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A Durable, Enjoyable, and (Gasp!) Affordable Microscope for Kids

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SmartLab Toys Indoor-Outdoor Microscope. Photo: Kelly Knox

SmartLab Toys Indoor-Outdoor Microscope. Photo: Kelly Knox

My daughter has been fascinated by peering into microscopes since she was in preschool, but with most selling for $50+, we’ve never had the extra funds to invest in one to have at home. So when I heard about the $20 microscope from SmartLab Toys that’s built to survive wear and tear both indoors and outdoors, I had to give it a try.

While the microscope doesn’t seem much more powerful than a magnifying glass, it’s more than enough to get her excited about discovering a whole new world we can’t see until we look through the lens.

Photo: Kelly Knox

Photo: Kelly Knox

The Indoor-Outdoor Microscope from SmartLab Toys magnifies at 40 times normal size. While it isn’t strong enough to see individual cells, it certainly is enough to astonish and delight little scientists seeing things like insect legs or a blade of grass up close for the first time. In fact, the microscope comes with four prepared slides, so the second you open the box, your kids can dive right in.

Blank slides and specimen containers are also included, so kids can run around the house or into the backyard to find anything their inquisitive hearts desire.

Photo: Kelly Knox

Setting up a blade of grass on a blank side. Photo: Kelly Knox

The microscope is made of plastic, which makes it more durable and easy to carry than a heavy glass and metal microscope—in fact, it’s so portable that we took the entire kit on vacation out of state. The microscope can be removed easily from the stand and used by itself to look at tree bark, the sidewalk, large rocks, and more.

The kit also comes with a colorful book, Up Close and Personal by Shar Levine, that includes suggestions for activities while inspiring genuine enthusiasm about science. My kindergartener was more than amused by looking at toilet paper up close, just one of many fun suggestions in the companion book.

Toilet paper up close. Photo: Kelly Knox

Toilet paper up close. Photo: Kelly Knox

Not only does my six-year-old enjoy finding new things to examine in the microscope, the fun is contagious; friends and grownups get into the hunt with just as much excitement. The recommended age is 8 and up, but all elementary-age kids can use the microscope with a grownup’s help.

The microscope comes with three LR-44 button cell batteries. When the time comes for you to switch them out, you can easily find affordable replacements on Amazon.com. It’s worth noting that the first microscope we received burnt out within minutes, presumably due to a faulty bulb as switching the batteries had no effect, but the replacement item has lasted for multiple uses.

SmartLab Toys is offering a special deal just for GeekMom readers. You can order the Indoor-Outdoor Microscope on the SmartLab Toys web site, and use the discount code SPRING15 for 25% off through 4/30/15! With such a fantastic deal on a STEM toy, it’s definitely worth giving it a try.

GeekMom received a promotional item for review purposes. 

The post A Durable, Enjoyable, and (Gasp!) Affordable Microscope for Kids appeared first on GeekMom.


Share ‘Star Wars’ Memories and Make New Ones with #MyStarWars

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Photo: Kelly Knox

Photo: Kelly Knox

The entire Star Wars film collection is out today on digital HD! This is a perfect opportunity to share your favorite memories of the saga with your kids and make new ones together.

© Disney / Lucasfilm

© Disney / Lucasfilm

My Star Wars memory that stands out more than any other was sitting in the movie theater for the first, original release of Return of the Jedi. While we were all staring enrapt at the screen as Paploo the Ewok steals the speederbike on Endor, suddenly the filmstrip broke! After a moment of shock, there were yells and tears from the kids in the crowd wondering what happened next. It’s one of my earliest memories, and I think of it every time I see that part in Episode VI.

Thanks to Disney, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Fox, my kindergartener and I have starting making fun new Star Wars memories together with this generous opportunity to open up a treasure chest of goodies from a galaxy far, far away.

Now that my daughter is older, we can take this chance to try to watch Episode IV as a family again. Fingers crossed for her attention span to finally make it through!

Do you have a favorite Star Wars memory? Share it on social media with #MyStarWars to join in the conversation!

Huge thanks to Disney, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Fox for this opportunity. GeekMom received promotional items for this post.

The post Share ‘Star Wars’ Memories and Make New Ones with #MyStarWars appeared first on GeekMom.

Movies and More For a Sensational ‘Star Wars’ Weekend

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Empire is going with me anywhere, even folding laundry. Photo: Kelly Knox

Empire is going with me everywhere, even folding laundry. Photo: Kelly Knox

With the Star Wars movies now in digital HD, are you making this a Star Wars weekend?

Thanks to Lucasfilm and Disney, I’m using the Google Play app on my phone to take The Empire Strikes Back with me everywhere I go. Over the years I’ve seen this film on everything from a filmstrip to VHS tape to laserdisc, but it’s just as stunning to watch it in the palm of my hand.

Star Wars Weekend

Photo: Kelly Knox

If you’re looking to do more than just watch the films this weekend, here are a few suggestions from the official Star Wars web site and beyond for more activities to make this (or any time) a complete Star Wars weekend for you and your family:

GeekMom received a promotional copy of The Empire Strikes Back on Google Play for the purpose of this post.

The post Movies and More For a Sensational ‘Star Wars’ Weekend appeared first on GeekMom.

