Most Popular Books by Phil Amara

Five super-powered teens battle a warlord to save an endangered creature. Appeals to fans of comic books, The Teen Titans, and Avatar the Last Airbender. From their treehouse headquarters come five young champions and their wise teacher. Brawny Cha is a mountain of muscle. Small Klee is a shapeshifter, from girl to animal and back again. Blonde-haired Bri can blow gusts of wind. Long-haired Flo can vanish before your eyes. Lanky Gru is a speedster. Their white-bearded mentor has taught them to help others in need. Now they must save the "Zez," a mystical Asiatic beast, from an encroaching civilization; especially the menacing General Moon, empowered by enchanted armor, and his soldiers. Using all their varied powers, can the Treehouse Heroes protect their new friend and restore the balance of nature? Its fresh blend of adventure and lyrical art, created by traditional hand-painted watercolors, will excite young readers. Written by a former Dark Horse comics editor and illustrated by a Star Wars: The Clone Wars animator, this is a PG-rated action-filled quest that will engage parents and will find a home in the classroom or library. Elementary school teachers can connect Treehouse Heroes to English Language Arts lessons. Because it’s a picture book, it’s a helpful supplement for English Language Development (ELD) students needing visual context. Librarians can use the storybook in lessons to exemplify character traits such as cooperation, thoughtfulness, empathy, and bravery as the characters overcome their fears and doubts to help a friend in need. - - - "A charming and magical story. The art is poetic and beautiful!" - Steward Lee, Director on Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series. "The story and illustrations are awesome! I love the style of the characters. The smoke and fire have a life unto their own. The vibrant watercolors contrasted against the pure white backgrounds makes for some really interesting compositions. The moral of the story is nicely told with great illustrations. I think kids would really like this book." - David Kury, Producer, LucasArts "Alina, I just had to email you to say how much I love your artwork, especially the Treehouse Heroes and the Forgotten Beast sketches and colour pieces you placed on your site. It has a great synergy of traditional and modern art that just struck a chord with me. AMAZING! ...thank you, for creating such inspirational work." - Haydn Dalton, Lead Designer, Darksiders II video game

Enjoy the first English children’s picture book on how Japanese animation and comics were created! Amazingly illustrated, this storybook features a bilingual Japanese translation. This is the third adventure in our series on cool inventions created in Asia. The cute red panda Dao makes history come alive by transporting the kids Emma and Ethan back in time. Together they learn how fantastic creations came to be and zip back to the future! This dynamic journey explores the evolution of Japanese animation and comic books. Published in newspapers, magazines, books, and graphic novels, comics became TV shows, movies, and games. These entertainment brought Japanese pop culture across the globe and influenced artists everywhere. This quest features 100 of your favorite characters and creators: from Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy and Rumiko Takahashi’s Ranma 1/2 to Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli and Totoro. Mazinger, Speed Racer, and Doraemon are joined by Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball, and Pokémon. Mobile Suit Gundam, Akira, and Ghost in the Shell meet Full Metal Alchelmist, One Piece, and One Punch Man. Iconic and best-selling series are brought to life with the amazing artwork of Juan Calle, an otaku (big fan) himself. Adults and kids can learn about the categories shonen, shojo, and mecha (giant robots), use a handy glossary, and draw inspiration to create their own amazing stories. Teachers and librarians will find this a great addition to their comic book and graphic novel collections. - - - "The Discovery of Anime and Manga bursts from the page with energy and color. Informative and entertaining, it's a beautifully rendered concise introduction to manga and anime for not only children, but comics fans of all ages." - Dr. Dale Jacobs, Department of English, University of Windsor, Canada “In the book we see iconic Japanese anime characters such as Astroboy, Doraemon, Dragon Ball, My Neighbor Totoro, Sailor Moon, Pokemon, One Piece, One Punch Man and more. This makes the book not only fun for children, but also for adults, as they can flip through and remember beloved childhood characters. The story moves along with bright bold illustrations by Juan Calle. Each page is a love letter to manga, making this a delightful read for children and parents.” - Sampan “Brimming with colorful, dynamic illustrations...The Discovery of Anime & Manga is an eye-opening tour.” - Midwest Book Review "I will never forget watching My Neighbor Totoro with my daughter and the worlds that the film ushered in for me. I had never experienced moving images, sounds, pictures, music in quite that way before and the potentials and powers of animated film strongly impacted me as a scholar. It was then that I recognized that animé and manga had the kind of beauty that Susan Sontag described about as ‘a beauty with adjectives, arranged on a scale of ascending value and incorruptibility.’ In Amara and Chin’s The Discovery of Animé and Manga told through stunning illustrations by Calle, they offer a detailed, storied account of the evolution of animé and manga in Japan and eventually around the world. From whimsical drawings in the early twentieth century to kamishibai tales told in on street corners to the ubiquity of adults and children drawing animé and manga embodying otaku in their everyday lives. Everyone should read this history book to get a true understanding about the significance of not just animé and manga, but the power of multimodality on how we think and learn." —Dr. Jennifer Rowsell, Professor of Literacies and Social Innovation, University of Bristol, School of Education

