SPIDERMAN DECADE BY DECADE HISTORY BOOK

With Sony's Spider-Man movies crawling onto the Disney+ streaming platform, before swinging into watching this comic book superhero films again decided now would be a good time to delve into learning all about the character's history. The Quarto Group has published an marvelous look into Spidey's past with SPIDER-MAN: A History & Celebration of the Web Slinger, Decade by Decade by Matthew Manning, Robert Greenberger and Peter David. The book is available on amazon.com. 

SPIDER-MAN: A History of the Web Slinger, Decade by Decade provides a comprehensive look back at how the character went from being introduced in the last issue of a failing comic book to becoming a pop culture icon. Since his 1961 debut in the pages of Amazing Fantasy #15 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Spider-Man has been featured in more than twenty movies and tv shows, numerous video games, millions of pages of comic book stories and countless consumer products including clothing and toys. Even those who aren't familiar with Spider-Man's origin story will instantly recognize this superhero. 

How did we get to a point where this wall-crawling, web-slinging hero became a global sensation? SPIDER-MAN: A History of the Web Slinger, Decade by Decade from The Quarto Group. The book is filled with expert commentary from people involved with the creative process of crafting Spider-Man's adventures thus far and artwork from the web of stories they have spun. 

SPIDER-MAN: A History of the Web Slinger, Decade by Decade is full of amazing and spectacular imagery from comics, movies, and items from Marvel's archives. Exploring the behind-the-scenes details included in this book with have fans' Spidey Sense tingling with excitement. 

Enjoy six decades worth of Spider-Man trivia, including:

• A timeline of Spider-Man's various adaptions in comics, movies, toys and more; 
• "Remember When?" moments such as the time Marvel introduced the Spider-Mobile; 
• The most interesting and shocking plot points in Web Slinger's comic book history;
• An overview of the creators who have crafted Spider-Man's brand over the years.

After you've caught up on Spider-Man's history, see if it provides new insights into your enjoyment of his movies that being shown on Disney Plus. Sony actually owns the movie rights to Spider-Man which Marvel licensed to them in the years before the comic book publisher had its own movie studio and way before it became a part of the Disney corporation. The first Spider-Man™ films by Sam Raimi “Spider-Man™,” “Spider-Man™ 2,” “Spider-Man™ 3,” and “The Amazing Spider-Man™” are now available to subscribers of Disney+. “Spider-Man™: Homecoming” and “Venom” will join the service on May 12, 2023.

Spider-Man™ (2002)

 Average teenager Peter Parker (Toby Maguire) is transformed into an extraordinary superhero after he is accidentally bitten by a radioactive spider. When his beloved uncle is savagely murdered during a robbery, young Peter vows to use his powers to avenge his death. Deeming himself "Spider-Man," he sets about ridding the streets of crime, bringing him into conflict with malevolent super-villain "Green Goblin." 

Spider-Man™ 2 (2004) 

In “Spider-Man 2™,” Tobey Maguire returns as the mild-mannered Peter Parker, who is juggling the delicate balance of his dual life as college student and a superhuman crime fighter. Peter's life becomes even more complicated when he confronts a new nemesis, the brilliant Otto Octavius who has been reincarnated as the maniacal and multi-tentacled "Doc Ock." When Doc Ock kidnaps MJ, Spider-Man must swing back into action as the adventure reaches new heights of unprecedented excitement. 

Spider-Man™ 3 (2007) 

Peter Parker finally has the girl of his dreams, Mary Jane Watson, and New York City is in the throes of Spider-mania! But when a strange alien symbiote turns Spider-Man's suit black, his darkest demons come to light changing Spider-Man inside as well as out. Spider-Man is in for the fight of his life against a lethal mix of villains - the deadly Sandman, Venom, and the New Goblin - as well as the enemy within himself. 

The Amazing Spider-Man™ (2012) 

A teenage Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) grapples with both high school and amazing super-human crises as his alter-ego Spider-Man. 

Spider-Man™: Homecoming (2017) 

A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging super hero. Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May, under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark. Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine, but when the Vulture emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened. 

Venom (2018) 

Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) is a broken man after he loses everything including his job and fiancée. Just when his life is at its lowest, he becomes host to an alien symbiote which results in extraordinary superpowers - transforming him into Venom. Will these powers be enough for this new lethal protector to defeat great evil forces, especially against the far stronger and more weaponized symbiote rival, Riot?

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GALAXY QUEST THE INSIDE STORY

By Grabthar’s hammer! For more than two decades the crew of the Protector has delighted sci-fi fans with their high jinks in the movie Galaxy Quest. Intended as a parody of sci-fi television shows and movies, Galaxy Quest not only provides audiences with laughs but a quality science fiction story in its own right. Learn the inside story about the creation of Galaxy Quest from the cast and crew who worked on producing this film that expanded beyond a comedy to develop its own a cult following of diehard sci-fi fans who love the flick in a new book from Hero Collector.

