2023 ALA Best Graphic Novels for Children The daughter of a river god, raised by a human father and bound to a tragic destiny. An African fantasy-adventure graphic novel inspired by the mythology of the Zambezi River and the history of the Kariba Dam, one of the largest dams ever constructed. From the director of Aau’s Song, a Star Wars: Visions film from Lucasfilm, and the director of the 2023 NYICFF award-winning The Smeds and the Smoos Siku has always called the Zambezi River her home. She understands the water – and strangely enough, it seems to understand her, too, bending to her will and coming to her aid in times of need. But things are changing on the river – a great dam is being built, displacing thousands of Shonga people – and things are changing in Siku, too, as her ability to manipulate water grows out of control, and visions of a great serpent pull her further from reality and her loving father, Tongai. When Tongai ventures to the Kariba Dam to find a cure for Siku and never returns, she sets off to find him with the help of Amedeo, the young son of Kariba’s chief engineer. Together, they traverse elephant graveyards, rugged jungles, and ancient ruins, outrunning pirates, bootleggers, and shape-shifting prophets ready to use Siku to their own advantage. But Siku soon discovers that her father has been shielding a terrible secret: Siku is actually the daughter of the Great River Spirit, Nyaminyami, and the only way to bring about the necessary rumuko - a ritual which has brought balance to the Zambezi for centuries - is for Siku to give up the only life she's ever known. With the future of the Shonga resting on her shoulders, Siku must journey to the source of the river to understand the ancient power hidden within her.

Is it a career, or a series of really lame jobs? Stephen Beaupre (author) and Steve Lafler (cartoonist) pose this timeless question in Forty Hour Man, a hilarious saga of one working stiff's three-decade journey into the minimum wage heart of the American Dream. It's all here - from scrubbing a steakhouse floor with a toothbrush to going bust in the Internet boom. Every bad boss. Every crazy co-worker. All the more shocking because it's true! Stephen Beaupre is a writer, editor, and unrepentant amateur musician. He is best known to comic aficionados as the former co-publisher of the Cat-Head Comics imprint and editor of Buzzard, the 90's preeminent comic anthology. Post-comic pursuits include Beyond the Fringe, a long-running humor column featured in Worcester Magazine, and hard time in the Internet trench as writer/editor for popular online destinations such as Angelfire, Tripod, and Monster. He is inordinately fond of pancakes.

Tenor saxophone maestro Jimmy Watts leads his talented band of bugs from the swing era into the uncharted maelstrom of Bebop. As he and his band mates claw their way to the top of the jazz world, they must fight the temptation to be consumed by addiction to a substance known as "Bug Juice".Inspired by the postwar explosion of Bohemian cultural styles from artists as diverse as jazz trumpeter Miles Davis and Beat avatar William Burroughs, cartoonist Steve Lafler delivers his indigo-tinged masterwork graphic novel, BugHouse.

Notorious alt/indy comix legend Steve Lafler (BugHouse, Dog Boy, Buzzard) returns with the story of Jack, Susie, and of course Ramona. We travel to Manhattan of 1956 to meet our players, who haunt the wholesale Garment District by day, and the legendary jazz clubs of 52nd Street by night.Jack and Susie, junior buyers for the McCurdy's chain of department stores, are ambitious kids trying to make their mark as they vie for the position of Chief Buyer. And hey, maybe they happen to fall in love on the side? We'll see!Ramona hails from Texas, a young trans woman looking to be herself in the atmosphere of 1950s New York City. It ain't easy! She descends into working the streets to support herself while she dreams of becoming a fashion model.Against this backdrop, our cast of players congregate in the jazz clubs at night and begin to scheme. Are they competing with each other? Or do they work together to realize their dreams?

Tenor sax maestro Jimmy Watts leads his talented band of bugs from the swing era into the maelstrom of Bebop. As he claws his way to the top, he fights the temptation to be consumed by addiction.

Essential nerdtastic reading! - Jason Issacs From the author of Den of Geek, this is the ultimate, nerdy television guide for TV geeks everywhere! TV Geek recounts the fascinating stories of cult-classic series, reveals the nerdy Easter eggs hidden in TV show sets, and demonstrates the awe-inspiring power of fandom, which has even been known to raise TV series from the dead. Includes: - How the live-action Star Wars TV show fell apart - The logistics and history of the crossover episode - The underrated geeky TV shows of the 1980s - The hidden details of Game of Thrones - Five Scandinavian crime thrillers that became binge hits - The Walking Dead, and the power of fandom TV series are now as big as Hollywood movies with their big budgets, massive stars, and ever-growing audience figures! TV Geek provides an insightful look at the fascinating history, facts and anecdotes behind the greatest (and not-so-great) shows.