Learn about the most popular game in human history! The Discovery of Chess is the first English children's book on how chess came to be. Dao is an adorable red panda who can travel back in time and place! He befriends the curious kids Ethan and Emma and transports them in the blink of an eye to Asia. Together they (and appreciative readers) have fun discovering how some very cool creations were invented there. If only every school field trip was like this! In their latest adventure, the trio teleport to India to see how chess was created! Using the traditional parts of the ancient Indian army, rajas strategized, using a board as a battlefield. This battle of wits traveled west along the Silk Road and across empires. Pieces and play evolved into Europe, influenced by royalty, religion, and the Renaissance. Through travel and media, chess conquered the world of recreation! ------------------------------------------------------ “... this informative and fascinating tale will also entertain chess players of all ages. Young readers will enjoy the illustrations just as much as the narrative, and families and friends will appreciate having this book to share their knowledge about the history of chess. The authors have filled a significant void in chess literature for children.” - Ray Linville, Chess.com

This is the sequel to the best illustrated anthology on notable Asian Pacific Islander Americans! Readers have demanded more stories. So we have obliged with Volume 2! We share the life stories of more citizens who came from diverse backgrounds and have influenced a rainbow of professions. 20 chapters (6 pages each) are brought to life with 60 fantastic color illustrations. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - George Takei (actor) - Chloe Kim (Olympic snowboarder) - Bruno Mars (singer) - Amy Tan (author) - Mazie Hirono (US Senator) - I.M. Pei (architect) - Jen-Hsun "Jensen" Huang (NVIDIA) - Mira Nair (filmmaker) - Jim Lee (comics artist) - Midori Goto (violinist) - Amar Bose (audio inventor) - Helene An (chef) - Peter Tsai (N95 mask scientist) - Isabella Aiona Abbott (botanist) - Farhan Zaidi (baseball executive) - Channapha Khamvongsa (humanitarian) - Anika Rahman (human rights lawyer) - Raymond Martin (wheelchair racer) - Dith Pran (photojournalist) - Katherine Sui Fun Cheung (pilot) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "As an educator and a mom I am always looking for books that represent and teach the Asian American experience....In each story, Asian American identity plays an important role in overcoming the challenges of racial inequity and taking pride in culture and heritage in an age appropriate way. The illustrations and graphics make this book really accessible." - Karen Fukushima, Middle School Dean, Harvard Westlake, California "An energetic and important look at Asian Americans who have contributed significantly to the USA. It is inviting, colorful and really fun to read and learn! Students of all ages, parents and teachers are sure to enjoy this book and to learn about these amazing individuals!" - Sara Jones, Washington State Librarian

Explore the first English children’s picture book on how fireworks and gunpowder were created! This action-packed adventure features amazing illustrations which make history come alive. This is the second adventure in our series on cool inventions created in Asia. The cute red panda Dao transports the kids Emma and Ethan back in time to learn how fantastic creations came to be! This exciting journey investigates fireworks and gunpowder. It is like Globe Trekker meeting Back to the Future! The trio begins their trip 2,000 years ago in China! Alchemists discovered the secret formula for explosive powder and ancient dynasties used it.... even in war. Witness the evolution from flamethrower and bomb to gun and missile. However, fireworks also spread across the globe! Zip through the centuries to see how scientific advancements made new colors and shapes. Now everyone can celebrate happy occasions with dazzling light shows in the sky. Adults and children will enjoy this sequel to The Discovery of Ramen. This story vividly introduces interesting facts (even chemistry) with globe trotting. Readers will learn lessons never taught in school, plus see how these creations made possible modern pyrotechnics for festivals and holidays, from the Fourth of July to New Year’s. Discover more amazing inventions from The Asian Hall of Fame in the future! Teachers and librarians will appreciate how students eagerly absorb history, culture, and key words. Fans of comics and graphic novels will delight in the dynamic artwork, scenes so spectacular that you can see the sparkles and smell the smoke coming off the printed pages. - - - "We found this absolutely fascinating from both the perspective of enjoying a slice of Chinese history that made a huge contribution to something that people all around the world can enjoy at different times of the year, but also from the technical perspective of learning some of the intricate secrets of how fireworks actually do their thing. With a simple yet brilliantly explained set of facts worked into the story, and some really gorgeous illustrations, we'll be keeping an eye on Immedium's fabulous publications from now on." - Read it Daddy “The story carries a good balance between science and entertainment. Education, history and folktales blend to make a fun and engaging children’s book. The storytelling style intrigues readers to turn the page. It is a great read for children to encourage curiosity and adventure.” - Sampan “an immediate and enduringly popular addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections.” - Midwest Book Review

