Superheroes Always Fight Back ... Or Do They? - Softcover

Thompson, Kate

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1783128771 ISBN 13: 9781783128778

Publisher: Welbeck Children's, 2023

Synopsis

“This book could open conversations of understanding between readers and their caregivers.”―School Library Journal

Arthur dreams of being a mega-fast and strong superhero with the ability to fight and banish the baddie next door. But when Grandpa explains that the best superheroes actually save the day by being kind, Arthur realises that we all have a superpower inside and that an act of kindness, no matter how small, really can change the world.

Using lively rhyming text and a fun cast of characters, Superheroes Always Fight Back ...Or Do They? highlights how kindness truly is the most amazing superpower of all.

From the note by Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Lauren Callaghan:

Kindness is one of the fundamental pillars of happiness. Kind acts have the potential to make people happy and encourage further acts of kindness. It’s a lovely circle and shows just how powerful and infectious kindness can be.

Superheroes Always Fight Back . . . Or Do They? highlights this power to a young audience in a fun way. It playfully teaches how the best way to “fight back” is by doing something positive, such as being friendly or generous―and that even though we can’t control what other people do, we can control our response. It’s a reminder, too, that bullying and worries shouldn’t be dealt with alone and that telling a trusted grown-up is important.

About this title

About the Authors

From an early age, Kate Thompsonwrote and illustrated picture books and was determined to be a children's author. However, she became a solicitor, which contained disappointingly little sleuthing or storytelling. Happily, following the birth of her sons, Kate rediscovered her passion for picture books and writing. She now lives by the sea and spends her days gleefully immersed in literary adventures of her own making. Kate Thompson is based in West Sussex, UK.

Clare Elsom is a children's illustrator and author. She is the creator of young fiction series Horace & Harriet, a highly illustrated series published by Oxford University Press. Clare has also illustrated dozens of popular children's books, including the best-selling Flying Fergus series written by Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy and Joanna Nadin. Clare Elsom is based in Devon, UK.

Reviews

PreS-Gr 2-Arthur lives next to a bully (described as a "baddie"). She laughs when he falls down, ruins his games, and calls him names. He wishes he was a superhero who could "banish baddies back where they belong" with a great big, "KAPOW!" His grandfather helps him see that bullies act the way they do because there's something more going on for them, like loneliness or feeling unheard. He lets Arthur know that he doesn't need superpowers to handle bullies and encourages him to use his powers of super kindness instead. When Arthur approaches his neighbor with an offer of friendship, things turn around. Told in rhyming couplets, the story is well-paced and proceeds through a predictable pattern, which is the kind of structure this audience responds to well. Elsom's illustrations are full of color and movement, with "baddies" depicted as aliens and monsters, which will also have appeal. While the subconscious emotional baggage of bullies is an advanced concept for this age group, and the resolution feels pat, this book could open conversations of understanding between readers and their caregivers. And superheroes are always popular. VERDICT Purchase where fresh picture books about bullying are needed for young children.-Jennifer Noonanα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Welbeck Children's
• Publication date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1783128771
• ISBN 13: 9781783128778
• Binding: Paperback
• Illustrator: Elsom Clare
• Number of pages: 32