Baking Bad: ‘Nutmeg’ From Action Lab Comics

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Nutmeg. Art by Jackie Crofts © Jackie Crofts and James F. Wright

Nutmeg, art by Jackie Crofts © Jackie Crofts and James F. Wright

Mix two parts Mean Girls, one part Breaking Bad, and a dash of Heavenly Creatures, and you might have something close to Nutmeg, out now from Action Lab Entertainment.

This unique book from writer James F. Wright and artist/colorist Jackie Crofts has grown from a modest Kickstarter campaign to a riveting 15-issue series now available on Comixology.

Nutmeg brings teen Cassia Caraway to a new school, where she quickly learns that mean girl Saffron Longfellow rules over all. Cassia isn’t afraid to stand up for herself, and when she does she gains a new friend: Poppy Pepper. Together the two hatch a plan to knock Saffron down a rung by sabotaging her upcoming bake sale. Can you take a guess which ingredient might play a big role in that?

The soft colors paired with a story of junior high BFFs taking on the school queen bee might make you assume this is an all-ages comic, but Nutmeg promises to head into darker territory as the girls begin a life of crime. (Be sure to check out the book yourself before passing it along to younger readers.)

I met the creative team at Emerald City Comicon this year, and I was immediately intrigued by the gorgeous art and their enthusiasm for the book. Recently I chatted with them a little more to learn more about Nutmeg, their inspiration, and more.

GeekMom: What is your target reader age?

Jackie Crofts: We tell people it’s around 11 and up, but it all depends on the reading level if it’s under that age. There isn’t anything too bad content-wise but we want readers to be able to relate to events in the book!

James F. Wright: We’re aiming for 11 and up, primarily. The main reason has less to do with concerns about specific content—there’s no sex or violence or bad language in the book (beyond what 13-year-old girls might say)—but rather because some of the things the girls experience in the book wouldn’t be as familiar to readers below that age.

Nutmeg: Taste Buddies (First Trade Paperback) © Action Lab Comics

Early Fall: Taste Buddies (First Trade Paperback) © Action Lab Entertainment

GM: How many issues will the series run?

Jackie: We’re doing 15 instead of 18 now so we don’t die! Haha. I completely trust what James has cooking up on the issues and how they break down and play out no matter how long the series is.

James: The original plan was for 18 issues, hahahaha… But then we remembered it’s just the two of us (for now) and we’ve adjusted accordingly. So now it’s looking like 15 issues for the full narrative. Our current release schedule is three issues monthly, followed by a trade paperback collecting those three issues.

GM: How did Nutmeg go from Kickstarter to Action Lab?

Jackie: We were originally posting pages online trying to get the word out about the book until we decided to do the Kickstarter. At that point we already had the first issue complete for some time so we were just kind of sitting on it. James brought to my attention that Jeremy Whitley, the writer for Action Lab’s Princeless, was looking for female artists to work on a book he was doing. I sent my stuff to him and I ended up doing a cover for Princeless: Tales of Girls Who Rock. It was an awesome opportunity especially since I hadn’t worked professionally in comics yet.

After that I kept in contact with Jeremy and as the Kickstarter went live he pushed the comic to a lot of places and vouched for us and we are so grateful for that! Fast forward a little later down the line and he asked if we needed a publisher and we were introduced to all the nice folks at Action Lab. We’ve been there ever since!

James: In 2013 Jackie got invited to show at Wizard World Portland for their January 2014 event, and they provided her with a free table. When that happened we made attending that show our focus for self-publishing the book. We’d already backed a few comics projects on Kickstarter and so we launched our own with a goal of printing 800 copies to take to shows, starting with Wizard World.

Jeremy Whitley has always been one of Jackie’s biggest supporters, and when he found out about the Kickstarter he helped get the ball rolling by sending out PDF review copies to a number of sites. And once we’d met, and then surpassed our goal, he helped get it into the hands of the folks at Action Lab. For which we are eternally grateful!

Nutmeg

© Action Lab Entertainment

GM: What inspired you to create a crime fiction set in a junior high school?

James: I was thinking about how it’s still pretty rare to see crime fiction stories with women in lead roles—they’re often relegated to wives or girlfriends or molls or mistresses—and how the world of teenagers seemed ripe for something like that with secrets and betrayals and in-fighting. Also, there have been a ton of teen detectives in fiction from Nancy Drew and Encyclopedia Brown to Veronica Mars and Rian Johnson’s Brick, but the focus has never (or rarely) been on the criminal side of that equation.

The only—and the first—thing that came to mind that addressed both criteria was Peter Jackson’s Heavenly Creatures, a portrait of teenage friendship and darkness. It’s one of my favorite movies and my own chief inspiration for Nutmeg (although our book does not go even remotely as dark as that film does).

GM: Was there a Saffron in your life growing up?

Jackie: I didn’t go to school with anyone that was just consistently a Saffron to me. There weren’t any kids that would seek out one person and bully them or anything, especially in elementary school and junior high. Those were all lumped into one school for me and I grew up going to a really small Catholic school with uniforms and all. If you were a jerk to someone, you’d have to deal with being around them all the time, everyone knowing your biz, and then most likely continuing into high school with them. Haha. Kids could be turds sometimes because that just happens, but no Saffrons.