Enjoy the first English children’s picture book on how Japan’s ramen noodles were created! Amazingly illustrated, this storybook features a glossary of Japanese terms. This is the first adventure in our series on cool inventions created in Asia. The cute red panda Dao makes history come alive by transporting the kids Emma and Ethan back in time. Together they learn how fantastic creations came to be and zip back to the future! This dynamic journey explores the invention of ramen. This quest is like Chef’s Table meets Back to the Future! The trio begins their trip in 1800’s Japan. They travel from the unpaved streets where pushcart vendors cooked to the growing capital of Tokyo. They witness the rise of instant ramen, Momofuku Ando’s Nissin cup of noodles, and now four star restaurants and celebrity chefs. Along the way, Dao and the kids visit ramen factories and museums and even zoom to outer space! Kids and educators will appreciate the story’s comprehensive scope and Japanese glossary. Since nearly every city has a ramen restaurant, adults and kids will enjoy learning how their favorite noodles are made! Readers will discover how chefs use different broths and ingredients to boost the special flavor of umami (the savory fifth taste) to make delicious noodle soups. Along the way, teachers and librarians will appreciate how students eagerly absorb Japanese food history, culinary culture, and key words. Fans of cooking shows and home cooks will delight in the dynamic artwork which render tasty dishes in mouthwatering color to the point where you can smell the aroma coming off the printed pages. - - - “Perhaps no dish says more about our hunger for Asian food today than ramen. This delightful tale shares the story of how this iconic noodle journeyed from China to worldwide acclaim as both comfort food and instant grub, beloved by bellies of all ages. Thanks for spreading awareness of Asian culture through its delicious cuisine!” — Danielle Chang, Founder of Luckyrice (www.luckyrice.com) and Creator of PBS TV series Lucky Chow “For youngsters, adults and noodle enthusiasts alike, this tale is not to be missed... Whatever your age, The Discovery of Ramen is an experience to whet your appetite with a subject worth savoring.” - Sampan “Travel across the world and back in time with Emma and Ethan as they learn all about the history and tradition of ramen from Dao, an adorable red panda who just happens to be an expert on Asian culture, cuisine, and, of course, all things ramen. Amusing anime-style illustrations show the magical, wide-eyed trio flying over China and Japan, tiptoeing past Taiwan, and floating into outer space on a fun, informative, and savory adventure.” - Foreword magazine “I really enjoyed reading about the history of ramen, and I suspect that whether your kids are already fans of these curly noodles in their various forms or not, this is a book that will definitely tempt their taste buds. I made them for my Kiddo when she was very young, and she’s been a ramen fan ever since.” - Randomly Reading

Sky Ape: Waiting for Crime The millionaire gorilla with a jetpack is back again for a second adventure! The world's hairiest crime-fighter returns in an all-new lip-smackin' adventure! Fed up with saving the world, Kirk Madge - also known as Sky Ape, millionaire gorilla and freelance detective - doffs his jetpack to become a certified public accountant. But as the malevolent force know only as O'Donnelly's Roofing sets the world teetering on the brink of destruction, you can bet it won't be long till Kirk stops crunching numbers and starts bustin' heads!

"Dao, a red panda, guides Ethan and Emma, two school children, back into time to discover how K-pop was created and became popular worldwide"-- Provided by publisher.

After saving Midnight City from the twisted machinations of mutant villains, the Nevermen return to their lives as everyday citizens, unaware that an even greater threat stirs far below the city streets. He calls himself Winterbone, and he has something catastrophic in store for the city's goggled gangbusters. To end Winterbone's icy reign of terror, our Nevermen have got to find out who this creep is and how he knows so much about their past. But they aren't going to like what they find out. Streets of Blood, the follow up to the critically acclaimed, existential thriller, answers questions and reveals secrets about the enigmatic protectors of the innocent.

Silas, the son of a wealthy doctor, and Horace,an orphan working to survive, make an unlikelypair. As the two get to know each other, disasterstrikes. Can the new friends save Boston from theGreat Molasses Flood?