Books published by Cicada Books

A revised edition of this cult classic photographic exploration of 1980s music and fashion.

A timely and relatable tale about the importance of connecting to the introvert inside. Marjorie is a happy snail. She loves her family and friends, but sometimes she just needs a bit of alone time. At these moments, Marjorie wanders off to try to find a quiet space, but her friends and family just follow her trail of slime and find her. 'How can I find some space for myself?' wonders Marjorie, and as she wonders, she wanders, here and there, back and forth, this way and that until she is entirely and marvellously lost. But the joys of solitude are short lived, and Marjorie swiftly realises that she can't find her way back. Luckily, she stumbles on a good friend who helps her on her way and offers her some sage advice. A natural follow on from the critically acclaimed 'Pocket Chaotic', this simple, layered story is exquisitely brought to life by Christos Kourtoglou, an emerging Greek illustrator with a distinctive watercolour style. It addresses the disjunction that kids and adults feel (particularly in a post-lockdown era) between our introvert and extrovert selves.

A beguiling look at seven contemporary nomadic cultures around the world, offering a timely insight into alternative ways of life that connect us to our ancestral roots. A fascinating and beautiful survey of seven nomadic societies spread across the continents. With delicately beautiful illustrations bringing the material to life, we learn about the Sama Bajau, fishing nomads from the Philippines who spend months at sea without ever touching land. We discover the Yanomami peoples of the Amazon rainforest whose connection to their environment informs every aspect of their lives. The Nenet nomads of Siberia follow their reindeer through blasting winds to the very edge of the Arctic Circle. All these cultures face common pressures and problems. Governments want them to settle down and assimilate; local populations view them with suspicion; subsistence farming or herding is not viable in a cut-throat globalised world. This book offers a timely window on a simpler way of life, and on human traditions and cultures that connect us to our distant ancestors. Elegantly and respectfully written and illustrated, this book is a captivating contribution to the growing literature on nomadic societies, and will appeal to both the education and the gift markets.

All the branches of the animal kingdom - birds, fish, crustaceans, reptiles, mammals, insects, and even slime moulds undertake great journeys across water land or air. This is a glorious celebration of the mysteries and marvels of migration. Migration is one of the great mysteries of the natural world. With no compass or GPS devices, birds fly thousands of miles from Europe to their African feeding grounds, salmon cross oceans so that they may return to the rivers in which they were born and monarch butterflies spend their entire adult lives traveling from the grasslands of the Midwest to the forests of Mexico. This book takes a close look at how and why different animals migrate. The science of migration is broken down into clearly understood texts, and then brought to life in case studies of individual species. Simple text packed with fascinating facts and details are accompanied by eye-catching illustrations that illuminate the fragility and wonders of our extraordinary planet and the species that inhabit it.

The book features hundreds of previously unseen images of bands including: Faith, Rites of Spring, Dinosaur Jr, Embrace, Opal, Galaxie 500, Beat Happening, Sonic Youth, Scratch Acid, Pussy Galore and early Nirvana. Interviews by key band members make this an essential resource for any fashion or music enthusiast. Following on from the success of A Scene In Between, revised edition, this new title explores the musical and sartorial treasures of the American 1980s guitar-based indie scenes. Starting in 1983 with the post-hardcore movement in Washington DC, Scene USA journeys coast to coast, covering everything from college rock to noise rock by way of the Paisley Underground, ending in 1989 with the nascent grunge scene in Seattle. Using original archive photography from scenesters and band members of the time, Sam Knee takes you on a fashion trip through an alternative musical history, which is placed in direct opposition to the glossy, Reaganite high-pop narrative that we know so well.

Everything you wanted to know about climate change but were too afraid to ask! The terrifying effects of a warming planet are impossible to ignore, but sometimes it's hard to pick through the facts and to understand exactly what's happening and how. This book of bright, bold infographics illuminates the realities of climate change in hard numbers, digestible data and vivid visualizations. How will rising sea levels affect us? What is the impact of meat on the planet? What industries create the most emissions? How do renewable energies compare to one another? What are the most effective things we as individuals can do to help the planet? Without sugar-coating or fear-mongering, this is a book that conveniently unpacks inconvenient truths in a way that is accessible to readers young and old.