Thanks to Hero Collector for providing a Galaxy Quest: The Inside Story for this blog to review and a copy of the book for a Geek Daddy to giveaway. This 200 page hardcover book is sure to delight science fiction fan who enjoys delving into the movie magic behind Hollywood motion pictures. This authorized book takes readers through the whole process of making the movie from concept art used in crafting the imagery of the film to the marketing materials utilized in promoting Galaxy Quest to the public. Start off your journey delving into the making of Galaxy Quest with a foreword by the movie's director Dean Parisot as the beginning of the book.

Inspired by Star Trek actors who seemed forever type cast into their role, David Howard an office temp by day and aspiring writer by night who moved to California with the dream of making it big in Hollywood penned a screenplay called "Captain Starshine." It was the story of "a guy hopelessly mired in the role of being a sci-fi hero." The chance of his script being picked up by a Hollywood studio was 1 in 10,000 but five years later his story now named "Galaxy Quest" was showing on movie theater screens around the world and featured a stellar cast that included Tim Allen, Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver and Tony Shalhoub.

Your chance to learn more about this fantastic story is much better than 1 in 10,000 if you enter to win a copy of Galaxy Quest: The Inside Story from a Geek Daddy. Simply complete the rafflecopter entries below before 11:59 pm ET on Sunday, October 24, 2021. Must be a United States resident over 18 years old to participate in this promotion. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fortunately for Galaxy Quest fans, Howard's script caught the attention of fledgling Hollywood studio Dream Works which was looking for family-friendly stories that would capture the attention and dollars of movie goers. Steven Spielberg who was moving beyond directing to executive producing films for Dream Works was captivated by the concept of "Captain Starshine" and greenlighted the project. Two years later Galaxy Quest was on the silver screen.

Galaxy Quest: The Inside Story includes over 60 interviews with the movie's cast and crew, including Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Sam Rockwell and Dean Parisot as well as previously unpublished photos and concept art from the film's production. It also provides an in-depth look into the film's audio and visual effects. Artists at ILM and Stan Winston Studio share with readers how a mixture of miniatures, puppets, prosthetics and CGI brought to life the incredible monsters and starships of Galaxy Quest.

This book earned a Geek Daddy nod of approval because of the amazing content it is chock full of. Inside stories about last minute changes to the script, behind-the-scenes pictures of modelers creating the Protector, artwork that inspired the costumes and sets used in filming are just a few of the topics covered in this wonderful book. Whether you are a movie buff or a science fiction junkie, Galaxy Quest: The Inside Story provides an insightful look into the making of a fantastic movie. 

Buy Galaxy Quest: The Inside Story utilizing a Geek Daddy affiliate link and this blogger will receive a small commission at no additional expense to your purchase. Commissions are reinvested into the blog to provide non-sponsored content to share with you. Your support of ageekdaddy.com is appreciated!

THE LITTLE PRINCE ANIMATED MOVIE

The beautifully animated adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s timeless story THE LITTLE PRINCE was recently released by Paramount Home Entertainment on Blu-ray and DVD for the first time. Featuring an all-star voice cast including Jeff Bridges, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, James Franco, Benicio Del Toro, Ricky Gervais, Albert Brooks, Paul Rudd, Mackenzie Foy, and Paul Giamatti, THE LITTLE PRINCE originally debuted in 2015 on Netflix followed by theatrical showings in 2016. It is rated PG for thematic elements with a runtime of 108 minutes.

From the director of Kung Fu Panda comes this critically acclaimed, re-imagined take on THE LITTLE PRINCE based upon Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s book of the same name. The heart of the film is “The Little Girl” (Mackenzie Foy), prepared by her mother (Rachel McAdams) for the very grown-up real-world. After her eccentric, kind-hearted neighbor, “The Aviator” (Jeff Bridges) introduces her to an extraordinary world where anything is possible, she learns of “The Little Prince" (Riley Osborne). And so begins the magical and emotional journey where one learns, amongst other things, it’s the human connections that matter most.

THE LITTLE PRINCE Blu-ray and DVD include a 25-minute featurette on the making of the film, as well as a music video for the song “Turnaround” by Camille. The Blu-ray additionally includes access to a Digital copy of the film. THE LITTLE PRINCE can be purchased on Blu-ray and DVD at Best Buy. Purchase the movie through a Geek Daddy affiliate link and this dad blogger will receive a small commission at no additional expense to you.

A Geek Daddy also has a Blu-ray of THE LITTLE PRINCE to giveaway courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment. For a chance to win it just complete the Rafflecopter entries below before 11:59 pm ET on Friday, March 5, 2021. Must be a United States resident over 18 years old to participate in this blog giveaway. Good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: MARS

  ** A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review**

Are you ready to blast off on a space adventure to Mars?  National Geographic's six-part television series MARS immerses you into a realistic representation of a futuristic mission to the red planet.  Academy Award-winning producers Brian Grazer and Ron Howard merge a sci-fi drama with an educational documentary by interspersing interviews with real life astronauts, engineers, scientists, and other space experts within a scripted fictional story about a journey to Mars. It's really well done!

