Dreamers & Make-Believers 2022 Holiday Catalog

NOT YOUR TYPICAL COMIC SHOP

"Which X-Men would win in a battle- and there is a correct answer." When I first walked into a comic book store many moons ago as a young woman, I was quickly bombarded with this question. And whether or not I was confident in my answer (*cough* Storm *cough*), it didn't matter. What mattered was I was just told there was a barrier to entry, and I hated it. Despite the less-than-warm welcome, I quickly fell in love with comic books as a medium for storytelling, and that love has blossomed into this business!

Dreamers & Make Believers is for just that anyone who loves to dream or escape for a time into the land of make believe. And if we're being honest, isn't that all of us? Whether you have been reading comic books for decades or have never had the pleasure, we want this space to be for you. Comic books & graphic novels truly are for everyone! Miranda, Head Dreamer & Owner

Like many folks, Dreamers & Make Believers owner Miranda Nordell turned to books during the pandemic. But, with the library closed and no bookstores within easy reach, this proved more difficult than expected After a year of difficulty accessing new books, and discovering that even when not in the midst of a pandemic, things like middle grade graphic novels were hard to come by in Baltimore, Miranda decided this just wouldn’t do! If you can’t find what you’re looking for, it might be time to build it yourself

Dreamers & Make Believers offers a diverse array of books, but specializes in graphic novels, with a particular focus on stories written and illustrated by women, members of the queer community, and BIPOC. The shelves are stocked with books and comics for the Dreamer of every age from board & picture books to young adult and adult stories.

FOR LITTLE DREAMERS

PICTURE & BOARD BOOKS

HATTIE HARMONY: WORRY DETECTIVE

She’s always there to help her friends, and the first day of school can cause a lot of jitters from speaking in front of the class to taking the bus. Hattie always finds the perfect tools to calm her friends’ bodies and minds But when her own fears start to bubble up, can Hattie learn to overcome them herself?

LITTLE WONDER

A love letter from a mother to her child accompanies him on a journey of unbelievable fantasies. It's a day full of breathtaking adventures, exciting twists and turns, and unexpected friends. With an imagination stronger than the tide and a mama's love deeper than the ocean, Little Wonder can do anything he believes he can

THE MOONLIGHT ZOO

When Eva can't find her cat, Luna, she looks under her bed and finds the Moonlight Zoo, a magical place for lost pets and animals Can Eva find Luna before the zoo disappears at dawn?

NOODLES, PLEASE! (BOARD BOOK)

Here’s an alphabet book to set your taste buds aflame. Noodles are a universally loved food, from Ash Reshteh in Iran to Zaru Soba in Japan. In this board book shaped to mimic bowls, readers will discover 26 different varieties as they eat their way through the alphabet

TELL THE TRUTH, PANGOLIN

In this delightful, thoroughly entertaining picture book about the importance and difficulty of telling the truth, the queen's trusty servant, a pangolin, breaks the royal swing and doesn't know what to tell her!

driven book offers clear, concrete language & imagery to introduce the concept of consent This book serves to normalize & celebrate the experience of asking for and being asked for permission to do something involving one's body. It centers on respect for bodily autonomy, and reviews the many ways that one can say or indicate "No."

FOR LITTLE DREAMERS

EARLY READER (AGES 5+) & MIDDLE GRADE (AGES 8+)

FRIZZY

Marlene loves three things: books, her cool Tía Ruby and her best friend Camila. But according to her mother, the only thing she needs to focus on is school and "growing up " That means straightening her hair every week so it's "presentable" But Marlene doesn't understand why her curls are not considered pretty. With a few hiccups, a dash of embarrassment, and the much needed help of Camila & Tia Ruby she starts a journey to learn to appreciate & proudly wear her curly hair. (recommended for ages 9+)

There's no knight braver than Sparky Muttson! (Except maybe his enthusiastic and very cute apprentice, Pugsly.) They're ready for their first adventure together, and luckily, a kind old farmer is conveniently ready to show them the way to a cathedral full of treasure While this quest might not turn out exactly how they expected, Sparky and Pugsly have the chops to make it through no bones about it! (ages 7+)

