking for all age comic books or a great graphic novel that kids will love there is something for you this week. In humor comic books kids have their choice between some of the modern classics like, Pink Panther Snow Day-a one shot comic with all of his friends, Scooby Doo Team Up #23, My Little Pony-Friendship is Magic #51, Jughead #13 and Adventure Time Comics TPB Volume one.

Superheroes have their day with Batman 66 Meets Wonder Woman 77 #2 of 6 is out. This is campy Batman meeting Linda Carter’s Wonder Woman. The twist is that Bruce Wayne is 10 years old and he meets Wonder Woman, toss in Ra’ al Ghul, the League of Shadows, good action and campy dialogue. Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #16 and a director’s cut of Batman Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures #1 are cool too. The later is for the fans. It has some ‘making of’ sketches, commentary from the creators and allows readers to see exactly what goes in to making a comic book. It’s also a great chance to take a look at one of the best mini series of the year for all age comic books.

For ages 12 and up they may want to check out the classic Ghost in the Shell. This is the first time that it’s been published in its original Japanese right-to-left manga format. It’s a story that is not for younger audiences, but those low teens will be curious about it because of word of mouth and the film coming out.

There are two action all age graphic novels that will interest middle school students and up. Kid Beowulf, The Song of Roland is the second installment in the Kid Beowulf series. It presents the classic poem in a way that any age can enjoy. We’re reading this graphic novel now and will have a review later this week. Also out this week is Science Comics: Bats, Learning to Fly. Science Comics has previously done books on volcanoes, coral reefs and others. Each graphic novel has great art and presents these subjects in a through and entertaining way.

Our comic book of the week is Jim Henson’s The Power of Dark Crystal. This is from Archaia and joins the story many years since the film. It also celebrates the 35 anniversary of the film and tells a continuing story about a new race of creatures, as well as fan favorites.

Our favorite graphic novel this week is Hilo, The Great Big Boom. This is the third book in the series and its joy, enthusiasm and fun jumps off of the page. Hilo is a robot from another dimension who is on Earth with D.J. and Gina, his human friends. Hilo, The Great Big Boom picks up where the second one ended, with D.J and Hilo watching Gina get sucked into another dimension. The two friends plot on how to find her, deal with the new species they meet, Hilo’s history and more. This is a graphic novel that ages 7 and up will absolutely devour and then look at you with puppy dog eyes as if you have the next installment hidden away.

All age comic books, graphic novels, hi lo, dark crystal, kid Beowulf, kid Beowulf the song of roland, science comics, science comics bats, ghost in the shell, batman Scooby doo, pink panther snow day,

Humor

Superhero

Action/Science fiction

Help Pete the Cat become a real puppet at Center for Puppetry Arts

20 years ago if you lived around Atlanta or were into the folk art scene you knew Pete the Cat. The groovy, blue Chuck Taylor wearing, blue cat with yellow eyes has an easy going attitude that made him a favorite for those on the cutting edge. Come to current times and Pete the Cat is a staple in children’s entertainment with music, books and more. Another staple in children’s entertainment is Center for Puppetry Arts. Combine the two and you’ve got a bluer, groovier story of Pinocchio. Center for Puppetry Arts is creating a Pete the Cat puppet show-and they need your help to bring Pete’s groovy adventures to the stage.

First off, Center for Puppetry Arts is one of the go-to places to visit in Atlanta. They’ve built a massive museum that is jammed with hundreds of puppets from all over the world. This includes lots of Muppets and characters from Sesame Street, plus some stop motion classics like Coralline and more. The puppets change out from time to time, there are puppets that you can use and play with, create your own puppet stage show and see things reflective to all stages of puppets.

Now, combine that with the fact that Center for Puppetry Arts still has ongoing puppet shows. Pete the Cat is coming to Center for Puppetry Arts, but they need your help. Through March 2 they’re raising money to get this show off the ground. Hat’s off to the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs for DOUBLING the amount of each donation through that time period.

The mere thought of Pete the Cat in puppet form at Center for Puppetry Arts makes you smile, doesn’t it? Go ahead, re-watch that video that breaks down the research and work that they’ve already done to prepare for the show. The Pete the Cat show is happening at Center for Puppetry Arts from April 4-May 21. Get groovy and support it before it takes off.

Win a family 4-pack of tickets to Monster Jam on March 4

In 2016 we were blown away by one of the most family friendly events we’ve ever attended. Monster Jam is back in Atlanta on February 4 and 5 and we’ve been looking forward to it ever since we left the arena last year. For us, Monster Jam was the graphic novel that we were casually interested in that we couldn’t put down-and then immediately re-read it once we were finished. Monster Jam will most likely have the same reaction for you and your family.