If you missed watching MARS when it first aired on the National Geographic Channel last year, the series is now available to purchase on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital Download.  This show filled with incredibly informative segments about astronomy and space travel as well as a suspense filled adventurous tale really captured my family's imagination and was very entertaining to view.  Plus the home video edition also includes features such as a bonus episode (Before Mars: A Prequel), a behind-the-scenes documentary (Making Mars), and interviews with the cast and crew.

What would life be like on the first human colony on the fourth planet from the sun?  It would obviously be much different than life is here on Earth. Ask your kids what they think it would be like, share with them this informative fact sheet, and have some fun giving them a chance to fill out the form below where they can list what they would pack for their adventure.





Watch MARS together as a family and compare the astronauts experience in the show to what your kids though it would be like.  Since we saw the show, my kids have been interested in going outside to gaze for Mars in the night sky through a telescope and have wanted to learn more about how someone can actually become an astronaut.  If this National Geographic television series sparks the same interest about space travel in your kids as it has mine, you'll want to visit, makemarshome.com, which allows people to see if they have what it takes to be an astronaut for a Mars mission through an interactive online experience.

The television series, based upon the book How We'll Live On Mars (2015) by Stephen Petranek, tells the story of a multi-national effort to send astronauts to explore Mars set in 2037.  It revolves around the crew of the Daedalus, which includes mission commander Ben Sawyer (American), systems engineer Hana Seung (American), physician Amelie Durand (French), roboticist Robert Foucault (Nigerian), geochemist Javier Delgado (Spanish), and geologist Marta Kamen (Russian), who will be the first people to set foot on Mars.  As they engage in their adventure, viewers are shown flashbacks of the characters preparing for the mission from four years before lift off.  Interview segments with actual modern day experts are also incorporated into the fictional story explaining how today's technology will be utilized or enhanced to make such a mission feasible in the future.

In the first episode, as the Daedalus prepares to land on Mars a critical system on the space ship malfunctions.  Attempting to avert a disaster, the mission commander is critically injured.  While Commander Sawyer's efforts get his crew's boots on the ground, they find themselves 75 kilometers away from where automated rockets from Earth had previously dropped supplies waiting for them.  How will they survive with limited resources and no easy way to get to their planned landing site where all their vital supplies are stored?  And how do they treat Sawyer's serious injuries when the closest hospital is more than 200 million kilometers away?  You'll have to start watching to find out!  Be aware though that there are life and death situations impacting the crew of the Daedalus so parents should take some discretion about whether the show is suitable for their children to watch based upon that.  It was fine for my 8 year old twins to watch but every child is unique.

If you want to learn even more about Mars, National Geographic has also published a companion book to the television series.  MARS -- OUR FUTURE ON THE RED PLANET is a wonderful 288 page hardcover book filled with 200 color illustrations and photographs.  The book combines science, technology, photography, and art to illuminate how Mars is the next frontier in space exploration.

Thanks to National Geographic you can now explore Mars without the hassle of traveling a million miles to get there.  Let MARS spark your family's imagination and curiosity about space exploration, science, and technology.

 
For more information about the television series, visit: channel.nationalgeographic.com/mars

Win a BLAZE & THE MONSTER MACHINES + PAW PATROL Book/DVD Gift Set Courtesy of Nickelodeon

Two of Nickelodeon's most popular TV shows for preschoolers are returning to DVD included in fun gift sets that are sure to delight kids.  First, race into action with Blaze and The Monster Machines: Blaze of Glory, Nickelodeon's STEM (Science Technology, Engineering & Math) focused animated series with an auto racing / monster truck theme to it.  The Blaze and The Monster Machines gift set includes a DVD features a mini-movie and a bonus episode from the television show, plus a book portraying an adventure with the characters from the show.  Join AJ as he drives monster truck Blaze through super-charged STEM adventures as they try to beat their rival Crusher in the cartoons contained on the DVD and illustrated pages of the included book of this gift set.

The pups of  PAW Patrol also have their own gift set out now from Nickelodeon as well.  The PAW PATROL animated television series follows the high-stakes adventures of a team of four-legged heroes who protect the residents of the Adventure Bay community.  This gift set includes an Itty Bitty Kitty Little Golden Book along with a DVD containing five episodes of the TV series.

Nickelodeon has provided A Geek Daddy with each of these Book/DVD gift sets to giveaway to one lucky winner.  For your chance to win just follow the instructions below in the rafflecopter form.  The giveaway starts on February 17 and ending at 11:59 pm ET on March 3, 2017.  Nickelodeon will be responsible for delivery of the prize to the randomly selected winner.  Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Welcome to the For the Win Giveaway Hop brought to you by The Hopping Bloggers!