James: You know, I don’t really think there was. My memory is pretty awful, but I didn’t have any notable enemies growing up. I did tend to have a single best friend a few times over the years, though, with whom I spent nearly all of my time. Like Poppy and Cassia.

Photo Courtesy James L. Wright and Jackie Crofts

Photo: Josh Eckert, Courtesy James L. Wright and Jackie Crofts

GM: What message do you hope readers will take away from the book?

Jackie: Maybe that things are tough for everyone, but that it will be okay. If you think that school is an embarrassing or awkward time for you, it probably is for everyone else around you too in one way or another. And if you take those experiences as a chance to grow and become your own person then you’ll be ready for shifting friendships, relationships, and life after school. You don’t ever really stop getting into awkward or embarrassing situations and you’ll still have relationships that grow, change, or fade away and the great part is that the opportunity to keep growing as a person never really stops.

James: Oof. That’s a tough one. I think if readers take anything from Nutmeg it’s that junior high and growing up are hard for everyone. Nobody escapes adolescence unscathed, and as difficult as it can be, finding your own place in that world is so important to making it.

Oh, and that crime doesn’t pay as well as you’d think.

The post Baking Bad: ‘Nutmeg’ From Action Lab Comics appeared first on GeekMom.

Live Every Week Like It’s Shark Week With ‘Wild Kratts’

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© PBS Kids

“Speaking Dolphinese” © PBS Kids

The Wild Kratts are back with more creature adventures, this time submerging beneath the waves to discover the secrets of great white sharks, giant octopi, sea turtles, and dolphins. Pair the new DVD, Wild Kratts: Shark-tastic! with the early reader book Wild Sea Creatures: Sharks, Whales, and Dolphins, and you’ve got your mini marine biologist (or future Sharknado fan) ready to dive in for some wild adventures with the Kratt brothers.

Shark-tasticChris and Martin Kratt blend real life looks at animals of all types with fantastic escapades out in the wild in their animated form. When they don their creature power suits created by their friend Aviva, the brothers can utilize many of the amazing abilities of the animals they’re investigating.

In the new collection, out today from PBS Kids, there are four aquatic adventures for kids to enjoy. “Octopus Wildkratticus” is more of an outlandish story than usual for the Kratt brothers, as a Pacific octopus mistakenly uses the creature power suits to take on a shark, but it is educational nonetheless. “Tortuga Tune Up” features enthusiastic engineer Aviva hard at work on the team’s HQ. “Speaking Dolphinese” and “Stuck on Sharks” both take Chris and Martin into the deep sea where they encounter—you guessed it–sharks in their natural habitats.

Every episode of Wild Kratts is full of excitement and humor, and I’m a fan of the diverse team that always works together to keep creatures “free and in the wild.” Kids of almost every age will get a kick out of the Kratt brothers and learn something new in each episode.

The Step Into Reading book Wild Sea Creatures: Sharks, Whales, and Dolphins! from Random House is more information than narrative, but young fans of the show will enjoy seeing it presented in typical fashion by Chris and Martin. Parents reading along will probably even learn a thing or two about creatures that dwell on the ocean floor. (Yeti crab, who knew that was a real animal?)

If your child is already a big fan of animals, chances are they’re already fans of the Wild Kratts. If not, this 60 minute collection and science reader are a great way to teach them about the natural world around us.

GeekMom received promotional copies for review purposes.

The post Live Every Week Like It’s Shark Week With ‘Wild Kratts’ appeared first on GeekMom.

Crafters, Assemble! Make Your Own Captain America Bulletin Board

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Photo: Kelly Knox

Photo: Kelly Knox

It might not be made of vibranium, but your kids will love having Captain America’s shield hanging on their wall nonetheless! With just a few inexpensive items from your local craft store, you can turn a small round cork board into a shield that will always catch your kids’ attention.

Thanks to a sale at Michael’s, I found everything I needed for this project for less than five dollars total.

What You Need

Captain America Bulletin Board

  • Round cork board, approximately 7″ (available at Michael’s)
  • White star (wood or paper), approximately 3.5″
  • Red, white, and blue acrylic paint
  • Paint brush
  • Hot glue gun
  • Twine and thumbtacks or sticky Velcro strips

Get Crafting!

Start by drawing a circle the same diameter as your white star in the middle of the cork board. If you’d like to use a template, take the opportunity to encourage the kids to go on a quick scavenger hunt around the house for circles you could trace. Trace or freehand two more circles so that the stripes are approximately half an inch apart.

Once your lines are lightly traced, begin by painting the middle circle blue.

Captain America Bulletin Board

A coaster and bowl served as my templates. Photo: Kelly Knox

Allow the blue paint to dry completely. Next, paint the two red stripes, keeping the middle stripe free of paint. Paint the outside stripe along the edge of the cork board. Allow the red paint to dry completely.

Finally, paint the middle stripe white, and let it dry.

Next, hot glue the white star into the center of the blue circle.

Captain America Bulletin Board

Photo: Kelly Knox

Once the paint is dry and the hot glue has cooled, flip the cork board over. To hang the board, you can use Velcro strips on the wall, but I’ve had varying success getting those to stick well to cork board. The board is even small enough to glue magnets to and stick on the refrigerator.