Monster Jam is a live motorsport event that’s operated by Feld Entertainment. There is more to Monster Jam than you might realize. It’s broken up into two parts. The first is a competition, where two trucks go head-to-head on a short track. They’ll do two laps of the course and the winner will then go on to face the next field of wining trucks. Eventually the fastest two trucks will face each other and the results will make ages 5 and up yell, scream and be enthusiastic beyond your wildest dreams.

Win a family 4-pack of tickets to Monster Jam on March 4

That was our then 6YO, a normally reserved child who was waving his hands, yelling and shouting cheers of enthusiasm for whichever truck he liked during that round of competition. As a parent it was amazing to see this side of my child, who I thought I knew inside and out being more boisterous than we’d ever seen him. It was all for good reason because we were doing the same thing and perhaps the apple was not falling far from the tree.

The crowd at Monster Jam is diverse in background and age. Having said that, bring ear protection with you. If you arrive in time they sell ear protection, but it does sell out. We’re buying ear protection before this year’s Monster Jam, because we know we’ll be back for more.

A truck doing a flip with flames shooting out from the bottom? #monsterjam

A post shared by Daddy Mojo (@treyburley) on Mar 5, 2016 at 8:15pm PST

Toilet paper rolls fly high at Launch Party for National Geographic Kids

One thing that most kids do well is collect things. Even our 5 year old has little stacks of ‘prizes’ that pop up around his room like lemmings. Kids are also great at wanting to be the greatest at things. National Geographic Kids and Toyota Highlander are teaming up to set a Guinness World Record that you-and your kids can be a part of.

To make things even cooler this Guinness World Record attempt allows kids to collect something that you’re already using in your house, toilet paper rolls! National Geographic Kids wants to make the world’s largest toilet-paper-roll sculpture and they need your help to make it happen. To make things more symmetrical to the shape of a toilet-paper-roll, the sculpture will be in the shape of a rocket.

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NewsPrints is the first great original graphic novel of 2017

It’s great when you discover a new literary treat. For us it could be something that exceeds expectations or something that comes out of the blue. NewsPrints by Ru Xu is a combination of both of those. This is a story driven graphic novel with manga influences that is difficult, if not impossible to put down. It’s a blend of cold war, science fiction and intrigue that’s guided by a young girl’s secrets and friends.

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Benny and Penny, How to Say Goodbye keeps it real and it works

Benny and Penny in How To Say Goodbye starts out with the two best friends playing in a pile of leaves. Shortly after jumping in them and frolicking in the forest Penny discovers Little Red, a salamander that the two mice know. However, Little Red is limp and Penny supposes that he is dead. From here How To Say Goodbye turns into one of the most unlikely children’s books about loss that they need to read.

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New all age comic books for February 15, 2015

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Happy new comic book day! That’s #NCBD if you’re following along on twitter, share what you’re buying or recommend new comics that others need to read. These are some of the cool new all age comic books this week. Are you watching Riverdale on television? Maybe reading a version of Archie, Betty & Veronica in comics? This week has the latest issue of Archie from Archie Comics, it’s a great comic, tween, real-life comic that middle school kids and up will enjoy.

Archie is milder than the television show that’s currently showing. It’s also meant for an older audience than the ‘classic’ Archie digests that you see in check-out counters at the supermarket. In short, there’s an Archie tailor made for any age and Archie #17 is the modern, revamped Riverdale character, but still has classic roots with modern issues.

Angry Birds Flight School #1 is a new series from IDW that has birds, lots of birds, many of them angry. What’s more, these characters are funny and ages 6 and up will enjoy reading about these feathered folks.

We’re big fans of Patrick McDonnell, the creator of Mutts. His art and words melt your soul and warm your heart. Darling, I Love You is a team-up with poet Daniel Ladinsky as they explore the human/pet relationship. It’s the classic Mutts characters set to a more poetic than usual background and will be great for ages 4 and up.

Batman Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures #4 is out and this mini-series is utterly fabulous. It’s super hero action with two great franchises that will be entertaining for ages 5 and up. This is one of the all age comic books that are a great example of exactly how entertaining and impactful they can be to young readers. It has great action and humor, plus enough reading to make it something that enhances the story. Get this comic book for any aged reader and they’ll promptly ask for the previous three issues.

Pulling a page from the Muppet Babies, DC Comics has Super Sons #1 out this week. It’s the son of Superman and Batman in their own comic book. This is rated T, so have kids 12 and up take a look at it. Another teen comic book is out this week, Kong of Skull Island, but this one is outstanding. It has lots of monster violence that’ll be too much for the smaller readers, but 12 and up will love the majestic art and big story line. WWE #2 is great for teen readers too. WWE in comics is a logical connection isn’t it? It’s a chance to read out to what kid’s favorite wrestlers are doing, toss in some out of arena drama and it’s good fun for wrestling fans and an action comic too.

The music in the podcast is from The Owl, it’s awesome, haunting and the stuff of dreamy, snowy cliffs and fjords.

Humor

Angry birds

Superhero

Action