Even Superheroes Have Bad Days (Superheroes Are Just Like Us)

From School Library Journal 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 “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 relative scarcity of superhero picture books means there's a place on the shelf for it. An action-packed romp." —Kirkus Reviews “When superheroes have bad days, things could get horrific for everyone. Fortunately though, superheroes have supercontrol over their emotions, according to this lighthearted exposé on how a group of superheroes deal with their frustrations. Superheroes could cope with their bad days by tossing trucks and buses around, crumbling buildings into rubble, or igniting fires with their laser eyes. But instead, they double down and use their superpowers for good deeds, such as hatching ‘super-plans to help banish world sadness / Building fabulous theme parks for giggles and gladness’ The eight superheroes, depicted in a retro cartoon-style, embody an abundant assortment of powers and come in various sizes and shapes, including both genders plus one green, horned monster. Scenes envisioning the chaos and mayhem they could cause if they let their tempers get the better of them are balanced by calmer scenes of the celebratory events that result from their good deeds . . . a spoonful of superheroes certainly helps the message go down.” — Booklist “This narrative is filled with diverse characters, from caped crusaders to badly behaving villains. . . . 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.” — School Library Journal Praise for Shelly Becker’s Mine, Mine, Mine! : “The book will enchant young readers and their parents for many years to come, and is destined to become a modern classic.” — Children’s Literature Shelly Becker is the author of Mine! Mine! Mine! (Sterling), which has appeared on many “top 5” and “top 10” lists of books to teach the concept of “sharing” over the years (including newspapers, school libraries, the PBS/ Sesame Street website, and more). In addition, Shelly has written more than 15 children’s novelty books for Tormont, and sold stories and poems to Highlights for Children and Hopscotch for Girls magazine. She lives in Montreal, Canada. Eda Kaban was born and raised in Turkey and studied illustration in the US. Her work can be seen in galleries throughout California and in a variety of publications. She has worked with clients such as Chronicle Books, Random House, Scholastic, Harper, Lufthansa Airlines, Mattel, and the Village Voice . Her illustrations have been recognized by the Society of Illustrators, Creative Quarterly , and 3X3. She lives in San Francisco, CA, and when she’s not drawing, you can find her biking the hills of the Bay Area with her husband. Read more