When 12-year-old daydreamer Aku inherits an astronaut helmet from his dead grandmother, he gains the power to transport himself throughout the metaverse. Now, he has no choice but to become the space hero he always wanted to be.This special paperback edition features sprayed edges with cosmic designs, as well as never-before-seen Aku fan art--from kids around the world--in the book's interior.Aku loves space. He loves playing space-themed role-playing games with his best friends, Benji and Trae, and he dreams of becoming an astronaut. Otherwise insecure--especially at school, where he's bullied--Aku is most comfortable at the local planetarium. So, when his grandmother dies and leaves him an astronaut helmet, Aku thinks it's the coolest thing ever....scratch that...Discovering that the helmet can transport him through space is the coolest thing ever.The helmet lets Aku travel back and forth between Earth and the planet Ibra, where he meets extraterrestrial friends and explores their fascinating planet. On Ibra, there are no bullies. On Ibra, Aku can be his most Aku self. Benji and Trae come along, too, and the three friends find their happy place.But their joy is short lived.Aku's visits open a rift in the universe, allowing space soldiers to invade Ibra and steal its most precious resource: the lunaberry. If Aku doesn't figure something out quickly, his joyful adventures could spell doom for an entire planet.This dazzling first book in a series is the origin story of cultural phenomenon Aku, a 3D character and NFT that has graced the cover of TIME Magazine and inspired metaverse lovers everywhere. Micah Johnson, a former Major League Baseball player turned artist, is the creator of the phenomenon that is Aku. After overhearing a young boy ask his mom if astronauts could be Black, Micah was inspired to create Aku, a 3D animated boy wearing an oversized astronaut helmet. That same year, Micah created a fine art piece that catapulted him from retired athlete to creator of the “2020 NFT of the Year." Aku: Journey to Ibra is Aku's origin story and Micah's first book. He lives in Maine with his wife and daughter. Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers Publish Date: March 03, 2026 Pages: 224 Language: English Type: Paperback EAN/UPC: 9780593811801 Dimensions: 8.3 X 5.5 X 0.0 inches | 0.8 pounds BISAC Categories: Kids