Sir Ladybug never shies away from a quest, even

when he’d rather be playing a video game or baking a cake So when a caterpillar needs rescuing from a “monster” (a hungry chickadee), Sir Ladybug and his trusty friends his herald, a roly poly named Pell, and his squire, a snail named Sterling hatch the perfect (delicious) plan. (recommended for ages 6+)

SWIM TEAM

Bree can’t wait for her first day at her new middle school until she’s stuck with the only elective that fits her schedule, the dreaded Swim 101. The thought of swimming makes Bree more than a little queasy, but lucky for her, Etta, an elderly occupant of her apartment building & former swim team captain, is willing to help. With Etta’s training and a lot of hard work, Bree suddenly finds her swim crazed community counting on her to turn the school’s failing team around Can Bree defy the odds and guide her team to a state championship, or have the Manatees swum their last lap for good? (recommended for ages 8+)

Zuli is extraordinary she just doesn’t realize it yet. Raised by mystical bird spirits in the branches of the Great Tree, she’s never ventured beyond this safe haven She’s never had to Until now When a sinister force threatens the life giving magic of the tree, Zuli, along with her guardian owl, Frowly, must get to the root of it. So begins an adventure bigger than anything Zuli could’ve ever imagined one that will bring her face to face with an ancient dragon, the so called Witch Queen, and most surprisingly of all: her true identity. (ages 8+)

Y G ADULT F ITES

HOLLOW

Set in 2005, this gorgeously illustrated, funny, and honest graphic novel follows four teens who stumble into an illicit anime DVD burning business that shakes up their conservative small town and their friendship

Sleepy Hollow and queer romance meet in this coming of age tale from the co creator of Lumberjanes! Isabel "Izzy" Crane and her family just moved to the infamous Sleepy H s n t u H

S

Aiza has always dreamt of becoming a Knight. It’s the highest honor in the once great Bayt Sajji Empire, and as a member of the Ornu people, Knighthood is her only path to citizenship When Bayt Sajji finds itself on the brink of war, Aiza can finally enlist in the Squire program, but in this timely story, Aiza will have to choose: loyalty to her heart & heritage or to the Empire

B ior y s re

they can hang out without sacrificing their future aspirations Enter a delicious solution: Supper Club! When life starts to crumble like a cookie under their feet, they rely on comfort food to hold it together. Can Supper Club endure life's challenging recipes without burning to a crisp?

Dave Baker & Nicole Goux

Shannon Watters & Berenice Nelle

Nadia Shammas & Sara Alfageeh

YOUNG ADULT FAVORITES

THIEVES

Lucie Bryon

Ella and Madeleine don’t know it yet, but they’re about to embark on the strangest romantic adventure of their lives and it’s not j his l

TWELFTH GRADE NIGHT

S nd r i n w c a g r a

J

The book takes its title from the wash day experience shared by Black women everywhere of setting aside all plans and responsibilities for a full day of washing, conditioning, and nourishing their hair Each short story uses hair routines as a window into these four characters' lives and how they care for each other.

T L g

r og

(and the monsters hiding within it) But her life comes apart when she steals coins from a sacred well The well requires repayment, but not in coins it needs wishes, and its minions will drown Lizzy if she doesn’t grant them.

Lizzy finds herself on a quest to grant three wishes in order to break free

Molly Booth & Stephanie Strohm

FANTASY, FOLKLORE & SCIENCE-FICTION: OH MY!

grand tales for grown-ups

MAMO

Orla O’Reilly, the youngest in a long line of hedge witches, is compelled to return home after the death of her grandmother, Mamo.

THE MANY DEATHS OF LAILA STARR

Humanity is on the verge of discovering immortality, which means the avatar of Death is out of a job… or is she?

WHAT'S THE FURTHEST PLACE FROM HERE?

When 16 year old Sid goes missing, it's up to her gang to discover what happened. But what they find is beyond anything they could imagine Smashing together sci fi & fantasy with comedy, horror, and mystery for an emotional coming of age story unlike anything you've read before

BOLERO

A mysterious stranger. Something called an “anti door” & a “mother key” Only 53 chances. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets Locke and Key

THRILLERS & CHILLERS!