Long-listed for the UKLA 2023 Book Awards for Children's Fiction. A beautifully illustrated and presented intergenerational graphic novel that follows 11-year-old Benji and his elderly grandmother, Bubbe Rosa, as they traverse Brooklyn and Manhattan, gathering the ingredients for a Friday night dinner. Praise for Alte Zachen ''The graphic novel format brilliantly allows us to see Bubbe in both her present and her past, allowing the reader to better understand her in all her cranky, opinionated grandeur, along with her sweet, caring grandson, Benji. A wonderful intergenerational story about the value of old things." -- Marissa Moss, Children's Book Author & Illustrator ''To outsiders, Benji's Bubbe is just a crabby old lady. To the boy, and eventually to us, she becomes a vulnerable figure deserving of great tenderness. "Alte Zachen" is less ambitious and searing than Art Spiegelman's "Maus," but like that graphic novel it expands our understanding of the gulf that can exist between generations, particularly those divided by catastrophe''. -- Wall Street Journal ''Bubbe is a delight and the love and patience Benji shows for her is so uplifting. This is award-winning storytelling''. -- Books for Keeps ''A powerful and affecting story from author and publisher Ziggy Hanaor, with atmospheric illustrations from Benjamin Phillips''. -- Centre for Literacy in Primary Education Bubbe's relationship with the city is complex & nothing is quite as she remembered it and she feels alienated and angry at the world around her. Benji, on the other hand, looks at the world, and his grandmother, with clear-eyed acceptance. As they wander the city, we catch glimpses of Bubbe's childhood in Germany, her young adulthood in 1950s Brooklyn, and her relationships; first with a baker called Gershon, and later with successful Joe, Benji's grandfather. Gradually we piece together snippets of Bubbe's life, gaining an insight to some of the things that have formed her cantankerous personality. The journey culminates on the Lower East Side in a moving reunion between Rosa and Gershon, her first love. As the sun sets, Benji and his Bubbe walk home over the Williamsburg Bridge to make dinner. This is a powerful, affecting and deceptively simple story of Jewish identity, of generational divides, of the surmountability of difference and of a restless city and its inhabitants.

Take your youngsters on a voyage across the universe and ignite their passion for exploring the night sky in this fascinating and imaginative guide to astronomy for kids ages 6 to 10. This second book in the Wooford McPaw series takes on the subject of the cosmos and everything within it. In his distinctively humorous, somewhat subversive tone, Elliot Kruszynski (in the guise of the Prof) looks at how our understanding of our place within the universe has evolved from the days of Ancient Greece, to the discoveries of Copernicus and Gallileo, through to Newton and then to Einstein and Hawking. In and amongst these stories, we find out about how the universe may have been formed, the birth and death of stars, different types of galaxies, our own solar system and the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy. Kruszynski's comprehensive but easily understood texts are brought to life in comic-style panels with plenty of dialogue and discussion bringing the subject alive, and providing a refreshing new take on a subject matter that never ceases to boggle the mind!

''I Miss You is an artful resource for those looking to ease the burdens of longing and lighten their heavy hearts''. -- Foreword Reviews With a gentle and considerate style, this evocative little gift book proposes a series of conceptual activities to help the reader work through the sense of loss that arises when someone or something is missing from their lives. For example; Spend one minute writing a list of all the things you can remember doing with the person that you miss. Simple everyday events can make as many memories as big adventures. Write as fast as you can. When one minute is up, stick the list to a window pane so that it can be seen from outside. With beautiful, stripped back illustration and elegant packaging, this book is a striking and affordable gift for a friend or for yourself.

A timely activity book in which to explore ideas of mindfulness and self-acceptance.

Pippin is determined to be a great artist, but he has a lot to learn first!

You won't believe your eyes... or ears or nose....! Learn how our bodies make sense of reality in this fact packed book about sensory perception.

A light-hearted, agendered story introducing ideas of tolerance and acceptance to the very young.

Tuck in your bandages, adjust your death mask and join Bastet on her insightful tour of the Ancient Egyptian afterlife.

Taking a flight is always exciting, and this fun and quirky activity book is the perfect travel companion for your little one's journey! ''I think it's time for a Wowee Zowee adventure - the perfect travel companion!'' -- The BookActivist Hop on board and visit a host of weird worlds and peculiar planets in this delightfully charming and very silly activity book for the young and the young at heart. Design some ski-wear for Frostonika, spot the differences in Crystal Castles and think up a menu for the beach bar on Lazy Isle! The only limits are your own imagination! Bold, fresh illustrations by Jurg Lindenberger, bring the activities to life. A timely reminder of the thrills of travel and exploration. Let your kids creativity run wild!