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Wonder Woman, Rumble in the Rainforest-great reading for 7 and up

For young readers in first or second grade the jump to chapter books can be challenging. Our first grader has a couple of friends who are solidly not in the princess camp. They like action, fantasy and other fan girl activities that bodes their STEM future well. Readers like that need to check out the Wonder Woman Sword of the Dragon or Rumble in the Rainforest, two entries in a series of early chapter books from Stone Arch Book, an imprint of Capstone.

Wonder Woman, Sword of the Dragon and Rumble in the Rainforest are original books complete with pages of big, vibrant comic book art. Each chapter is approximately nine pages with big font and vocabulary that the average second grader will be able to navigate without assistance.

Some of the pages are full panels of art. There are some cool images of fighting various baddies, flying her invisible jet, using the lasso of truth and hanging out with monsters. The end of the books also have Invisible Plane Secret Files, two pages that detail the back history of the big bad that she just fought in the book.

For example Gorilla Grodd weighs 600 pounds, is an ingenious scientist and can control people using his mind. Wonder Woman’s greatest asset against Grodd is the Lasso of Truth, as well as using her animal instincts. There’s also a biography of the author, Sarah Hines Stephens and Illustrator, Dan Schoening. I like it when they include these in books because we’re teaching our kids about jobs that people do.

For some of the new vocabulary in the book there is a glossary after that also. Priced at $4.95 it’s a good value, especially for young readers who want to get their Wonder Woman on. This is good reading for advanced first graders or any second grader. Those on the early reading scale of either group might need help with some words, but they’ll be able to navigate most of it by themselves.

Trollhunters is binge worthy animated programming for the family

We’re a member of the Stream Team for Netflix and were compensated for this post. All thoughts are our own. Pan’s Labyrinth is one of my favorite films. Hellboy and its sequel, as well as Pacific Rim are also great films that blend creatures, magic, monsters and action to create movies that pay homage to the classic while maintaining their own identity. Suffice it to say, Guillermo Del Toro is a go-to name for entertainment in our house. Trollhunters is his latest creation; it’s based on a book co-written by Daniel Krauss and the first 26 episodes are streaming on Netflix.

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Best all age comic books for December 21

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Twas the week before Christmas when all through the stacks,

Not many new comics were hitting the racks.

The children were wanting new comics to read

In hopes that their store had just what they need.

Fewer than usual all age comics there are

and Vision’s not in any of them by far

But mom in her Kia and I in my Quest

Will visit the comic book store to seek what’s best

The kids do love Mickey Mouse

His best friend has his own house.

Donald Quest is steam punk action duck

From IDW, it’s in store unless you’re out of luck.

Old school parents will remember this one.

Pink Panther Cartoon Hour Special, wasn’t that fun?

A one-shot comic, kids will like and won’t make you feel old

Including, The Ant and Aardvark, plus the Texas Toads

A modern classic that shares the surname of the Juice

But this is no airport that he’s running through loose

This is Simpson’s Comics, issue #235, isn’t that nice?

With Bart, Lisa and Maggie going to see Krusty on Ice.

Now super heroes, Marvel Universe Ultron and Teen Titans Go!

What? Only two super heroes this week, say it’s not so.

It is, that is true but Marvel Universe Avengers Revolution graphic novel

Is one that kids 7 and up will be able to read, with art to marvel

As all age classics are Teen Titans Go! fits the bill,

the comic is great and at $2.99 it’s just the thrill

Beast Boy on cover, many pranks he’s been pulling

But Titans Tower, Cyborg and crew won’t put up with fooling

He’s all dressed in ninja clothing, a period comic it is he

For the right kids though, Usagi Yojimbo is just what they need be

Invader Zim, an undercover alien comes to Earth

Unknown to all, except to Dib and Gaz who know his worth

A couple more comics for all ages you’ll see this week

Many of which the attention of kids 5 and up they’ll pique

Adventure Time Comics, Back to the Future, Doctor Who

A Rogue One Coloring Book and others await you too

Now it’s up to you to stuff the stockings right

Lest you wake up Christmas morn to a child full of fright

It’s better to have all the comics they want

so it’s a Merry Christmas and you won’t have to front.

Humor

Superhero

Action/Science fiction

Max Cliff Climber, a real toy truck with bite

Max Cliff Climber is one of the toys that our 5 year old wanted when we went to the toy store to research our gift guide. It’s a large truck with monster wheels. Really, the rear wheels open up to expose teeth when it climbs things or uses torque. It also has attitude and a sense of dry humor as part of the narration when it’s talking to you.

This is a big toy and its packaging is such that if you’re giving it as a gift you should plan ahead. Getting Max Cliff Climber out of the box will take a couple of minutes. Additionally, the toy is powered with a temporary battery pack that you need to remove prior to playing with it. Simply use a Phillips screwdriver put 6 C size batteries in the bottom of the truck and power it up.