You can also take two thumb tacks, and press them lightly in the middle of the board. Tie a string (at least 4″ in length) on the pin of each tack, and then press them in completely. Tie the two strings together.

Captain America Cork Board

Photo: Kelly Knox

The bulletin board is now ready to hang on the wall! Pin reminders, homework, and more on your new star-spangled bulletin board.

For more Marvel-themed family crafts, check out my She-Hulk clothespin doll and Squirrel Girl TP roll doll!

The post Crafters, Assemble! Make Your Own Captain America Bulletin Board appeared first on GeekMom.

Exclusive! July is ‘Teen Titans Go!’ Variant Covers Month

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© Cartoon Network / DC Comics

© Cartoon Network / DC Comics

In recent months, DC Comics has been choosing monthly themes for the variant covers of their ongoing titles. As a parent to a six-year-old who regularly sings the “Waffles” song, I’m excited to announce the variant cover theme for select July books will be Teen Titans Go!

Here’s a list of all Teen Titans Go! themed issues for July 2015, and an exclusive reveal of three covers: Teen Titans #10 by Ben Caldwell, Gotham Academy #8 by Sean Galloway, and The Flash #42 by Jorge Corona.

Titans, GO!

Themed Variants – Teen Titans Go!

  • Action Comics #42 by Dan Hipp
  • Aquaman #42 by Craig Rousseau
  • Batman #42 by Dan Hipp
  • Batman/Superman #22 by Dan Hipp
  • Catwoman #42 by Ben Caldwell
  • Deathstroke #8 by Sean Galloway
  • Detective Comics #42 by Dan Hipp
  • Gotham Academy #8 by Sean Galloway
  • Gotham by Midnight #7 by Sean Galloway
  • Grayson #10 by Sean Galloway
  • Green Arrow #42 by Craig Rousseau
  • Green Lantern #42 by Jorge Corona
  • Harley Quinn #18 by Ben Caldwell
  • Justice League #42 by Dan Hipp
  • Justice League of America #2 by Craig Rousseau
  • New Suicide Squad #10 by Craig Rousseau
  • Secret Six #4 by Sean Galloway
  • Sinestro #13 by Jorge Corona
  • Superman #42 by Jorge Corona
  • Superman/Wonder Woman #19 by Sean Galloway
  • Teen Titans #10 by Ben Caldwell
  • The Flash #42 by Jorge Corona
  • Wonder Woman #42 Ben Caldwell
THE FLASH #42 by Jorge Corona © DC Comics

THE FLASH #42 by Jorge Corona © DC Comics

GOTHAM ACADEMY #8 by Sean Galloway © DC Comics

GOTHAM ACADEMY #8 by Sean Galloway © DC Comics

TEEN TITANS #10 by Ben Caldwell © DC Comics

TEEN TITANS #10 by Ben Caldwell © DC Comics

 

The post Exclusive! July is ‘Teen Titans Go!’ Variant Covers Month appeared first on GeekMom.

Darth Vader Menaces ‘Star Wars Rebels’ in This Sneak Peek

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Star Wars Rebels © Disney / Lucasfilm

Star Wars Rebels © Disney / Lucasfilm

And here I thought only the new The Force Awakens teaser was the only trailer from Star Wars Celebration that would have me cheering at the screen.

Disney and Lucasfilm also debuted a sneak peek at Star Wars Rebels season 2 this weekend, and suddenly the new season can’t get here fast enough.

Warning: Major spoilers if you haven’t seen the first season finale.

Not only are there fan favorite characters from The Clone Wars making an appearance, Sarah Michelle Gellar will play a major role in the new season—although her character remains a mystery.

Star Wars Rebels returns this summer to Disney XD with a two-hour event, followed by all new episodes in the fall.

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‘DC Super Hero Girls’ Take Flight This Fall

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DC Super Hero Girls

© DC Comics

If the squeals of my daughter and her 7-year-old BFF are any indication, DC Comics is on the right track with DC Super Hero Girls.

Yesterday DC Comics announced the creation of a super hero line of merchandise and media targeted at girls ages 6-12. DC Super Hero Girls, featuring a diverse mix of characters both well-known and relatively obscure, are poised to take flight over a variety of media in 2015 and 2016:

The initial launch of DC Super Hero Girls in Fall 2015 will include an immersive digital experience, original digital content and digital publishing—providing opportunities for girls to interact with characters, learn about the storylines, and engage in customizable play.  TV specials, made-for-videos, toys, apparel, books and other product categories will begin to rollout in 2016.

© DC Comics

© DC Comics

Not only will Mattel create action figures of the redesigned heroes and villains, Random House will be publishing a “portfolio” of books, DC Comics plans on graphic novels, and even LEGO is getting in on the girl power with sets “designed to inspire girls’ imaginations.”

With the current state of super heroes marketed toward boys, I’ve not had much success getting my daughter into comics beyond a Wonder Woman picture book or two. But the moment I showed her the new art (shown right), she was intrigued by Katana (“I want to be her!”) and wanted to know more about the characters.