Hosted By: Mama Smith's & Women and Their Pretties

Each giveaway has a value of a minimum of $15, however some are worth much more. Be sure to enter to win all of them because there is no limit to how many you can win. GOOD LUCK!

Super Amazing Princess Heroes -- The Gift of Gift

Just in time for the holidays, there is a new Super Amazing Princess Heroes children’s picture book out titled, “The Gift of Gift”, which highlights girl empowerment, diversity, and a heartwarming adventure in Africa. It is available now at bookstores around the United States and online retailers as well as at libraries across the country.  Proceeds from the book will be shared with World Children’s Initiative, a non-profit organization that built a heart center in Uganda, which was the first facility of its type on the African continent. The Super Amazing Princess Heroes stories feature three wonderful girls who discover magical tiaras that transform them into princesses with super powers.

A tale of compassion, heroism and visionary thinking, "The Gift of Gift" features the three main Super Amazing Princess Heroes – Kinney, Oceana, and Sammie – who learn that one of their Ugandan friends, a wonderful girl named Gift, is sick with a heart condition. The girls spring into action and help build a heart hospital in Uganda. Gift not only becomes healthy, but also receives another very special transformation, as she becomes a new Super Amazing Princess Hero with the power of healing.

The book was illustrated by Sedi Pak, a Los Angeles-based fine artist and sculptor. With an innovative approach to children’s books, she painted the scenes on birch plywood panels, which gives the vibrant illustrations an underlying wood grain that is full of warmth. Sanjay Nambiar, the book’s award-winning author and creator of the Super Amazing Princess Heroes, is a dad of identical twin daughters who wanted to create a literary series that inspires and empowers young girls. Check out A Geek Daddy's review of his first book that provided the origin story for his girl heroines by clicking here.

“The Gift of Gift” is the result of a special partnership with World Children’s Initiative (WCI), which built a hospital in Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami as well as the African heart center depicted in "The Gift of Gift". The title character in the story was inspired by a real-life girl named Gift, who was WCI’s first heart patient in Uganda. Proceeds from the book will be shared with WCI, while Pak and Nambiar provided their services pro bono for the project.

“This special book embraces girl empowerment and diversity while reminding girls that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to,” author Sanjay Nambiar shared with A Geek Daddy. “We’re very honored to collaborate with WCI for this project and share proceeds with them. This unique book has the potential to entertain and inspire people around the globe.”

For more information about "The Gift of Gift" or the Super Amazing Princess Heroes, please visit www.superprincessheroes.com

THE ART OF MISS PEREGRINES HOME OF PECULIAR CHILDREN

 ** A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review**

It is PECULIAR DAY and 20th Century Fox surprised me today by sending a courtesy edition of "The Art of Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children" my way.  They obviously want to encourage me to #StayPeculiar !!!  This wonderful 192 page hardcover book provides a great behind-the-scenes look at how Tim Burton's film adaptation of the Ransom Riggs novel Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children all came together. The book chronicles the steps involved with the making the movie ranging from from script development and concept art creation to the efforts put into casting, set design, costumes, and visual effects.

 "The Art of Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children" is filled with exclusive interviews, on-set photography, and also includes special introductions by Tim Burton and Ransom Riggs.  I always enjoy checking out movie concept art and the book is also filled with great illustrations that were used to inspire how the costumes and sets for Tim Burton's Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children would be portrayed in the film.  Here is one of my favorite concept art illustrations contained within the book:

 Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a PG-13 rated fantasy adventure film directed by Tim Burton and scripted by Jane Goldman based upon the 2011 novel of the same name by author Ransom Riggs which 20th Century Fox is releasing at movie theaters across the USA on September 30, 2016.  In the film, a 16-year old boy named Jake follows a series of clues that he discovers after a family tragedy which lead him to a mysterious orphanage on a remote Welsh island.  There he discovers a community of children with unusual abilities and learns he is destined to protect them. The movie stars Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Chris O'Dowd, Allison Janney, Rupert Everett, Terence Stamp, Ella Purnell, Judi Dench and Samuel L. Jackson.



For more information about the movie, please visit www.facebook.com/PeregrinesMovie

MONKEY BUSINESS: The Story of George's Curious Creators - Hans & Margret Rey

Curious George has been a part of my life as long as I can remember.  The stories of this mischievous monkey were one of my favorite bedtime stories when I was young and now that I'm a parent the book holds an important spot on my children's bookshelf because my kids love the adventures of Curious George just as much as I did at their age.  I've looked at the covers and flipped through the pages of Curious George books more times than I can count, but I honestly couldn't tell you anything about his creators Hans and Margret Rey.  An upcoming film maker named Ema Ryan Yamazki thinks that it is a shame that so many people enjoy the adventures of George but know so little about the remarkable lives of the husband and wife creative duo who created the children's books featuring the curious little monkey so she is creating a documentary telling the story of Hans and Margret Rey.