Horror, Suspense & Mystery

GRAVENEYE

What if a haunted house was not the horror, but the people who dwell within it...

THE NIGHT EATERS

A night of terror, gore, and supernatural mayhem

HELL PHONE

When Sissy picks up a lost flip phone and follows the instructions from the stranger on the other line, she and Lola are flung into an investigation of a grisly crime.

JOE HILL'S RAIN

On a seemingly normal day in Boulder, Colorado, the world is suddenly torn apart when dark clouds roll in and release a downpour of bright crystals that shred the skin of anyone not safely under cover

THE NICE HOUSE ON THE LAKE

Nobody was going to turn down Walter’s invitation to the house in the woods, overlooking an enormous lake. It’s opulent, it’s private but Walter has always been a little off and they're about to find out why.

MANGA MANIA!

MONOTONE BLUE

NAGABE

Hachi the cat finds most things monotonous, but at the top of his list is high school and all that comes with it. But when Aoi the lizard a quiet, high achieving transfer student arrives, Hachi catches a glimpse of a brighter, more colorful life If Hachi can help Aoi open up, unlocking new feelings in the process, maybe his life won't be so bland, after all.

DINOSAUR SANCTUARY

Itaru Kinoshita

In 1946, someone discovered an island where dinosaurs had survived into the present. Through breeding and genetic manipulation, humans managed to increase their population and supercharge their popularity! Until, well the unfortunate accident This story follows a rookie zookeeper who is newly hired at Enoshima Dinoland, a struggling dinosaur sanctuary, and the fascinating creatures who need specialized love and care!

Four people intent on dying meet through the website Black Paradox: Maruso, a nurse who despairs about the future; Taburo, a man who is tortured by his doppelganger; Pii tan, an engineer with his own robot clone; and Baracchi, a girl who agonizes about the birthmark on her face They wander together in search of the perfect death, fatefully opening a door that leads them to a rather bizarre destiny

RUN ON YOUR NEW LEGS

Wataru Midori

After the loss of his left leg, Kikuzato's dream of becoming the ace striker on the high school soccer team comes to an end permanently. But endings are always followed by beginnings and so, armed with a prosthetic leg, Kikuzato finds a new dream He's going to become a track star and win the gold at the Tokyo Paralympics!

Junji Ito

BLACK PARADOX

MANGA MANIA!

THE GIRL FROM THE OTHER SIDE

NAGABE

In a land far away, there were two kingdoms: the Outside, where twisted beasts roamed that could curse with a touch, and the Inside, where humans lived in safety and peace The girl and the beast should never have met, but when they do, a quiet fairy tale begins This is the story of two people one human, one inhuman who linger in the hazy twilight that separates night from day.

KAIJU NO. 8

Naoya Matsumoto

With the highest kaiju rates in the world, Japan is no stranger to attack by deadly monsters. Enter the Japan Defense Force, an organization tasked with the neutralization of kaiju Kafka Hibino, a kaiju corpse cleanup man, has always dreamed of joining the force But when he gets another shot at achieving his childhood dream, he undergoes an unexpected transformation. How can he fight kaiju now that he’s become one himself?!

WITCH HAT ATELIER

In a world where everyone takes magic for granted, Coco has a simple dream: to be a witch But everybody knows magicians are born, not made, and Coco was not born with a gift for magic. Resigned to her un magical life, Coco is about to give up on her dream until the day she meets Qifrey, a mysterious, traveling magician Coco soon discovers that her magical dream may not be as far away as it may seem

SPY X FAMILY

Tatsuya Endo

Master spy Twilight is unparalleled when it comes to going undercover on dangerous missions But when he receives the ultimate assignment to have a family he may finally be in over his head! Not one to depend on others, Twilight has his work cut out for him on his mission to infiltrate an elite private school What he doesn’t know: the wife he’s chosen is an assassin & the child he’s adopted is a telepath!

Kamome Shirahama

POP CULTURE COOKING

and Cocktails!