Sticks Gone Mad: Friend's House

Best Books: A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

A Series of Unfortunate Events is a book series by Lemony Snicket.  The story starts with Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire learning that their home has burned down.  Their parents where killed in the fire and now they move from guardian to guardian, home to home with an evil man named Count Olaf following them, trying to steal their fortune.

Many people say that this story is not good for kids. These people are wrong. Even though many bad things happen to the children, the story really follows  how clever the children are when trying to escape an evil madman. Reading how all of the children, even baby Sunny, solve the mystery is my favorite part.

 Personally I love the series because it is full of imaginative characters and even though the books are kind of depressing the dark humor makes it better.  People who love stories with clever children and love a good mystery novel than this is for you.  I am currently on the seventh book and I think it is worth it to read them all. The mystery gets better and there are more clues in each book.

Nyan Neo! Just click the flag!

    

I made this using Scratch.

Cactus on Sesame Street

Epic Authors: George O'Connor

At the library I met with the author/illustrator of many graphic novels, George O'Connor.  He is super funny and in his books he writes the great story and adds great illustrations to make epic books.  He's most famous for his Olympians series, retelling the stories of the Greek gods. The Olympians books are the reason I love his writing. 

The books tell Greek myths in an inspiring graphic novel format.  The books are serious and some parts have jokes. My favorite Olympians book is Zeus: King of the Gods, because it tells about the dawn of time and how Mount Olympus was chosen. I also love Hades: Lord of the Dead, because it tells how you get to the Greek myth underworld. His books are for people who love Greek myths.  I love the art work so much, I based a comic strip character off of how he draws the Cyclopes.  

His next series after the last Olympians book which is about Hestia and Dionysus is Norse gods. Since I don't know much about Norse so I am looking forward to that.

The library class where I met him was super fun.  We got to make our own comics from random slips of paper out of three hats.  I got, "A talking cactus goes to buy a pony at Sesame Street" 

Game On! Little Big Planet Part 3

Little Big Planet 3 finally came out!!!!  Like usual, Sackboy is back battling the forces of evil, but this time he is not alone.

Our crafty (and yes pun definitely intended) hero is joined by Swoop, Oddsock, and Toggle.  Swoop can fly and of course, swoop down on enemies.  Oddsock is a dog who can run up walls and do wall jumps.  Toggle can switch between Big Toggle and Tiny Toggle.  Our heroes now face Newton, a new threat to not Craftworld but Bunkum. Bunkum is a new place full of more strange characters.

How will our heroes defeat Newton?  Actually, I have no idea because I have not beaten the game yet. Soooo... anyways get the game on your PlayStation Systems and see our heroes defeat Newton.

 GAME ON!!!!

Letter to Nintendo part II

Greetings Again Nintendo,

 In August of 2013 I sent you guys a suggestion letter and posted it to my blog saying that you should make a Mario game with customizable levels.  Here is a link to it .  In your kind letter back to me you said you had nothing announced at the time.

I should be happy that you came out with Super Mario Maker but you made one mistake, you only put it on the Wii-U.  I would love to play it and even review it on my blog but I only have a 3DS and Wii Mini. I can't afford the Wii-U so now I cannot play the game I've been waiting years to play.  I am only 11 and not a game developer so I don't know why you made it only on the Wii-U.  If you could please make it for the 3DS and I and all 3DS fanatics will be very happy.  I will make so many levels!!!

                                                             
Thank You,
Exploding Toy Box

This should be my hand!

P.S. Shovel Knight is AWESOME!!!!

Crazy Customs - Skull Reaper

Bionicle Custom - Skull Reaper

Reaper's wings can fold up into a cloak or cape.

Sticks Gone Mad in "Talking Heads"

Sticks Gone Mad in "Monster?"

Sticks Gone Mad in "Arms Dealer"

Game on - Spore

I've been playing only Minecraft  for months. However, this summer I discovered a game called Spore by watching YouTuber,  The Diamond Minecart.  Spore is a video game of survival, evolution and community. 

In Spore you start out as a cell and evolve into a super smart beast.  As a cell you eat little food bits and add parts until you grow legs and start on dry land hunting other creatures. The best part is YOU create the creature's features.  For example, there's a crocodile like mouth,  diamond shaped spikes, lizard eyes and many more.  The beginning cell stage is adorable I almost passed out.   

The graphics in the game are fantastic.  When you start you are in a 2D blue clear water world. Then later you get on land and you have a whole 3D grassy biome to explore. In my game, I actually have a tribe now and I have two individual life forms.

The game is about twenty dollars on www.spore.com. There is also a demo which is only the creature creator. The full version is worth  the money just to see a unique evolution. Spore is awesome because every timeline is one-of-a-kind. Anyone who loves evolution or cute creatures will love Spore.   

RARG!!!!! 

Letter to Lego

series 11 blindbox minifigs

Dear Lego Company, 
      
    I am a toy blogger and I have enjoyed Legos as long as I can remember.  I have tons of sets and spend most of my money on them. 

    I have wanted custom figures made of some characters I have made up.   That got me thinking, it would be awesome if people could send in drawings of Lego characters they would like to see and you could make them so people could have custom minifigs.  I love the blind box mini fig packs and my idea takes it a step further.   I know you would not do it for free.  Maybe like a one dollar fee to have it made would work.  I also have a whole book of designs that would be nice for you to make.  