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Rogue One: A Star Wars Story-the most fun film since the first one

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Franchise films are fun to watch. However fans of franchise films sometimes have to excuse or legitimize the fact that they like the film. For example, if they’re being honest then they’ll say ‘it’s an OK Bond film, but not a really good movie’… (I’m looking at you Spectre…) Star Wars is not immune to this. When The Force Awakens came out many folks were relieved that Disney handled the transition very well and was a marked improvement since the forgettable later third of the sequels. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a stand-alone movie in the Star Wars universe and again marks the Death Star as one of its main villains.

I rolled my eyes too when I read the plot synopsis. Oh joy, more Death Star. While the villains are the same there is an entirely new group of heroes to figure out the threat and combat it. This fact brings about more humor and action than you’re expecting from a Star Wars film.

Rogue One is its own film. It’s a funny, action packed science fiction film that’s a joy to see on the big screen. Because the film is free from the narrative and characters in the previous installments it has a swagger and footloose quality that make the other films feel routine. Don’t get me wrong, I still love them, but compared to Rogue One they feel slightly forced because I know what’s going to happen next.

This is all the more amazing because the audience knows how Rogue One will end. Somehow the Death Star manages to go on to kill another day, giving Obi-Wan a big fat headache when Alderaan is blown up. In a way Rogue One is like a documentary of a celebrity. If I know that this celebrity overcomes drug abuse, a bad marriage and then manages to record a comeback single when they’re in their late 40’s why should I see the film?

You should see Rogue One because it’s a great film. The first half has more humor than any other Star Wars film and it all works. Said humor is provided by K-250, an Imperial droid who has been reprogrammed to help the Alliance. It’s voiced by Alan Tudyk and the interaction between him and Cassain Andor (Diego Luna) are some of the best parts in an already great film.

Legendary Chinese actor and martial arts star Donnie Yen is also a stand out in the film. His character is Chirrut Imwe, a blind man who uses the Force with humor and strength. This is Yen’s biggest film outside of China and I hope that it gives him a chance to make more films outside of the mold that he’s been cast in.

Old school Star Wars fans will appreciate the details in Rogue One. It’s a film that takes place before the first Star Wars and seamlessly fits in just before that film takes place. Some of the human casting is all but identical to the actors that portrayed the original scene performers almost 40 years ago.

These same fans will also love the colors in the film. Green, fields of green grass, lots of tropical green trees, blue water and more are mixed in the ever present black, red and white. Rogue One is a visual treat for the eyes. Storm Troopers on the beach! AT-AT’s on the island! This is fun stuff and it’s a reminder that movies can be the great escape.

Is Rogue One OK for children? The film is rated PG-13 for extended scenes of science fiction action and violence. The action sequences are longer than those in The Force Awakens and there isn’t as traumatic a death as (spoiler alert) Han Solo. That’s mainly due to the fact that the characters in Rogue One are all new and we haven’t had time to know them. Children 11 and up will be fine for Rogue One. If younger children have seen science fiction violence (laser blasts, ships colliding and such) then they’ll be OK with it. Our 7 year old will be fine with the violence, but might wince at some of the volume because it is packed with explosions.

Win a copy of The Secret Life of Pets Blu-Ray

There were two animated films in 2016 that we absolutely loved and one of them was The Secret Life of Pets. Its initial trailer plays the plot very close to the chest, which is a great thing. The less you know about this film the better, other than the fact that it is very, very funny. It’s the movie that our 6 year old was itching to see and will finally get his wish this holiday season.

The Secret Life of Pets is good for kids 6 and up and has a soft PG rating. There are a couple scenes that are in the dark with comic bad guys that might scare some of the 5 year olds.

Win a copy of The Secret Life of Pets by entering here.

A copy of The Secret Life of Pets on Blu-Ray

Marvel The Amazing 1000 Dot-To-Dot is laser focused fun for teens and up

“I used to love dot-to-dot puzzles”, the lady at the bagel place said as she sat next to me. I felt just a bit juvenile as she said that and opened up Marvel, The Amazing 1000 Dot-To-Dot Book so that she could see one of the incomplete puzzles. “Wow, does everyone need a magnifying glass to do them or are we just old”?

It eased my ego and aging eyes to let her know that even our 7 year old needed a magnifying glass when he tried to do one. He tried to do it with his toy magnifying glass. I tried to complete one of the puzzles with that, but then realized that I needed to go full Monty and buy a proper magnifying glass.

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The Incredible Intergalactic Journey Home, a book 100% unique to you

The Incredible Intergalactic Journey Home is the sequel of sorts to The Little Boy Who Lost His Name. In that book the child woke up and couldn’t find their name. They go to all manner of places finding letters that spell their name until at the very end they’ve spelled out-thus eventually finding their name. This book is similar, but is much more enjoyable that its predecessor for a number of reasons.

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