Even Superheroes Have Bad Days

October 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 2-Everyone has a bad day now and then-even superheroes. In this tale, readers see superheroes with great skills, abilities, and strength succumb to ill moods. Nonetheless, "upset superheroes have all sorts of choices..../Instead of destruction and loud, livid voices/they burn angry steam off with speed-of-light hiking/or super-Xtreme outer space mountain biking." The text acknowledges all the damage that the heroes could inflict, but "with great power comes great responsibility." Readers learn how these champions channel their energies in positive ways. This narrative is filled with diverse characters, from caped crusaders to badly behaving villains. However, the rhyming story is long and somewhat forced. The art is done with digital tools to create a cartoon appearance, full of action and vibrancy. VERDICT A suitable read-aloud choice to acknowledge intense feelings and diversify superhero collections. A good way to soothe bad days away.-Briana Moore, Elmont Memorial Library, NY

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2016
Superheroes deal with their emotions.What happens when the empowered have a terrible day? Becker posits that while they could go on destructive sprees and wreak havoc, the caped crusaders and men and women of steel harness their energies and direct it in constructive ways. Little readers filled with energy and emotion may learn to draw similar conclusions, but the author doesn't hammer home the message. The author has much more fun staging scenes of chaos and action, and Kaban clearly has a ball illustrating them. Superheroes could use laser vision to burn down forests and weather powers to freeze beachgoers. They could ignore crime sprees and toss vehicles across state lines. These hypothetical violent spectacles are softened by the cartoonish stylizations and juxtaposed with pages filled with heroic, "true" efforts such as rounding up criminals and providing fun at an amusement park. The illustrations are energetic and feature multicultural heroes. The vigorous illustrations make this a read for older children, as the busyness could overwhelm very little ones. While the book's formula recalls How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? and its many sequels, the relative scarcity of superhero picture books means there's a place on the shelf for it. An action-packed romp. (Picture book. 4-7)

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