To help share Hans and Margret Rey's story with the world, Yamazki is asking for help in financing the completion of her documentary, MONKEY BUSINESS, through a KICKSTARTER campaign. In addition to helping fund a wonderful documentary, supporters of the campaign also will receive thank you gifts depending on their level of contribution that include timeless original Hans Rey prints on items ranging from t-shirts, tote bags and coffee mugs to Curious George inspired kites and beach balls.  Whether you can contribute $5 or $5,000 every dollar helps in bringing this documentary to fruition.

Hans was living in Paris, France with his wife Margret in the late 1930s working as a cartoonist for a newspaper.  A publisher enjoyed Hans' cartoons of wild animals and asked him to create a children's book featuring them.  While the book that resulted Raffy and the Nine Monkeys wasn't very successful it did prompt Margret to begin working with Hans on a standalone book featuring one of its mischievous monkeys named Curious George.  The Reys had just finished their manuscript for Curious George which involved Margret writing the text and Hans providing the illustrations, when the Nazis invaded France.

As German Jews living in Paris, the Reys knew they were in danger if they stayed in France.  Hans cobbled together two bicycles from spare parts and on the morning of June 14, 1940 the Reys fled the city with only warm coats, some food, and the manuscript for Curious George.  The Nazi army entered Paris just a few hours after Hans and Margret had departed heading to Spain.  Making their way to Brazil, they founded Rio de Janeiro's first advertising agency and also had Curious George published in 1941.

The Reys eventually moved to the United States to focus on a career as children's book authors producing six more Curious George stories between 1947 and 1966. The Rey's final story, Curious George Goes to the Hospital, was written after representatives from Boston Children's Hospital contacted the couple asking if they could write a book to help prepare children for a hospital stay.  Apparently, the Reys took a lot of satisfaction from this book because parents would frequently write to them thanking it for easing a child's hospital visit.

In creating MONKEY BUSINESS, Yamazki discovered that astonishing details documenting the Rey's escape from Paris and their lives as children's book authors had been carefully preserved in more than 300 boxes of materials stored at the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi.  These included Hans' wartime journals, photographs taken by Margret, unpublished George sketches, brainstorming notes, and letters to and from the book's publisher.  With the cooperation of the Rey Estate, MONKEY BUSINESS provides a "behind-the-scenes glimpse of how Curious George came to be.

One of the aspects of the documentary that really impresses me is how MONKEY BUSINESS transforms portions of it into animated sequences that mimic the style of Hans' Curious George illustrations.  I found it to be a touching tribute witnessing Hans and Margret both in real life photographs and how they would have appeared if transformed into the pages of one of their books.  MONKEY BUSINESS combines animated sequences that are integrated with archived material from the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection  and interviews of people who knew the Reys personally or have studied the couple's artistic and literary accomplishments.   Add in a narrator and graphical elements like page turns and MONKEY BUSINESS promises to evoke the feeling of flipping through the pages of a Curious George book.

2016 is the 75th anniversary of the original publication of Curious George.  Bringing MONKEY BUSINESS to completion would be a wonderful way to celebrate this milestone year for a character who has meant so much to so many people since his inception in 1941.  Let's help share the story of how this curious monkey came to be by supporting Ema Ryan Yamazki's KICKSTARTER campaign today. CLICK HERE to make a contribution to support MONKEY BUSINESS.

2nd & Charles: Harry Potter Midnight Book Release Party

2nd & Charles, a retail chain which specializes in trading and selling books, audio books, CDs, DVDs, and video games, isn't waiting for its newest Metro Detroit location to officially open to welcome visitors.  While its brand new Utica, Michigan location's grand opening isn't until Saturday, August 6th, the store will be hosting a special countdown celebration this weekend for the release of the book formated script of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child -- Parts I & II," the theatrical eighth installment of JK Rowling's series that delves into the wizarding world.

From 2 pm to 9 pm on Saturday, July 30, 2016 visitors to the new 2nd & Charles store located in the Utica Park shopping center at 45290 Utica Park Blvd. can take a photographic journey throughout the store for a Harry Potter-themed scavenger hunt.  The official countdown party begins at 9 pm featuring a Sorting Hat ceremony for guests to discover their Hogwarts house perfect pairing.  Every half hour leading up to the midnight book release, visitors can join in the various interactive activity stations leading up to the midnight release of the book compilation of the "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child -- Parts I & II" theatrical script.  Special activities will include face painting, a coloring station, Harry Potter trivia and a wand-making session.

Beginning at 11 pm, Harry Potter fans are encouraged to don their best Hogwarts robes with brooms and wants in tow for a costume contest.  You can also register to win an ultimate Harry Potter prize pack while you are at this event; plus while supplies last attendees will receive and exclusive swag bag filled with enchanted Harry Potter-themed goodies!  When the clock ticks midnight, the newest edition of the Harry Potter saga will be available to purchase.  Are you going to be going out to get a copy of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child -- Parts I & II" during the Witching Hour?