The new looks of Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Batgirl, and more immediately reminded me of the LEGO Friends style, but I’m not opposed to it. I have no qualms about pink sparkly Batgirl costumes or heroes redesigned to appeal to a younger audience; I support anything that sparks my daughter’s interest in the world of super heroes that had me so entranced as a teen. I’m a fan of some of the age appropriate costume redesigns for Poison Ivy and Wonder Woman. (Namely: Pants.) And the nods to Batgirl’s yellows Docs and Katana’s mask are nice touches for fans of the comics.

Time will tell if the stories will do the characters justice, but I’m more than willing to give DC Super Hero Girls a shot. In an age where female characters in blockbusters like The Avengers rarely find their ways on store shelves, and super hero stories for kids are increasingly hard to find, it’s a pleasure to see that DC Comics is making a real attempt to reach superhero fans of all ages and genders.

The post ‘DC Super Hero Girls’ Take Flight This Fall appeared first on GeekMom.

Exclusive! Get a Mashed-Up First Look at ‘Teen Beach 2′

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Teen Beach 2, image courtesy © Disney Channel

Teen Beach 2, image courtesy © Disney Channel

If you have a young Disney fan in the house, chances are you’ve heard of Teen Beach Movie. The unapologetically cheesy, cheerful, and fun musical premiered on the Disney Channel in 2013, and the soundtrack stayed firmly entrenched in our family’s CD player for months. I might even know all of the dance moves for “Crusin’ For a Bruisin’.” Just saying.

Disney Channel star Ross Lynch and the rest of the cast are back this summer for Teen Beach 2, which looks to be just as peppy and upbeat as the first movie.

Thanks to the Disney Channel, you can now get an exclusive first look at one of the songs from Teen Beach 2, “Gotta Be Me,” mashed up with a very familiar tune to anyone with a preschooler.

A magic surfboard, teens traveling through time (kind of) and into our world, and toe-tapping musical numbers—geeky kids should find plenty to entertain them in the upcoming Disney Channel original movie.

The magical musical premieres on the Disney Channel this summer.

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Stampy Cat Makes the Move From Let’s Play to Let’s Learn With ‘I Wonder’

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© Stampy Cat (Joseph Garrett)

© Stampy Cat (Joseph Garrett) / Maker Studios

© Stampy Cat (Joseph Garrett)

© Stampy Cat (Joseph Garrett) / Maker Studios

If you have a Minecraft fan in the house, you probably know all about Stampy Cat. Stampy Cat, AKA Joseph Garrett, is a celebrity on YouTube known for his entertaining Let’s Play Minecraft videos and infectious laugh.

After years of making Let’s Play videos in Minecraft, this week Stampy debuted his new series, Wonder Quest.

One part of the series is a fun new adventure in Minecraft, while the other part was an unexpected and happy surprise: I Wonder.

I Wonder, an animated show outside of Minecraft, showcases Stampy’s curiosity about the real world:

“I Wonder” is the first fully animated Stampy experience! See Stampy and Keen investigate how the world works. Watch as they build new inventions, embark on new adventures, and try their best to stop those hilarious henchmen, Flunky and Lackey.

The first episode, short and to the point, talks about how to investigate the world with the 5 Ws, along with some quick facts about Galileo.

As a parent who has asked my little video watcher more than once, “Wouldn’t you like to try a science video instead of another Let’s Play?” and heard the unrelenting reply, “I want to watch Stampy!”, I could practically kiss the cat for combining the two.

Visit Stampy’s YouTube channel to watch Wonder Quest and more Minecraft Let’s Play videos.

The post Stampy Cat Makes the Move From Let’s Play to Let’s Learn With ‘I Wonder’ appeared first on GeekMom.

Show Your Allegiance to the Rebellion With This DIY Suncatcher

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Rebel Suncatcher

Photo: Kelly Knox

What better way to show off your allegiance to the Rebellion than with a shining Rebel Alliance logo in the window? Celebrate May the 4th with this simple suncatcher craft that even your toddler or preschooler can help with.

(Good thing it’s a sun-catcher and not a sun-crusher, amirite? *high-fives the other Star Wars Expanded Universe nerds*)

What You Need

Rebel Suncatcher

Photo: Kelly Knox

  • Wax paper
  • Black Sharpie marker
  • Rebel Alliance logo template (link below)
  • Red tissue paper, cut into small squares
  • Scissors
  • School glue
  • Scotch tape

Get Started!

Begin by printing this wonderful free Rebel Alliance logo provided by FreeStencilGallery.com. Place the wax paper over the template and use the black Sharpie to trace the logo.

Rebel Suncatcher

Photo: Kelly Knox

Use the school glue to cover the logo in a thin layer of glue. Don’t worry about keeping it in the lines; feel free to get it outside the lines for the best coverage. You can try glitter glue–you can see I had it in the photo of the ingredients above to try it myself–but I wasn’t satisfied with the results, so I recommend using regular Elmer’s glue.

Next, if you haven’t already, cut a small pile of red tissue paper squares about an inch in length. Place a square in the glue, letting the paper squares overlap (but mostly on the edges).

Rebel Suncatcher

Photo: Kelly Knox

Keep placing the squares in the glue until the logo is completely covered. Again, feel free to go outside the lines. Those lines will be cleaned up when you cut out the suncatcher shape later.

Rebel Suncatcher

Photo: Kelly Knox

Allow the glue to completely dry.

