NCW Libraries

An anthology of short graphic works by such artists as Kazu Kibuishi, Dave Roman, and Raina Telgemeier, all on the theme of a mysterious box and the marvels, or mayhem, inside. Seven clever stories answer one simple question: what's in the box? Funny, fantastic, spooky, and suspenseful, each of these unique and beautifully illustrated short graphic works revolves around a central theme: a mysterious box and the marvels--or mayhem--inside.

"The battle for clean water begins! As soon as Dr. Zomboss discovers Lake Gumbo near Neighborville, Gargantuars start posing on Muscle Beach, volleyballs bounce off bungee zombies, and Zomboss revs up a giant underwater drill to pollute the lake! Nate, Patrice, and Crazy Dave spot trouble and do all they can to quell another zombie attack"--

"At S.U.I.T. headquarters, Cilantro the Chameleon finally gets what she's been waiting for: a field assignment. Only...it's literally out in the middle of a field, and her orders are so vague, she can hardly tell what she's supposed to be investigating. But as she begins to uncover a sheep-led worker's rights revolt and an alien invasion conspiracy--not to mention a spooky haunting at the abandoned S.U.I.T. field outpost--Cilantro steps into her own...

Trot, a Vietnamese American surfer girl, and Cap'n Bill, her cranky one-eyed cat, catch too big a wave and wipe out, sucked down into a magical underwater kingdom where an ancient deep-sea battle rages. The beautiful Sea Siren mermaids are under attack from the Serpent King and his slithery minions--and Trot and her feline become dangerously entangled in this war of tails and fins. This beautiful graphic novel was inspired by The Sea Fairies, L. Frank...

When snow closes Greg Heffley's middle school, he and his best friend, Rowley Jefferson, face a fight for survival as warring gangs turn the neighborhood into a wintry battlefield.

"The seven kingdoms of Dreamside need a legendary hero. Instead, they'll have to settle for Cucumber, a nerdy magician who just wants to go to school. As destiny would have it, he and his way more heroic sister, Almond, must now seek the Dream Sword, the only weapon powerful enough to defeat Queen Cordelia's Nightmare Knight. Can these bunny siblings save the world in its darkest hour ...? Sure, why not?"--

Stick Dog and his friends discover candy while on their usual hunt for food and navigate crowds of trick-or-treating children, a haunted house, and other spooky surprises in order to get more.

Coretta Scott King Honor author Varian Johnson teams up with rising cartoonist Shannon Wright for a delightful middle-grade graphic novel! Maureen and Francine Carter are twins and best friends. They participate in the same clubs, enjoy the same foods, and are partners on all their school projects. But just before the girls start sixth grade, Francine becomes Fran -- a girl who wants to join the chorus, run for class president, and dress in fashionable...

Built to explore Mars, Resilience begins to develop human-like feelings as he learns from the NASA scientists who assembled him, and as he blasts off and explores Mars, Resilience must overcome different obstacles as he explores the red planet.

In August 1965, twelve-year-old Eden's older cousin from Mississippi comes to visit her in Los Angeles, and while the Watts Riots erupt around them, they continue their investigation of the disappearance of Winter's father ten years ago.