If you don't live near Macomb County, Michigan's M-59 shopping corridor, 2nd and Charles has locations throughout the United States holding similar events.  CLICK HERE to find out if there is a location near you and contact the store to see if they are hosting a Harry Potter Midnight Book Release Party on Saturday, July 30th.  You can also arrange to pre-order the book from these stores and submit your voucher in an express lane to quickly pick up your book at 12:01 am.

For more information about the new 2nd & Charles location in Utica, Michigan, visit 2ndandcharles.com/locations/utica-mi. This will be the second location in Metro Detroit for the eclectic retailer joining a store near Great Lakes Crossing Outlet Mall in Auburn Hills.  2nd & Charles draws a diverse audience of gamer fanatics, pop culture junkies, movie buffs, and bookworms that are drawn to the 300,000+ items that are available from more than three miles of stocked shelf space at each store.  Whether it is a classic vinyl record, used video games, collectible toys, or a brand new Harry Potter book, 2nd & Charles has something for most everyone no matter his or her age or interests.  Check them out and see for yourself!

Have a Brightly Summer

For most family's with school-aged children a summer break filled with fun activities has begun.  Unfortunately, one fun activity that is often neglected over the summer months is reading which often leads to kids regressing in their literary capabilities which were developed over the previous school year.  I've discovered a nice resource that supports parents in helping their children avoid the "summer slide" with a variety of online articles, tips, and resources.  BRIGHTLY (www.readbrightly.com) provides free downloadable SUMMER READING FUN PACKS specifically designed for Preschoolers (3-5 years old), Growing Readers (6-8 years old) and Tweens (9-12 years old).  A resource of Penguin Random House, BRIGHTLY also offers summer reading book suggestions for every age group from Preschool through High School with a few ideas that mom and dad might enjoy themselves too.

BRIGHTLY sent A Geek Daddy a complimentary care pack to help my kids avoid the summer slide consisting of a nice tote bag filled with a GROWING READER - SUMMER READING FUN PACK and some age appropriate books for my 7 year old twins to enjoy.  Summer reading is going to be an important focus for my kids over the next few months and I hope our readers will make it a priority for the children in their lives too.  To help one lucky A Geek Daddy blog reader or social media follower accomplish that goal, BRIGHTLY has also provided a Summer Reading Prize Pack for us to giveaway that will include an age appropriate Summer Reading Fun Pack and a Penguin Random House book selection based upon the gender and age of a child the winner selects.

Follow @Geekdad248 and RT by July 5 for chance to win a @ReadBrightly Children's Summer Reading Prize Pack #ad pic.twitter.com/MbpTF5FmiK

— A Geek Daddy (@GeekDad248) June 29, 2016

To be eligible for this giveaway you must follow @Geekdad248 on Twitter and retweet our original contest tweet embedded above before July 5, 2016 @ 11:59 pm EST.  Must be a US  resident over the age of 18 to participate.  One entry per person and we'll randomly select a winner from all eligible entries.

BRIGHTLY can be a valuable resource for parents to help their children avoid learning loss over the summer, but it is also filled with great information on a wide variety of subjects that can be utilized throughout the year to help promote with kids a life-long interest in reading.  As a fan of comic books who enjoys sharing my enjoyment of them with my son and daughter, I appreciated the site's article "8 Graphic Novels Tween Girls Can't Get Enough Of" encouraging female readers to check out the medium and "7 Graphic Novels Elementary Schoolers Love" to promote comics with young readers.  I also appreciated the site's outreach to dad's with articles like "5 Things I Never Expected to Love About Being a Dad."  BRIGHTLY is filled with author essays, informational articles, and more that are meant to be helpful for moms and dads in making their way through that grand adventure know as parenting.  It is also full of activities that are educational and entertaining at the same time such as their Family Book Club and a variety of printable activity sheets to help parents get their children to embrace reading as an interesting and enjoyable activity that they want to do rather than be forced to.

The current BRIGHTLY Family Book Club selection is The BFG to commemorate 2016 being the 100th anniversary of the author's birth, Roald Dahl passed away in 1990, and to tie-in to the excitement of Disney's summer movie based upon the children's book about a Giant and the orphaned girl he befriends.  This section of the BRIGHTLY site includes suggestions for activities, crafts, snacks, and games with a The BFG theme plus group discussion questions for parents to engage in with their kids after the whole family has read the book.

Check out readbrightly.com as it really is a brilliantly useful resource for moms and dads.