Finally, cut out the Rebel Alliance logo from the dried wax paper. You can choose to leave the black outline, or cut just inside the marker line for a cleaner look.

Use the Scotch tape on the side opposite of the tissue paper to stick it on a sunny window.

Rebel Suncatcher

Photo: Kelly Knox

 

May the 4th be with you!

The post Show Your Allegiance to the Rebellion With This DIY Suncatcher appeared first on GeekMom.

Giveaway! ‘Star Wars’ Commemorative Collection Action Figure Set

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Episode IV Commemorative Figures © Hasbro/Lucasfilm/Disney

Episode IV Commemorative Figures © Hasbro/Lucasfilm/Disney

As you can tell, GeekMom is a huge fan of Star Wars, and we are overjoyed at the chance to share our enthusiasm with you today on Star Wars Day.

A few weeks ago, Disney, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Fox sent us a box packed with goodies from a galaxy far, far away, and today we want to share the Star Wars wealth.

This is your chance to win the complete set of Digital Edition Commemorative Collection action figures from all six movies.

Photo: Kelly Knox

Photo: Kelly Knox

To enter our giveaway, just log in to the Rafflecopter widget below with your Facebook account or email address (use a valid email so we can let you know if you win). You can then like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and leave a comment about your favorite Star Wars film for up to three entries! If you already like/follow us, it will still enter you in the giveaway.

A winner will be chosen at random at the end of the contest and displayed below. You must reply to the email notification within two days in order to be considered a winner.

U.S. entries only. Contest ends May 9, 2015.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Special thanks again to Disney, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Fox for providing the collection.

 

The post Giveaway! ‘Star Wars’ Commemorative Collection Action Figure Set appeared first on GeekMom.

‘Fallout': I Want Teenage Lois Lane to Be My BFF

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© Switch Press / Capstone

© Switch Press / Capstone

You may have heard about the new DC Super Hero Girls media aimed at girls 6-12, but did you know DC Comics is also reaching out to the teen audience with a new YA novel?

Unlike Marvel’s foray into novels that featured adult superheroes looking for romance, DC Comics instead selected a young, non-powered protagonist to star in her own book. And I don’t think they could have made a better choice than Lois Lane.

In Lois Lane: Fallout, written by Gwenda Bond, Lois is 16 years old and starting school after yet another move to a new city. This time, she and her family have landed in Metropolis, and Lois is resolved to not cause trouble (again) at her new school. But when she sees a girl being bullied by a mysterious group on her first day at East Metropolis High, she can’t help but get involved. She might not have any friends yet in Metropolis, but she can count on her online friend SmallvilleGuy to help her crack the mystery behind the bullies.

Just the first chapter of Fallout told me that Bond gets Lois Lane. Lois is tenacious, fearless (or at least knows how to pretend to be), and never hesitates to do the right thing no matter how much trouble she might get in. Lois is likable and relatable, the perfect YA heroine, and I want her to be my BFF immediately.

Because of the age of the characters, I couldn’t help but picture the faces of Smallville, but this is more like the Smallville I always wanted. Here’s hoping that Bond continues the story of Lois Lane (and the secretive SmallvilleGuy) in more novels in the future.

Lois Lane: Fallout is a fast, engaging novel for readers of all ages, now available from Switch Press.

GeekMom received this item for review purposes.

The post ‘Fallout': I Want Teenage Lois Lane to Be My BFF appeared first on GeekMom.

Giveaway! Meet ‘Ellie,’ The Pretty Pachyderm

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© Disney / Hyperion

© Disney Hyperion

Ellie, out this month from Disney Hyperion, is a gorgeous picture book written and illustrated by Mike Wu. Wu is an artist at Pixar, and his talent shines through on every page. Ellie is one of the rare picture books where your gaze lingers after you’ve read the words on the page to admire the soft colors and expressive characters.

Ellie is an elephant who calls a quiet zoo home. When the animals rally to save their zoo by pitching in to clean up their home, Ellie isn’t sure what she can do to help. When Ellie finds her chance to make her mark on the zoo, she discovers a talent that just might be the key to saving her home.

This is your chance to win a copy of this beautiful picture book! Thanks to Disney Hyperion, you can win the book, a print by writer/illustrator Mike Wu, and a child’s T-shirt (size S) featuring the adorable elephant.

Photo Courtesy Disney Hyperion

Prizes / Photo Courtesy Disney Hyperion

To enter our giveaway, just log in to the Rafflecopter widget below with your Facebook account or email address (use a valid email so we can let you know if you win). You can then like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for up to two entries! If you already like/follow us, it will still enter you in the giveaway.

A winner will be chosen at random at the end of the contest and displayed below. You must reply to the email notification within two days in order to be considered a winner.

U.S. entries only. Contest ends May 13, 2015.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GeekMom received a promotional copy for review purposes. Special thanks to Disney Hyperion for providing the prizes for this contest.

The post Giveaway! Meet ‘Ellie,’ The Pretty Pachyderm appeared first on GeekMom.


‘Streetpass Mii Plaza,’ The Nintendo 3DS’s Best Kept Secret

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© Nintendo

© Nintendo

I’ve had a Nintendo 3DS for a long time, but never realized that there were games hiding on the handheld console just waiting for me to discover. After hearing about a StreetPass Mii Plaza update last month, my first reaction was, “What is Mii Plaza? It’s already on my 3DS?”