On the noisy Ajayi Crowther Street in Lagos, neighbours gather to gossip, discuss noise complaints, and faithfully head to church each Sunday. But beneath the surface lies a hidden world of clandestine love affairs, hidden pregnancy, spiritual quackery and hypocrisy, that threatens to destroy the community from within. On Ajayi Crowther Street peels back the curtains on the lives of Reverend Akpoborie and his family, to reveal a tumultuous world full of secrets and lies. His only son, Godstime, is struggling to hide his sexuality from his parents whilst his daughter Keturah must hide the truth of her pregnancy by her pastor boyfriend to preserve her and her family's image. But it is the Reverend himself who hides the darkest secret of them all, as his wondering eye lands on Kyauta, their young live-in maid.

An in-depth look at the making of the classic puppet and live action series produced by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson that thrilled audiences worldwide in the 60s and 70s. Thunderbirds, UFO, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and Space: 1999, among many others, are examined to show just why these much-loved shows remain so iconic in the 21st century. Thunderbirds, Stingray, Fireball XL5, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, UFO and Space:1999 just some of the TV series produced by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson that have thrilled generations of people worldwide from the 1960s right into the 21st Century. As the new series Thunderbirds Are Go! updates the exploits of International Rescue for a new era, Ian Fryer, film historian and editor of Gerry Anderson s official appreciation society magazine, brings an in-depth look into the making of the iconic television shows that inspired it. The background to the making of the Supermarionation series, and the live action science fiction classics that followed, is brought to life along with the turbulent times for British film making in which they were made. A fascinating read for fans of the Anderson puppet and live action series and for anyone interested in film and television history."

Detailed but conversational history of video game consoles. THE CON50LE is a comprehensive yet conversational account of 50 years of home video gaming history, leaving no rarely sighted system unturned and providing a chronological account of the evolution of the biggest entertainment medium in the world. From the earliest consoles of the 1970s to the cutting-edge machines of the here and now, a line is drawn from one man’s eureka moment to the multi-billion-dollar global industry of today. All the well-known names and massive-selling consoles are here: the Nintendo Entertainment System, the SEGA Mega Drive, the Atari 2600, the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 2. But there’s plenty of room for hardware that many a gamer won’t have heard of before, from Japan-only releases and home computer conversions to ill-advised experiments with VHS and all manner of micro-console magic. Learn about the creators and their inspirations, the games that made the biggest consoles’ eternal reputations, and the failures and flops along the way. Even the consoles that came and went without notable commercial success left a mark, an imprint, on this compelling history – and THE CON50LE unravels it, explains it, one fascinating machine at a time.

Forget about bits and bytes, data and code and see the world of videogames through the most unique, important and sometimes downright ordinary stuff on the planet. From the humble audio cassette to out-of-this-world virtual reality, this is the story of videogames - told through objects! The curators of the UK's award-winning National Videogame Arcade take you on a journey through joysticks and microchips, Game Boys and cuddly toys, guitars, drums and Ocarinas as they tell the story of how videogames are made, played and loved. Whatever your interest in gaming - casual Pokemon player, GTA expert, medal-winning FIFA champion of anything in-between - this is the book for you.

This geeky guide (by an avowed geek) shows you the ins-and-outs of making money involved in the worlds you love to immerse yourself in or one you want to create. Turn Your Fandom Into Cash teaches fans how to power up their own geeky businesses, harness the power of their fandom, and shield themselves against the wrath of intellectual property holders. This book will also offer real-world examples for aspiring Tony Starks and Bruce Waynes. In many cases, these passion-pursuits have led to full-time careers; in one case, it created a $100 million business. This book is filled with advice from geeky creators, all of whom have earned money following their passions. Some of these creators work independently, others take gigs when they’re not at their day jobs, and some have created businesses that have earned millions. In Turn Your Fandom Into Cash , you will learn: How many opportunities there are to find work doing something you love. What kind of education and financial outlay is required to start your particular geek business. How to acquire a license from a major media publisher. What kind of work you can legally create, even without a license. Advice on why you should—and should not—go into business for yourself. Practical tips on getting your products and services noticed by fans. Truly, there has never been a better time to have a geek business. Now grab your lightsaber or your Lucille and take a slice out of the fandom you love dearly.

DC Comics' Greatest Superheroes celebrate teachers, librarians, cafeteria workers, and other heroic school figures in this superpowered picture book. Where in the universe do the most powerful heroes assemble? School, of course! In this action-packed picture book, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and other DC Comics superheroes mirror the heroic tasks of real-life school figures. A principal leads their school toward a common goal, just like Aquaman commands his schools of sea life. A teacher demonstrates compassion with the same energy as the Amazon Princess, Wonder Woman. School custodians clean classrooms with the lightning-quick speed of The Flash. Written by award-winning author Michael Dahl, this powerful picture book is a Thank You to essential school workers, showcasing their everyday heroism. The perfect Teacher Appreciation gift or an inspiring read-aloud for any young student. Other DC Comics Picture Books: Be a Star, Wonder Woman! Bedtime for Batman Family Is a Superpower Sweet Dreams, Supergirl