Disclaimer & Rules / FTC Notice:  A Geek Daddy Blog will be responsible for selecting the winner of this contest, but Penguin Random House is responsible for fulfillment and delivery of the prize. By participating in this contest you waive any liability towards A Geek Daddy Blog or its publisher that may arise from your involvement with this promotion. A Geek Daddy Blog hosted this contest and blog post based upon Penguin Random House providing the prize to the selected winner. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. Must be a US resident over 18 years old.  If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Prize will be delivered by UPS or FedEx so no P.O. Boxes are allowed as mailing addresses. A Geek Daddy Blog is hosting this giveaway as a benefit to our readers.  A Geek Daddy Blog did not receive any financial compensation for publishing this post but did receive one of the prizes for personal use.

The Spinfords

 ** A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review**

As my children have begun reading on their own we've switched up the bedtime story routine.  Now instead of my simply reading a story to them before they go to sleep, one night I'll read a story to my daughter than move over to my son's room where he reads one to me.  We alternate the next evening with my reading a story to my son than my daughter reads one to me.  The last few nights I've read to each of my twins the children's book THE SPINFORDS written by AnnMarie Martin and illustrated by Stevie Hannigan then they've each taken turns reading it back to me on different evenings when it was their turn to read aloud at bedtime.  When it comes to THE SPINFORDS, readers learn that you can't always teach a new spider old tricks ... and that is OK!

In the story, the Spinford family is a group of spiders who have for generations performed a circus act where they spin beautiful webs portraying images of creatures and landscapes.  They've been doing the same old routine for years but still continue to have big audiences attend the circus every night.  When their youngest son, Salvatore, joins the act though he doesn't want recreate the classic images the family is known for producing but rather wants to impress audiences by creating webs featuring intricate abstract and geometric patterns.  The family becomes angered and embarrassed that Salvatore is straying away from their old tricks that are a proven success bringing Salvatore to tears.

With the help of his grandfather and cousin, Salvatore obtains the confidence to show off his unorthodox webs by providing a surprise closing act at one of the Spinford's shows.  At first his parents and siblings are horrified at the spectacle that Salvatore is putting on, but then notice that the audience is amazed by the unusual web designs that the young spider is creating before them.  The spiders realize that just because someone may do something in another way than they normally do it doesn't make him or her wrong or bad...just different.

The book does a nice job of promoting the value of self-confidence and teaching children that just as every spider web is unique so is each person which is a wonderful and beautiful thing.  It encourages youth to embrace their uniqueness to take pride in themselves and aspire towards making the world a better place.  Salvatore's experience imparts upon children the importance of having the confidence to be yourself no matter what.

THE SPINFORDS also highlights the value of embracing diversity and tolerance towards new ideas and ways of doing things within our society.  For children, fitting in to the uniformity of your friends and family is often a very big deal.  Any parent has probably witnessed this in the most basic sense of a child trying to decide what clothes to wear to school or when going out with friends so they fit in and feel comfortable around their peers.  It is easy to forget as adults how strong the pressure to not be different can be as a child. THE SPINFORDS shows children who may be confronted with much more significant circumstances where they are different from others around them because of race, gender, religion, disability, physical features or a variety of other factors that being different is nothing to be ashamed of.  It also reminds us all, parents and kids alike, that providing empathy and encouragement to others is important because as author Ann Marie Martin wonderfully puts it "we all need some help weaving our own webs sometimes."

THE SPINFORDS is available to purchase on Amazon.  For more information about the book, please visit www.thespinfords.com.  Also have some fun with a special child in your life creating his or her own unique Salvatore with this coloring page.

The Ultimate Book of Dad Jokes

** A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free **

I'm often cracking jokes with my buddies from the Life of Dad social network so the nice folks over at Ulysses Press thought I was the perfect person to send Gordon Hideaki Nagai's new book to.  Much like the jokes I tell, the 1,001 puns in THE ULTIMATE BOOK OF DAD JOKES will have audiences rolling their eyes and groaning "oh no another dad joke" while they also chuckle and laugh as they hear these fun puns.  These aren't jokes about dad but rather the one-liners and clever quips that children, young and old, associate with fathers like A Geek Daddy.

A watermelon and a honeydew wanted to get married right away but they cantaloupe

Charles Schulz once considered becoming an auto mechanic so he could car toon.

A child's behavior before Christmas is usually affected by the laws of Claus-and-effect.

These are just a few examples contained within the books 10 chapters that have themes including Animals & Nature, Famous Names & Events, and Science, Math & Technology among other topics.  THE ULTIMATE BOOK OF DAD JOKES contains 238 pages of jokes that the author has created to amuse his four grandchildren after they challenged him to tell the "world's worst joke."  A lover of puns, Nagai refers to them as "dad jokes" because of the tendency of father figures to play with words in an attempt to tickle people's funny bones.

"This anthology is a tribute to and celebration of all fathers who contribute to the mirth quotient in our world, who share their jokes to make us laugh without considering the consequences, who dare to spin a yarn or turn a phrase, and in the process, mangle the English language for a chuckle," explains Nagai.  "Being one of those fathers I can tell you, we do this because we can; we do it because we have to; we share our jokes because we can't help ourselves -- it's in our DNA."