© Nintendo

© Nintendo

My reaction now is to carry my 3DS everywhere I go in the small hope that StreetPass will encounter a new Mii.

So what is StreetPass Mii Plaza?

Your little Mii that resides on the 3DS has access to costumes, mini-games, and more in this recently updated game that comes with the system. (If you haven’t seen it on your Home screen, you might find Mii Plaza in the Junk folder, like I did.) As you encounter other Miis while your 3DS is out and about, those characters will join up with you in the Mii Plaza to give you puzzle pieces, go on a quest, and more.

The mini-games that it comes with are free, with “premium” games offered for the price of a smartphone app. If you enjoy quiet games like Animal Crossing and Fantasy Life, chances are you’ll love the premium games offered in StreetPass Mii Plaza.

Ultimate Angler © Nintendo

Ultimate Angler © Nintendo

Ultimate Angler, one of the new premium games that also debuted last month, is an amusing way to spend some time with the characters you’ve met over StreetPass. The Mii characters give you bait and you head out together to fish the deep sea. If there’s a large catch on your hook, your new friends will team up to help you reel it in. Put the fish in a custom aquarium, or let it go free. Along the way you’ll earn points and coins to upgrade your aquarium and fishing rod to catch an even bigger fish.

Flower Town is my other current pastime on StreetPass Mii Plaza. Visitors to your garden will help your flowers grow into beautiful blooms and unique new breeds. Grown plants can be sold or used for jobs offered by the florist in town. You’ll while away the hours upgrading your garden, harvesting seeds, and buying flower pots to get your garden just right.

If you’re discouraged by the use of the StreetPass feature to invite guests to your plaza because there aren’t many 3DS players in your area, you can visit your local Best Buy to take advantage of the Nintendo Zone. Airports and conventions are other fantastic spots for meeting other Miis. Or, if all else fails, you can spend Play Coins to call NPC Miis to help you fish, garden, fight, and more.

With just the free features, StreetPass Mii Plaza is a fantastic way to get even more bang for your buck for the New Nintendo 3DS. I hope our Miis cross paths one day!

GeekMom received promotional copies for review purposes.

The post ‘Streetpass Mii Plaza,’ The Nintendo 3DS’s Best Kept Secret appeared first on GeekMom.

Power Up Your Hairstyle with a ‘Super Mario’ Fire Flower Barrette

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Photo: Kelly Knox

Photo: Kelly Knox

Little gamer girls need something to power up their hairstyle, and what better way than with a fire flower from Super Mario Bros.? All you need is felt, a barrette, and glue to create an eye-catching, adorable hair clip in almost no time at all.

What You Need

Photo: Kelly Knox

Photo: Kelly Knox

  • Barrette (alligator hair clip)
  • White, black, yellow, orange, and green felt
  • Scissors
  • Hot glue or school glue (for young crafters)

Get Started!

Begin by cutting two leaf shapes out of the green felt. Hot glue the two leaves on the barrette.

Photo: Kelly Knox

Photo: Kelly Knox

Next, cut a small oval (about 2 inches in diameter) out of the orange felt. Cut a smaller oval out of the yellow felt, and glue that oval on top of the orange one.

Photo: Kelly Knox

Photo: Kelly Knox

Next, cut a smaller oval out of the white felt and glue it on the yellow oval.

This part can be tricky, so young crafters may need the help of a grownup to cut the small shapes. Cut two small black ovals for the eyes, and glue them on the white oval.

Photo: Kelly Knox

Photo: Kelly Knox

Finally, cut two small white ovals for the top of the eyes, and glue them on. Your barrette is complete!

The post Power Up Your Hairstyle with a ‘Super Mario’ Fire Flower Barrette appeared first on GeekMom.

Enter the Dark Halls of ‘Gotham Academy’

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Gotham Academy #4, Art by Karl Kerschl © DC Comics

Gotham Academy #4. Art by Karl Kerschl © DC Comics.

Batman book without Batman? The Dark Knight may not be the star of Gotham Academy, but his shadow lurks in every issue. Gotham Academy is a unique and captivating all-ages Bat-book from DC Comics that I’d recommend to any comic reader, young or old.

As the story opens, Olive Silverlock has returned to the prestigious Gotham City prep school after summer vacation ends. Something terrible happened to her over the break, but she doesn’t want to talk about it, not even with her boyfriend Kyle. Is Kyle even still her boyfriend? Olive doesn’t know. But his sister Maps Mizoguchi, a freshman new to the school, insists on following Olive around and immediately counts her as a best friend. When the two decide to investigate a reported ghost on campus, they begin to unravel the mysteries of the past—including what happened to Olive’s mom.

Gotham Academy #1, Art by Karl Kerschel © DC Comics

Gotham Academy #1. Art by Karl Kerschl © DC Comics.

The manga-inspired book is worth the price just for the art alone. Karl Kerschl’s lovely character designs and detailed art, paired with the brilliant colors by Romain Gaschet, create an intriguing, spooky atmosphere without tipping the scale into macabre.