Everything is awesome in the Lego movie and the Simpson Lego episode was just plain hilarious!!

Sincerely,
Deztroyo at
explodingtoybox.blogspot.com

Best Books: Mythlopedia :]

I have been interested in myths since first grade.  An Aliki book,  The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus was the first mythology book that I liked.  My current favorite books are the Mythlopedia series.  Mythlopedia is the funniest way to learn about Greek myths.  

The Mythlopedia book series have a lot of unique aspects. The style of how it is written makes it look like Facebook or Twitter. Each entry has a Facebook profile of gods and monsters that states friends and foes along with stories that has that character in it.   The artwork is pretty awesome because it is photos mixed with drawings.  One of the funniest parts is that the gods wear modern day underwear instead of showing the nudity in the classic artwork.  The books are funny along with fact-filled. 


The places I have seen them are at the library and Amazon.com.  There are four books in the series: Oh My Gods! by Megan E. Bryant, What a Beast! by Sophia Kelly, She's All That by Megan E. Bryant, and All in Family by Steven Otfinoski.  Any one who loves Greek myths will love all the books!  Learn about Greek myths while laughing your butt off. 

Best Books- Big Nate: In the Zone

Big Nate: in the Zone was so hilarious milk from last year came out of my nose!  The book is written and illustrated by Lincoln Pierce and this is the sixth Big Nate novel.  It's kinda like Diary of a Wimpy Kid in the way it switches back and forth from comics to written story.

The book follows Nate the class clown of his 6th grade class. He has a bad week that tuns into a good week by a little action figure foot.  Nate is always seen with spiky hair.  He is a doodler and cartoonist and he always gets in trouble.  He has mean teachers who give him detention because he doodles on his work.  His two best friends, Teddy and Francis,  are always pranking each other to make their dull school day at PS. 38 interesting.

The most entertaining thing about Nate is that he thinks he is destined for greatness, but he gets really bad grades.  Anyone who has a sense of humor and is bored of school should read this book.  I think the book is best for second to sixth graders. Big Nate: In the Zone is my favorite in the series...so far.  
                        

Coolest Show - Rex the Runt

Last week I found another hilarious show on Amazon. It is called Rex the Runt and it originally aired from 1998 to 2001in the UK.

The four main characters are plasticine dogs: Rex, Bad Bob, Wendy, and my favorite, Vince.  Rex, the character who has the same name as the show seems to be the only ''normal'' one.  Bad Bob, is over weight and wears an eye patch that he does not need. He also enjoys carrying a gun the size of himself.  Wendy, always has a bow in her ''hair'' and is the sarcastic and serious one. Then there is Vince, the not very smart ''pet'' who has random Pavarotti disease.  That means he sings bits of opera or says words such as ''jam'' or ''trousers'' at unpredictable times.

The show is made by Aardaman, the animation studio who made Wallace and Gromit. So, of course it is in claymation.  I don't think the show is meant for little kids but kids eight and up will love it.  I love the cute characters. The show is crazy and you never know whats going to happen next.

TUESDAY!

The Lego Movie

The Lego Movie is the best Lego movie ever.  It is funny, wild, and imaginative.  The movie has a stop motion feel and the look of the characters is insane and mind blowing.  I plan on seeing it again very soon.

We follow Emmet (voiced by Chris Pratt) , a basic construction worker minifig, as he goes on an adventure filled with danger and crazy characters.  The villain, Lord Business is voiced by Will Ferrell.  Unikitty (voiced by Allison Brie), Batman, and even Milhouse from the Simpsons show up in the huge list of characters.  In the movie Lord Business steals a weapon called the Cragle and threatens to unleash it on Bricksburg.  Emmet and his Friends have to destroy it with the piece of resistance.

In my opinion it is my favorite movie ever and the creators did a excellent job.  Any one who likes Legos and a good comedy should watch it.  The movie is not just visuals, there is also a great plot too.  There is also a very surprising ending you will be happily surprised .

Sticks Gone Mad - Life with Cat

Sticks Gone Mad - Doctor Who

Matt Groening

Two of my favorite shows are The Simpsons and Futurama.  They are the best because Matt Groening, their creator, makes super funny stuff and is really unique.

Matt was born in Portland, Oregon and went to Evergreen State for College.  Before he was a cartoonist he had many jobs and was even a busboy.   He got his start writing his first the comic, Life in Hell.   The Simpsons, Matt's second cartoon was originally created for The Tracey Ullman Show. The Simpsons is based on American family life and his own experience growing up in Portland.  Most characters in the show are even named after people in his family or streets in Portland.

 Futurama was the other show he made in 1999 and takes place in the year 3000. It grew from Matt's desire to make a science fiction cartoon.  He was a fan of sci-fi literature and cover art and wanted to see that in a Simpsons style universe.

He has been involved in the cartooning, writing, producing, music, comedy, and voice acting of the shows.  He has made lots of cameos on the Simpsons and Futuama.  Matt has won a British Comedy Award, many Emmys and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame just to name a few.

Matt, in my opinion is really great and inspires me to make comics and cartoons.  So, check out The Simpsons, Futurama, and Life In Hell.

D'OH!

source 1; Wikipedia.org
source 2; Smithsonian.com
source 3; gotfuturama.com