Denton the Dragon Ice Cream Party
When: Tuesday, Jan. 28, from 6-7 p.m.
Where:The Hop Ice Cream Cafe, 640 Merrimon Ave., Ste. 103.
How much: Free
What:
Get ready to learn a friendly lesson or two when Denton the Dragon comes to The Hop Ice Cream Cafe.
Denton and author Jeff Hutchins will join Ashevilleans for an ice cream party, signing copies of Denton the Dragon in Tales of Bubbleland, and award-winning songwriter, speaker and writer David LaMotte will be performing children’s songs from his award-winning album S.S. Bathtub.
Denton the Dragon poses with author Jeff Hutchins.
The lessons Denton learns in Bubbleland aim to teach 4 to 8-year-old kids universal values with every story, without appealing to any specific denomination or belief.
“Denton the Dragon in Tales of Bubbleland is designed to fill a huge gap in the education of young children,” reads the mission statement on DentontheDragon.com. “Character education – teaching universal values such as honesty, courtesy, personal responsibility, and respect for others – in a non-denominational way is almost non-existent in current children’s literature.
“We believe that the best way to develop character in young children is through the use of age-appropriate storybooks, illustrations, videos, and songs, featuring fictional characters that children will find appealing and memorable. Our cast of characters – with the exception of Denton the Dragon – look and dress like modern children so that children in most cultures can relate and see themselves. There are no evil characters in Bubbleland, but, like real people everywhere, our characters have flaws and can make mistakes… mistakes that always have realistic consequences.”
Internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter David LaMotte will provide extra entertainment for the evening, singing songs from his children’s album, which has won one international and three national awards, including the Parent’s Guide to Children’s Media Award and First Place in the USA Songwriting Competition’s Children’s Music category. LaMotte will also debut a special song inspired by Denton just for the party.
Groundhog Day Jamboree
When: Sunday, Feb. 2, at 1 p.m.
Where:The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave.
(Afterparty at The Millroom, 66 Asheland Ave., from 3-5 p.m.)
How much: $9, free under age 3.
What:
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo is the king of kid-hop, and he’s returning to the snowy hills of Asheville from his sunny California for a special Groundhog Day jamboree at the Orange Peel in an event sponsored in part by local magazine Asheville Flyer for Kids. The magazine’s mascot, Banjo the Whistlepig will be at the party, checking his shadow for the first sign of spring — or the continuation of winter.
Skidoo will perform at the Orange Peel on Feb. 2.
“Combining deft wordplay, great storytelling and pure positivity on top of thumping drums and sophisticated multi-instrumental productions, 23 Skidoo speaks to kids and parents alike,” reads a blurb on Skidoo’s website. “23 Skidoo bumps up the volume and kids’ self esteem, while setting the family music bar higher than a hidden cookie jar.”
Skidoo won’t take the stage alone that afternoon, however, as local band The Moodees will also perform, along with young breakdancer group the Underdogs. Appropriately, The Millroom will host a Groundhog afterparty from 3-5 p.m., featuring a showing of the 1993 Bill Murray film Groundhog Day.
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