© DC Comics

© DC Comics

Writers Becky Cloonan and Brenden Fletcher have placed the focus on how ordinary young people see Gotham, making this an ideal book for preteen or teen Batman fans. Olive isn’t impressed by the Bat-signal or Batman, and she and Bruce Wayne seem to have a past history of their own. Batman characters make their presence known as the mysteries of the series continue to be unveiled, so this absolutely feels like a Bat-book that’s part of the main DC universe.

Due to the events of Convergence, Gotham Academy is currently on hiatus, which makes this the perfect time to catch up. The first six issues are collected in a trade paperback coming next month, and the adventures of Olive and Maps continue in Gotham Academy #7 on June 10.

The post Enter the Dark Halls of ‘Gotham Academy’ appeared first on GeekMom.

Try Your Hand at Solving the Mysteries of ‘Jenny LeClue’

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© Mografi

© Mografi

If you loved Sierra Games as a kid, or burned the midnight oil reading Nancy Drew, indie game studio Mografi has just the game for you! Jenny LeClue, currently slated for 2016, is a mystery adventure game for gamers who love to follow the clues and solve puzzles. A new playable demo is now available, and after just a quick playthrough, suddenly 2016 can’t get here fast enough.

The adventure game follows the title character as she finds herself in an investigation she never could have imagined:

You play as Jenny, a brilliant young detective, living in the idyllic college town of Arthurton. Jenny is a sharp-eyed, relentless pursuer of the truth. But nothing exciting happens in Arthurton, and Jenny longs for real adventure.

Jenny gets more than she bargains for when her mother is accused of murder, and begins an unexpected journey to find the truth.

After playing the demo, I discovered that Jenny LeClue is brimming with atmosphere, from a stormy night to surprises lurking in the shadows. The (literally) heart-pounding sound effects add to the suspense, making this an enjoyably intense game experience without being too scary for younger players.

Fine details like creaking floors, characters with personality, and an abundance of clues to discover make this a compelling game that any fan of adventure games would love.

© Mografi

© Mografi

Just like when I was younger—we’re talking back in the days before GameFAQs—I found myself busting out the notepad and pen to write down the clues and solve a good ol’ fashioned game puzzle. And after just the quick look at the game, I absolutely want more.

Visit the game’s web site for more details, and to download the free playable demo. Jenny LeClue will be available on iOS, Android, PC, Mac, and Linux in 2016.

The post Try Your Hand at Solving the Mysteries of ‘Jenny LeClue’ appeared first on GeekMom.

‘Splatoon’ is a Blast For Squiddos of All Ages

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Splatoon © Nintendo

Splatoon © Nintendo

It’s an all-out, all-ages turf war in Splatoon, exclusively on the Wii U! Every member of your family will love taking control of an Inkling to spray, splat, and roll their paint to claim their territory and battle it out with players worldwide. Splatoon is a completely family-friendly shooter that parents can feel good about while kids have a blast.

The goal of each Splatoon online battle is to cover as much of the ground with your paint color as possible. Players can also take aim at each other, but the objective of online play is to cover ground, not earn kills. Choose from a variety of weapons, including paint guns and rollers, and you’re on your way to earning points for your team of four players.

There’s no voice chat, which some veteran FPS might find dismaying, but it is a relief that your kids won’t be in danger of hearing words you rather they didn’t.

© Nintendo

© Nintendo

As Inklings play in turf wars and earn levels and money, they can visit the quirky shops in Inkopolis to customize their characters. Clothes, shoes, headgear, and weapons not only give your Inkling just the right look you want, but also add to your stats and grant abilities to give you the edge in your next paint-filled battle.

Inkling Girl amiibo © Nintendo

Inkling Girl amiibo © Nintendo

Solo play is also an option. In Octo Valley, players must take on the dastardly Octarian army to save the Zapfish. Solo play is a great way to hone aiming and weapon skills, and take on some serious boss battles. You can also pick up the Splatoon amiibo figures for extra solo challenges to earn unique gear.

If it’s a family feud you’re in the mood for, head to the Battle Dojo for a one-on-one local battle. As one player focuses on the GamePad and the other on the TV, the goal of the Battle Dojo is to burst as many balloons as you can find. Tally up the total and one member of the family has bragging rights for the day.

Quick Game Tips

  • You may be immediately tempted to turn off the motion controls, but leave them on! The game is much more responsive in aiming with motion controls on.
  • Even the littlest of players can take part in online play and help the team. All they have to shoot is the ground, which most young players can handle. I can enjoy watching my kindergartner play and help the team, even if she isn’t the best at aiming yet. And then I demand my turn.
  • Shooting the walls helps get you where you’re going faster, but won’t count toward your point total.

If you’re not comfortable with your kids playing first-person shooters yet, this third-person shooter is a game you can rest easy about. With a goal to splatter paint on the pavement, not other people, it has a shooter feel without any worries of violence.

Pick up Splatoon now for another family-friendly multiplayer hit from Nintendo at a retail price of $59.99. Nintendo even plans to offer frequent game updates and events, giving you a lot of paint for your buck.

GeekMom received a promotional copy of the game and amiibo figure for review purposes.

The post ‘Splatoon’ is a Blast For Squiddos of All Ages appeared first on GeekMom.

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