Be warned I am now armed with plenty of ammunition to tell a dad joke in any situation! You can grab your own book at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.  Let the pun dueling commence!

100 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GROW UP

How to build an awesome pillow fort, pack a suitcase like a pro, do a card trick, start a campfire, and throw a softball or baseball are just a handful of the useful things kids will discover in 100 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GROW UP. This 256 page soft-cover book from National Geographic KiDS is filled with informative facts, interesting how-tos, inspirational quotes, educational tips and helpful hints to help overcome the misses, messes, and sticky situations that everyone encounters as they grow up. 100 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GROW UP combines cool pictures and diagrams with interesting topics and useful advice that young audiences can relate to which helps make learning fun for them. The book's 100 tips focus on the themes of attitude, skills, and knowledge to help readers have useful information to assist with being the "best version of YOU." Whether it is dealing with tough times like recovering from embarrassment, knowing what to do in a life-threatening emergency, or understanding practical skills like wrapping a present, National Geographic KiDS 100 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GROW UP is chock-full of useful tidbits to help get through the awkwardness, uncertainties and unknowns that all youth experience growing up.

I remember moving to a new city and switching schools as a shy and bashful tween. One of the boys in my new school really went out of his way to make me feel welcome and help me fit in. Unfortunately, with meeting so many new people in a big school and getting adjusted to the new locale, I'm ashamed to say I had trouble remembering his name in those first few days. My dad worked with his mom and asked me if I had met him yet and I didn't recognize the name and said no. A few days later that kid got angry with me at school asking why my parent told his mom that we weren't friends. While I honestly apologized and admitted that I hadn't remembered his name unfortunately he was never really that friendly with me again from that point on. Since then I've always made remembering names a priority and as a parent emphasize that as an important thing for my kids to do. So I was impressed that Tip #42 in 100 THINKS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GROW UP is "How to remember someone's name" which is an important aspect of life for both kids and adults to have a good grasp on.

A friend of mine told me about an incident where his son, who is active in the Boy Scouts, was out to eat at a restaurant one evening when an elderly woman began choking. People began noticing and anxiety filled the room as no one seemed to know what to do. His twelve year old son rushed past a crowd of adults staring at the situation in bewilderment and performed the Heimlich Maneuver saving this lady's life. What would you or your kids do if they found themselves in this situation? Tip #4 spells out how to help someone who is choking.

You never know when you may need to tie a good knot but at some point in your life there will be a moment in which that skill will be really useful to have.  Tip #13 shows readers how to tie three basic knots: the Bowline, Square Knot, and Sheet Bend.

In addition to charts, pictures and diagrams like the ones pictured above that demonstrate important skills to have, 100 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GROW UP incorporates experts giving their advice on how to get things done. Nathan Odom the 13 year old winner of the FOX cooking competition television show, MasterChef Junior shares recipes for baking cookies; Jimmy Thai from Toastmasters International provides advice on public speaking; professional organizer Barry Izsak explains how to pack a suitcase; and astronomer Knicole Colon provides her list of 3 must-see planets viewable through a telescope. These are just a few of the experts and explorers that provide their 2-cents on various topics throughout the book.

Designed with the same youthful vibe as the publication style of National Geographic KiDS Magazine, this compact sized book is easy to store around the house and small enough to take along traveling making it an always handy option for a kids to reference when faced with a conundrum. 100 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GROW UP brings together motivational tools and  educational references with the goal of inspiring boys and girls ages 8 to 12 years old to be inquisitive about learning new things to help them become the best person they can be. Whether it is practical skills such as how to do laundry, pump up a bike tire and stay safe online; goofy stuff like learning to balance a spoon on your nose, coming up with the perfect secret hand shake, and teaching a pet a new trick; or inspirational insights such as how to say NO, dealing with jealousy, learning to be tolerant, responding to hurt feelings, and taking the perspective of looking on the bright side, the material in this book is a dependable source for kids to turn to for information that reinforces the lessons being taught to them by their parents and at school. We plan on keeping this book readily accessible for our own two kids because you never know what will spark a kid's interest and there is a lot of intellectual tinder in this book. Speaking of tinder, I also pulled the book out the other day for my own personal use because I'm notoriously bad at building camp fires so I wanted to check out Tip #17 before the summer weather gets here.

CLICK HERE for more information or to purchase 100 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GROW UP from the National Geographic online store.

A Geek Daddy is a member of the National Geographic Kids Insider blogger program. Insiders get a behind-the-scenes look at National Geographic’s resources, activities, content and projects for kids and families. They also review copies of books, magazines and toys, and are offered interviews with authors, explorers and editors. I do not receive any financial compensation for my participation as a National Geographic Kids Insider. #NGKInsider